Photosynthetica 1998, 35(2):273-277 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1006927327013

Diel Acid Fluctuations in C4 Amphibious Grasses

J.E. Keeley1
1 Department of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, U.S.A

Orcuttieae is a small tribe of C4 grasses endemic to seasonal pools in the southwestern U.S., comprising the basal genus Neostapfia, Tuctoria, and the most derived group, Orcuttia. Growth is initiated underwater, and when pools dry, species undergo a metamorphosis replacing aquatic foliage with terrestrial foliage. O. californica and O. viscida exhibit CAM-like diel fluctuations in acidity in the aquatic foliage. Pulse-chase studies showed that although CO2 was fixed into malic acid in the dark, an overnight chase in the dark revealed that most label was not retained in organic acids, indicating a role other than CAM. Terrestrial foliage exhibited a very different diel fluctuation; acids accumulated during the day, and diminished overnight. Malic acid predominated and was secreted on the surface of the leaf in a manner similar to another arid land species. This terrestrial daytime acid accumulation may not be related to photosynthetic pathway but may play an anti-herbivore function. No acid fluctuations were observed in either N. colusana or T. greenei.

Additional key words: aquatic and terrestrial leaves; 14C labelling; chlorophyll; malic acid; Neostapfia colusana; Orcuttia californica and O. viscida; titratable acidity; Tuctoria greenie

Prepublished online: June 1, 1998; Published: January 1, 1998  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Keeley, J.E. (1998). Diel Acid Fluctuations in C4 Amphibious Grasses. Photosynthetica, 35(2), 273-277. doi: 10.1023/A:1006927327013
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Amory, A.M., Vanlerberghe, G.C., Turpin, D.H.: Demonstration of both a photosynthetic and a nonphotosynthetic CO2 requirement for NH4+ assimilation in the green alga Selenastrum minutum.-Plant Physiol. 95: 192-196, 1991. Go to original source...
    2. Crampton, B.: The grass genera Orcuttia and Neostapfia: A study in habitat and morphological specialization.-Madroño 15: 97-110, 1959.
    3. Ehleringer, J.R., Monson, R.K.: Evolutionary and ecological aspects of photosynthetic pathway variation.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 24: 411-439, 1993. Go to original source...
    4. Feeny, P.P.: Plant apparency and chemical defense.-Rec. Adv. Phytochem. 10: 1-40, 1976. Go to original source...
    5. Griggs, F.T.: Life history strategies of the genus Orcuttia (Gramineae).-In: Jain, S.K. (ed.): Vernal Pools, Their Ecology and Conservation. Pp. 57-63. University of California, Davis 1976.
    6. Griggs, F.T.: Population studies in the genus Orcuttia (Poaceae).-Ph.D. Thesis. University of California, Davis 1980.
    7. Gutmann, I., Wahlefeld, A.W.: L-malate: determination with malate dehydrogenase and NAD.-In: Bergmeyer, H.U. (ed.): Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. Vol. 4. Pp. 1585-1589. Academic Press, New York 1974.
    8. Holland, R.F.: What constitutes a good year for an annual plant? Two examples from the Orcuttieae.-In: Elias, T.S. (ed.): Proceedings of a California Conference on the Conservation and Management of Rare and Endangered Plants. Pp. 329-333. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento 1980.
    9. Holland, R.F., Jain, S.K.: Vernal pools.-In: Barbour, M.B., Major, J. (ed.): Terrestrial Vegetation of California. Pp. 515-533. John Wiley & Sons, New York 1977.
    10. Keeley, J.E.: Anaerobiosis and fungi in the germination of two vernal pool grasses.-Amer. J. Bot. 75: 1086-1089, 1988. Go to original source...
    11. Keeley, J.E.: Aquatic CAM photosynthesis.-In: Winter, K., Smith, J.A.C. (ed.): Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, Biochemistry, Ecophysiology and Evolution. Pp. 281-295. Springer-Verlag, New York 1995. Go to original source...
    12. Keeley, J.E., Sandquist, D.R.: Diurnal photosynthesis cycle in CAM and non-CAM seasonal-pool aquatic macrophytes.-Ecology 72: 716-727, 1991. Go to original source...
    13. Koch, K., Kennedy, R.A.: Characteristics of Crassulacean acid metabolism in the succulent C4 dicot, Portulaca oleracea L.-Plant Physiol. 65: 193-197, 1980. Go to original source...
    14. Koundal, K.K., Sinha, S.K.: Malic acid exudation and photosynthetic characteristics in Cicer arietinum.-Phytochemistry 20: 1251-1252, 1981. Go to original source...
    15. Mattson, W.J., Haack, R.A.: The role of drought in outbreaks of plant-eating insects.-BioScience 37: 110-118, 1980. Go to original source...
    16. Reeder, J.R.: The tribe Orcuttieae and the subtribes of the Pappophoreae (Gramineae).-Madroño 18: 18-28, 1965.
    17. Reeder, J.R.: Systematics of the tribe Orcuttieae (Gramineae) and the description of a new segregate genus, Tuctoria.-Amer. J. Bot. 69: 1082-1095, 1982. Go to original source...
    18. Reeder, J.R., Reeder, C.G.: Rediscovery of Orcuttia fragilis (Gramineae).-Phytologia 46: 341-343, 1982. Go to original source...
    19. Santakumari, M., Reddy, C.S., Reddy, A.R.C., Das, V.S.R.: CAM behavior in a grain legume, chickpea.-Naturwissenschaften 66: 54-55, 1979. Go to original source...
    20. ©esták, Z., Čatský, J., Jarvis, P.G. (ed.): Plant Photosynthetic Production. Manual of Methods.-Dr W. Junk, The Hague 1971.
    21. Stone, R.D., Davilla, W.B., Taylor, D.W., Clifton, G.L., Stebbins, J.C.: Status survey of the grass tribe Orcuttieae and Chamaesyce hooveri (Euphorbiaceae) in the Central Valley of California.-Technical Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Endangered Species, Sacramento 1988.
    22. Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G.: Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America.-Oecologia 23: 1-12, 1976. Go to original source...
    23. Theodorou, M.E., Elrifi, I.R., Turpin, D.H., Plaxton, W.C.: Effects of phosphorus limitation on respiratory metabolism in the green alga Selenastrum minutum.-Plant Physiol. 95: 1089-1095. 1991. Go to original source...
    24. Turpin, D.H., Vanlerberghe, G.C., Amory, A.M., Guy, R.D.: The inorganic carbon requirements for nitrogen assimilation.-Can. J. Bot. 69: 1139-1145, 1991. Go to original source...
    25. Turpin, D.H., Weger, H.G., Smith, R.G., Plaxton, W.C., Lin, M.: Interactions between respiration and nitrogen assimilation during photosynthesis.-In: Ullrich, W.R., Rigano, C., Fuggi, A., Aparicio, P.J. (ed.): Inorganic Nitrogen in Plants and Microorganisms. Pp. 124-130. Springer-Verlag, New York 1990 Go to original source...
    26. van der Maesen, L.J.G.: Cicer L., a Monograph of the Genus, with Special Reference to the Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), its Ecology and Cultivation.-H. Veenman & Zonen, Wageningen 1972.
    27. Watson, L., Dallwitz, M.J.: The Grass Genera of the World.-CAB International, Wallingford 1992.
    28. Willert, D.J. von, Brinckmann, E., Eller, B.M., Scheitler, B.: Water loss and malate fluctuations during the day for plants in the southern Namib desert.-Oecologia 61: 393-397, 1984. Go to original source...
    29. Winter, K.: CO2 and water vapour exchange, malate content and δ13C value in Cicer arietinum grown under two water regimes.-Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 101: 421-430, 1981. Go to original source...

    Return to the content