Maximum CO2 diffusion inside leaves is limited by the scaling of cell size and genome size

摘要: Summary Maintaining high rates of photosynthesis in leaves requires efficient movement CO2 from the atmosphere to chloroplasts inside leaf where it is converted into sugar. Throughout evolution vascular plants, diffusion across surface was maximized by reducing sizes guard cells that form stomatal pores epidermis1,2. Once leaf, must diffuse through intercellular airspace and mesophyll occurs3,4. However, diffusive interface defined its coordinated with other traits are not well described5. Here we show among plants variation total amount area per unit volume driven primarily cell size, lower limit which genome size. The higher enabled smaller allows for more photosynthetic cells. Our results demonstrate downsizing flowering plants6 critical restructuring entire pathway diffusion, facilitating supply despite declining atmospheric levels during Cretaceous.