Carbon-13 Discrimination Analysis

Carbon-13 Discrimination Analysis quantifies the degree to which C3 plants preferentially fix the lighter carbon isotope (12C) over the heavier 13C during photosynthesis. The resulting discrimination value (Delta) is closely linked to the ratio of internal to ambient CO2 concentration, making it a reliable, integrative proxy for intrinsic water-use efficiency across the growing season. The technique is widely used in agronomy, plant physiology, and crop breeding.