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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Low Internal Air Space In Plants With Crassulacean Acid Metabolism May Be An Anatomical Spandrel, Alistair Leverett, Anne Borland, Emma Inge, Samantha Hartzell
Low Internal Air Space In Plants With Crassulacean Acid Metabolism May Be An Anatomical Spandrel, Alistair Leverett, Anne Borland, Emma Inge, Samantha Hartzell
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) is a photosynthetic adaptation found in at least 38 plant families. Typically, the anatomy of CAM plants is characterised by large photosynthetic cells and a low percentage of leaf volume comprised of internal air space (% IAS). It has been suggested that reduced mesophyll conductance (gm) arising from low % IAS benefits CAM plants by preventing the movement of CO2 out of cells and ultimately minimising leakage of CO2 from leaves into the atmosphere during day-time decarboxylation. Here, we propose that low % IAS does not provide any adaptive benefit to …
Dissecting Succulence: Crassulacean Acid Metabolism And Hydraulic Capacitance Are Independent Adaptations In Clusia Leaves, Alistair Leverett, Samantha Hartzell, Klaus Winter, Milton Garcia, Multiple Additional Authors
Dissecting Succulence: Crassulacean Acid Metabolism And Hydraulic Capacitance Are Independent Adaptations In Clusia Leaves, Alistair Leverett, Samantha Hartzell, Klaus Winter, Milton Garcia, Multiple Additional Authors
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
Succulence is found across the world as an adaptation to water-limited niches. The fleshy organs of succulent plants develop via enlarged photosynthetic chlorenchyma and/or achlorophyllous water storage hydrenchyma cells. The precise mechanism by which anatomical traits contribute to drought tolerance is unclear, as the effect of succulence is multifaceted. Large cells are believed to provide space for nocturnal storage of malic acid fixed by crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), whilst also buffering water potentials by elevating hydraulic capacitance (CFT). The effect of CAM and elevated CFT on growth and water conservation have not been compared, despite the assumption that these adaptations …