An Acacia seedling grown in shade (50% full sun)is expected to have a ________ net assimilation rate (NAR)and a ________ leaf area ratio (LAR)than an Acacia seedling grown in full sun.

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A seedling grown in shade will have a lower net assimilation rate (NAR) and a higher leaf area ratio (LAR) compared to a seedling grown in full sun. This is because shade-grown plants allocate more resources to leaf production to increase their light capture whereas full-sun grown plants invest more resources to photosynthesis to maximize their carbon gain. Thus, shade-grown plants have a higher LAR to increase their light interception per unit leaf area, but a lower NAR due to lower photosynthesis rates.

An Acacia Seedling Grown in Shade (50% Full Sun)is Expected