Various growth and physiological parameters were measured in germinating, presenescent, and senescing soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cotyledons and in cotyledons rejuvenated by epicotyl removal 18 days after planting. The maximal measured carbon dioxide exchange rates (CER) in the cotyledons were in the range of those reported for field-grown soybean leaves. Rejuvenated cotyledons accumulated total chlorophyll in excess of the maximum observed in presenescent cotyledons. When photosynthetic rates were expressed per cotyledon, the CER in rejuvenated tissue recovered to the maximal rates observed in presenescent cotyledons. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in rejuvenated cotyledons also recovered to the maximal amount seen in presenescent cotyledons so that CER appeared to be a function of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content during most of the period studied. Observations of the postillumination outburst of CO(2) and (14)C label in glycine indicated that photorespiration was occurring in the cotyledons and that photorespiration relative to photosynthesis was different in rejuvenated compared with presenescent cotyledons.