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Rapid‐cycling CAM; an hypothetical variant of photosynthetic metabolism
Author(s) -
Cockburn W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1998.00331.x
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , multicellular organism , biology , botany , cycling , bundle , biophysics , biochemistry , cell , materials science , history , archaeology , composite material
The currently recognized forms of CAM photosynthesis do not represent all possible variants on the theme. It is predicted here that there may exist an undiscovered variant in which the CO 2 ‐acquiring and CO 2 ‐reducing phases of CAM alternate over time periods shorter (possibly much shorter) than the diel cycle. The process would occur entirely in the photoperiod and may be likened to a form of C 4 photosynthesis in which the same photosynthetic cell alternates between performing the functions of a C 4 mesophyll and C 4 bundle sheath cell. Rapid‐cycling CAM, which would be unlikely to be detected by methods commonly used to measure photosynthesis, could provide a CO 2 ‐concentrating mechanism in both unicellular and multicellular plants.