Photosynthetica 2008, 46(4):531 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0090-0

Carbon isotope ratios and the variation in the diurnal pattern of malate accumulation in aerial roots of CAM species of Phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae)

H. Motomura1,2,*, O. Ueno3, A. Kagawa4, T. Yukawa1
1 Tsukuba Botanical Garden, National Science Museum, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2 Composite Materials Group, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
3 Laboratory of Plant Production Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Fukuoka, Japan
4 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki, Japan

We investigated the carbon isotope ratios and the diurnal pattern of malate accumulation in leaves and aerial roots of eight species of Phalaenopsis grown in greenhouses. The leaves of all the species showed carbon isotope ratios and the diurnal patterns of malate content typical of CAM plants. However, the aerial roots exhibited a large variation in the diurnal pattern of malate content among species and even among plants within the same species, although carbon isotope ratios were always CAM-like values. Some aerial roots showed the typical diurnal pattern of CAM, but others maintained high or low malate contents during a day without fluctuation. In order to characterize more strictly the nature of the malate variation in the aerial roots, we further investigated a possible variation of the diurnal pattern of malate among different aerial roots within an individual for Phalaenopsis amabilis and P. cornu-cervi. The diurnal pattern of malate content was varied even among different aerial roots within the same plant. Thus the photosynthetic carbon metabolism in aerial roots of orchids is fairly complex.

Additional key words: epiphyte; photosynthetic metabolism; species differences

Received: June 17, 2008; Accepted: August 5, 2008; Published: December 1, 2008  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Motomura, H., Ueno, O., Kagawa, A., & Yukawa, T. (2008). Carbon isotope ratios and the variation in the diurnal pattern of malate accumulation in aerial roots of CAM species of Phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae). Photosynthetica, 46(4), 531. doi: 10.1007/s11099-008-0090-0
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. Avadhani, P.N., Goh, A., Rae, N., Arditti, J.: Carbon fixation in orchids.-In: Arditti, J. (ed.): Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspective II. Pp. 173-193. Cornell University Press, New York 1982.
    2. Aschan, G., Pfanz, H.: Non-foliar photosynthesis - a strategy of additional carbon acquisition.-Flora 198: 81-97, 2003. Go to original source...
    3. Benzing, D.H., Friedman, W.E., Peterson, G., Renfrow, A.: Shootlessness, velamentous roots, and the pre-eminence of Orchidaceae in the epiphytic biotope.-Amer. J. Bot. 70: 121-133, 1983. Go to original source...
    4. Benzing, D.H., Ott, D.W.: Vegetative reduction in epiphytic Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae: Its origin and significance.-Biotropica 13: 131-140, 1981. Go to original source...
    5. Cockburn, W., Goh, C.J., Avadhani, N.: Photosynthetic carbon assimilation in a shootless orchid, Chiloschista usneoides (Don) Ldl.-Plant Physiol. 77: 83-86, 1985. Go to original source...
    6. Dycus, A.M., Knudson, L.: The role of the velamen of the aerial roots of orchids.-Bot. Gaz. 119: 78-87, 1957. Go to original source...
    7. 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...
    8. Endo, M., Ikushima, I.: Diurnal rhythm and characteristics of photosynthesis and respiration in the leaf and root of a Phalaenopsis plant.-Plant Cell Physiol. 30: 43-47, 1989. Go to original source...
    9. Erickson, L.C.: Respiration and photosynthesis in Cattleya roots.-Amer. Orchid Soc. Bull. 26: 401-402, 1957. Go to original source...
    10. Goh, C.J., Arditti, J., Avadhani, P.N.: Carbon fixation in orchid aerial roots.-New Phytol. 95: 367-374, 1983. Go to original source...
    11. Hew, C.S., Ng, Y.W., Wong, S.C., Yeoh, H.H., Ho, K.K.: Carbon dioxide fixation in orchid aerial roots.-Physiol. Plant. 60: 154-158, 1984. Go to original source...
    12. Ho, K., Yeoh, H.-H., Hew, C.-S.: The presence of photosynthetic machinery in aerial roots of leafy orchids.-Plant Cell Physiol. 24: 1317-1321, 1983.
    13. Kawamitsu, Y., Naka, M., Nakayama, H., Sekizuka, F.: [Effects of elevated CO2 on crassulacean acid metabolism in Phalaenopsis.]-Sci. Bul. Coll. Agr. Univ. Ryukyus 42: 23-32, 1995. [In Jap.]
    14. Keeley, J.E., Rundel, P.W.: Evolution of CAM and C4 carbon-concentrating mechanisms.-Int. J. Plant Sci. 164: S55-S77, 2003. Go to original source...
    15. Kluge, M., Brulfert, J., Rauh, W., Ravelomanana, D., Ziegler, H.: Ecophysiological studies on the vegetation of Madagascar: A δ13C values and δD survey for incidence and plasticity of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) among orchids from montane forests and succulents from the xerophytica thorn-bush.-Isot. Environ. Health Stud. 31: 191-210, 1995. Go to original source...
    16. Kluge, M., Ting, I.P.: Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.-Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York 1978. Go to original source...
    17. Lee, H.S.J., Griffiths, H.: Induction and repression of CAM in Sedum telephium L. in response to photoperiod and water stress.-J. exp. Bot. 38: 834-841, 1987. Go to original source...
    18. Lüttge, U.: Ecophysiology of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).-Ann. Bot. 93: 629-652, 2004. Go to original source...
    19. Möllering, H.: Determination of malate dehydrogenase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase.-In: Bergmeyer, H.U. (ed.): Methods of Enzymatic Analysis. Vol. 3. Pp. 1589-1593. Academic Press, New York 1974.
    20. Motomura, H., Yukawa, Y., Ueno, O., Kagawa, A.: The occurrence of crassulacean acid metabolism in Cymbidium (Orchidaceae) and its ecological and evolutionary implications.-J. Plant Res. 121: 163-177, 2008. Go to original source...
    21. Osmond, C.B.: Crassulacean acid metabolism - curiosity in context.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 29: 379-414, 1978. Go to original source...
    22. Ota, K., Morioka, K., Yamamoto, Y.: [Effects of leaf age, inflorescence, temperature, light intensity and moisture conditions on CAM photosynthesis in Phalaenopsis.]-J. jap. Soc. hort. Sci. 60: 125-132, 1991. [In Jap.] Go to original source...
    23. Silvera, K., Santiago, L.S., Winter, K.: Distribution of crassulacean acid metabolism in orchids of Panama: evidence of selection for weak and strong modes.-Funct. Plant Biol. 32: 397-407, 2005. Go to original source...
    24. Ting, I.P.: Crassulacean acid metabolism.-Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 36: 595-622, 1985. Go to original source...
    25. Winter, K., Aranda, J., Holtum, J.A.M.: Carbon isotope composition and water-use efficiency in plants with crassulacean acid metabolism.-Funct. Plant Biol. 32: 381-388, 2005. Go to original source...
    26. Winter, K., Medina, E., Garcia, V., Mayoral, M.L., Muniz, R.: Crassulacean acid metabolism in roots of a leafless orchid, Campylocentrum tyrridion Garay & Dunsterv.-J. Plant Physiol. 118: 73-78, 1985. Go to original source...
    27. Winter, K., Wallace, B.J., Stocker, G.C., Roksandic, Z.: Crassulacean acid metabolism in Australian vascular epiphytes and some related species.-Oecologia 57: 129-141, 1983. Go to original source...
    28. Zotz, G., Hietz, P.: The physiological ecology of vascular epiphytes: current knowledge, open questions.-J. exp. Bot. 52: 2067-2078, 2001. Go to original source...
    29. Zotz, G., Ziegler, H.: The occurrence of crassulacean acid metabolism among vascular epiphytes from central Panama.-New Phytol. 137: 223-229, 1997. Go to original source...

    Return to the content