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A Remarkable New Leaf Type With Unusual Photosynthetic Tissue in a Central Asiatic Genus of Chenopodiaceae
Author(s) -
Freitag H.,
Stichler W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1055/s-2000-9462
Subject(s) - biology , chenopodiaceae , botany , subfamily , genus , crassulacean acid metabolism , type (biology) , photosynthesis , ecology , biochemistry , gene
From the hygrohalophyte Borszczowia aralocaspica Bunge (Chenopodiaceae), a new leaf type with 1‐layered chlorenchyma is described as “borszczovoid” and compared with other leaf types in subfamily Salsoloideae. The chlorenchyma is suspected to represent a unique C 4 type. Evidence is cited from anatomical studies and documented by micrographs and Carbon isotope determinations (ä 13 C values). The 1‐layered photosynthetic tissue combines all essential anatomical characters of a 2‐layered chlorenchyma of regular C 4 plants and is in intimate contact with concentrically arranged peripheral bundles. The ä 13 C values are − 13.03 ‰ from young stems and − 13.78 ‰ from leaves. The results are discussed in the anatomical, physiological and taxonomic framework. In addition, from distantly‐related Suaeda species of section Conosperma the conospermoid leaf type is re‐described. It is characterized by typical palisade and Kranz layers and differs from the C 4 suaedoid type by an external water‐storaging hypodermis and an arrangement of Kranz cells reminiscent of the atriplicoid type from subfamily Chenopodioideae. From eight other species of Chenopodiaceae ä 13 C values are given for the first time.