New insight on how trees have evolved to obtain light and photosynthesize at the greatest rate

Although scientists understand core processes such as photosynthesis, they do not have a full understanding of issues such as how plants maximize their photosynthetic capacity. Mathematical models for the distribution of light within the canopy predict that the photosynthetic rate of the entire canopy is maximized when the specific leaf area is lowest for leaves at the top of the canopy. This research provides new insight into the mechanism by which trees have evolved to obtain light and photosynthesize at the greatest rate.

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