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Juvenile tank-bromeliads lacking tanks: do they engage in CAM photosynthesis?

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In the epiphytic tillandsioids, Guzmania monostachia, Werauhia sanguinolenta, and Guzmania lingulata (Bromeliaceae), juvenile plants exhibit an atmospheric habit, whereas in adult plants the leaf bases overlap and form water-holding tanks. CO2 gas-exchange measurements of the whole, intact plants and δ13C values of mature leaves demonstrated that C3 photosynthesis was the principal pathway of CO2 assimilation in juveniles and adults of all three species. Nonetheless, irrespective of plant size, all three species were able to display features of facultative CAM when exposed to drought stress. The capacity for CAM was the greatest in G. monostachia, allowing drought-stressed juvenile and adult plants to exhibit net CO2 uptake at night. CAM expression was markedly lower in W. sanguinolenta, and minimal in G. lingulata. In both species, low-level CAM merely sufficed to reduce nocturnal respiratory net loss of CO2. δ13C values were generally less negative in juveniles than in adult plants, probably indicating increased diffusional limitation of CO2 uptake in juveniles.

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Abbreviations

CAM:

crassulacean acid metabolism

DM:

dry mass

FM:

fresh mass

PFD:

photon flux density (400–700 nm)

RH:

relative humidity

Rubisco:

ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

STRI:

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

VPD:

leaf-air water vapour pressure difference

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de los Andes, Laboratorio de Botánica, Bogotá, Colombia

    J. D. Beltrán, E. Lasso & S. Madriñán

  2. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama

    A. Virgo & K. Winter

Authors
  1. J. D. Beltrán
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  2. E. Lasso
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  3. S. Madriñán
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  4. A. Virgo
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  5. K. Winter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Winter.

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Acknowledgements: J.D.B. was recipient of a short-term fellowship from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and received travel support from the Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes. Dayana Agudo performed the δ13C analyses, Jorge Ceballos helped with microscopy, and Oris Acevedo provided logistical support on Barro Colorado Nature Monument.

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Beltrán, J.D., Lasso, E., Madriñán, S. et al. Juvenile tank-bromeliads lacking tanks: do they engage in CAM photosynthesis?. Photosynthetica 51, 55–62 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-012-0077-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-012-0077-8

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