Do changes in light direction affect absorption profiles in leaves?

Abstract

Leaf anatomy plays a functional role in propagating light through the leaf; palisade mesophyll has been shown to facilitate the channelling of collimated light deeper into the spongy mesophyll. Direct measurements of the propagation of diffuse light into the leaf, however, are absent. Using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of leaf cross-sections, we measured light absorption profiles in leaves under direct (collimated), diffuse and low-angle monochromatic light. Low-angle and diffuse light was absorbed closer to the irradiated surface than direct light perpendicular to the surface. The shapes of internal absorption profiles indicated that leaves were influenced by the directional quality of the incident light. In addition, absorption profiles revealed that leaves were not simple light absorbing objects and that cellular anatomy influences the direction of light travelling into the mesophyll. These findings also suggest a mechanism for previously measured differences in leaf level photosynthesis under opposing light regimes.