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The carbon gain benefits of solar tracking in a desert annual
Author(s) -
MOONEY H. A.,
EHLERINGER J. R.
Publication year - 1978
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1978.tb02045.x
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , photosynthetic capacity , botany , carbon fibers , sympatric speciation , environmental science , biology , horticulture , ecology , mathematics , algorithm , composite number
. A comparison between two sympatric winter desert annuals, Camissonia claviformis and Malvastrum rotundi folium showed that both gained similar amounts of carbon during a spring day, although by very different means. Camissonia has horizontally fixed leaves which have a very high photosynthetic capacity. The temperature optimum of photosynthesis for this species is near 20°C. Malvastrum has leaves with a lower photosynthetic capacity and a photosynthetic temperature optimum near 30°C. Leaves of the latter species remain normal to the sun throughout the course of the day. The tracking response and high temperature optimum for photosynthesis of Malvastrum result in a high daily carbon gain and also a high water‐use efficiency.