William Adams III

Research Interests

We take an integrative approach to synthesize the ecology, physiology, and anatomy of plants. A unifying theme of our studies is the question of how plants survive and thrive in their natural environment. We identify physiological and structural traits underlying plant functioning, and particularly those associated with the ability to collect solar energy, perform photosynthesis, and export sugars from the leaf. We compare these characteristics among plant species with differing growth habits, different phloem loading mechanisms, and in response to different environmental growth conditions.

Selected Publications

• Adams WW III (2018) Preface:  The importance of leaves to life and humanity.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Dordrecht, pp. xxvii-xxxiv
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Polutchko SK, Demmig-Adams B (2018) Leaf vasculature and the upper limit of photosynthesis.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 27-54
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Demmig-Adams B (2018) Photosynthetic modulation in response to plant activity and the environment.  In Adams WW III, Terashima I (eds) The Leaf:  A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 44.  Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 493-563
• Stewart JJ, Polutchko SK, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW III (2018) Arabidopsis thaliana Ei-5:  Altered minor vein architecture compensates for low vein density and supports maintenance of photosynthetic capacity.  Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 693 <doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00693>
• Polutchko SK, Stewart JJ, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW III (2018) Evaluating the link between photosynthetic capacity and leaf vascular organization with principal component analysis.  Photosynthetica 56: 392-403 <doi: 10.1007/s11099-017-0764-6>
• Demmig-Adams B, Stewart JJ, Adams WW III (2017) Environmental regulation of intrinsic photosynthetic capacity: An integrated view.  Current Opinion in Plant Biology 37: 34-41 <doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2017.03.008>
• Adams WW III, Stewart JJ, Cohu CM, Muller O, Demmig-Adams B (2016) Habitat temperature and precipitation of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes determine the response of foliar vasculature, photosynthesis, and transpiration to growth temperature.  Frontiers in Plant Science 7: 1026 <doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01026>, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.01026/full
• Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Lessons from nature:  A personal perspective.  In Demmig-Adams B, Garab G, Adams WW III, Govindjee (eds) Non-Photochemical Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae and Cyanobacteria, Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 40.  Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 45-72 <doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-9032-1_2>, see  http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/plant+sciences/book/978-94-017-9031-4
• Adams WW III, Muller O, Cohu CM, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Photosystem II efficiency and non-photochemical quenching in the context of source-sink balance.  In Demmig-Adams B, Garab G, Adams WW III, Govindjee (eds) Non-Photochemical Quenching and Energy Dissipation in Plants, Algae and Cyanobacteria.  Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, Volume 40.  Springer, Dordrecht, pp. 503-529 <doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-9032-1_23>, see  http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/plant+sciences/book/978-94-017-9031-4
• Adams WW III, Cohu CM, Amiard V, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Associations between phloem-cell wall ingrowths in minor veins and maximal photosynthesis rate.  Frontiers in Plant Science 5: 24 <doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00024>, http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2014.00024/full
• Cohu CM, Muller O, Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2014) Leaf anatomical and photosynthetic acclimation to cool temperature and high light in two winter versus two summer annuals.  Physiologia Plantarum 152: 164-173 <doi: 10.1111/ppl.121154>, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppl.12154/full
• Muller O, Cohu CM, Stewart JJ, Protheroe JA, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW III (2014) Association between photosynthesis and contrasting features of minor veins in leaves of summer annuals loading phloem via symplastic versus apoplastic routes.  Physiologia Plantarum 152: 174-183 <doi: 10.1111/ppl.12155>, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppl.12155/full
• Muller O, Stewart JJ, Cohu CM, Polutchko SK, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW III (2014) Leaf architectural, vascular, and photosynthetic acclimation to temperature in two biennials.  Physiologia Plantarum 152: 763-772 <doi: 10.1111/ppl.12226>, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppl.12226/full
• Adams WW III, Muller O, Cohu CM, Demmig-Adams B (2013) May photoinhibition be a consequence, rather than a cause, of limited plant productivity?  Photosynthesis Research 117: 31-44 <doi: 10.1007/s11120-013-9849-7>, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11120-013-9849-7/fulltext.html
• Adams WW III, Cohu CM, Muller O, Demmig-Adams B (2013) Foliar phloem infrastructure in support of photosynthesis.  Frontiers in Plant Science 4: 194 <doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00194>, http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2013.00194/full
• Cohu CM, Muller O, Stewart JJ, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW III (2013) Association between minor loading vein architecture and light- and CO2-saturated photosynthetic oxygen evolution among Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes from different latitudes.  Frontiers in Plant Science4: 264 <doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00264>, http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2013.00264/full