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TRANSLOCATION IN THE NONPOLYTRICHACEOUS MOSS GRIMMIA LAEVIGATA
Author(s) -
Alpert Peter
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb15134.x
Subject(s) - biology , moss , botany , leafy , deserts and xeric shrublands , photosynthesis , shoot , chromosomal translocation , rhizome , ecology , habitat , biochemistry , gene
A superficially rhizomatous habit suggested that the moss Grimmia laevigata might function as a clonal, rhizomatous plant and translocate photoassimilates to belowground organs, even though the species is outside the order Polytrichales, which includes the only mosses known to possess sieve cells. Labelling with 14 CO 2 indicated that at least 10% of newly assimilated carbon was translocated out of leafy shoot portions within 26 hr. Of this carbon, approximately 75% was apparently moved into leafless, basal shoot portions and 25% into belowground stems. Infrared gas analysis of net CO 2 flux was used to check that labelling gave a realistic measure of photosynthesis. Physiological integration and clonal spread may account for the unusual ability of this moss to colonize extremely xeric microsites.