Photosynthetica 2004, 42(3):339-344 | DOI: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000046150.74045.46

Photosynthetic Pathway Types in Rangeland Plant Species from Inner Mongolia, North China

X.Q. Liu1, R.Z. Wang1, Y.Z. Li2
1 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
2 Institute of Agro-Environment and Sustainable Development, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Photosynthetic pathway types, based on δ13C measurements, were determined for 125 species in 95 genera and 32 families growing in rangelands from Inner Mongolia. Of the total species, 4 species from 3 genera and 2 families had C4 photosynthesis (2 species in Gramineae and 2 in Chenopodiaceae) and 118 species from 90 genera and 31 families had C3 photosynthesis. The number of C4 species differed significantly among four rangeland sites, 4 species in desert, 3 species in steppe, but no C4 species were identified in meadow and dune. Six species [e.g. Agriophyllum arenarium Bieb., Bassia dasyphylla O. Kuntze, Saussurea japonica (Thunb.) DC.] earlier identified as C4 species using the enzyme ratio method were found as C3 species using the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C). Hence the enzyme ratio method for C3 and C4 identification may not always be reliable. The δ13C values of 3 species of Crassulaceae, which had been considered as CAM species, differed remarkably [-25.79 ‰ for Sedum aizoon L., -24.42 ‰ for Osostachys fimbriatus (Turcz.) Berger, and -16.97 ‰ for O. malacophyllus (Pall.) Fisch], suggesting that the use of δ13C method as a diagnosis for CAM photosynthetic pathway type may not always be reliable and supplementary measurements are needed.

Additional key words: C3, C4, and CAM plants; carbon isotope ratio; Xilingol steppe; δ13C

Published: September 1, 2004  Show citation

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Liu, X.Q., Wang, R.Z., & Li, Y.Z. (2004). Photosynthetic Pathway Types in Rangeland Plant Species from Inner Mongolia, North China. Photosynthetica, 42(3), 339-344. doi: 10.1023/B:PHOT.0000046150.74045.46
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