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CARBON FIXATION IN ORCHID AERIAL ROOTS
Author(s) -
GOH C. J.,
ARDITTI J.,
AVADHANI P. N.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1983.tb03504.x
Subject(s) - crassulacean acid metabolism , photosynthesis , carbon fixation , botany , autotroph , aerial root , fixation (population genetics) , biology , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria , mangrove , gene
SUMMARY Orchid aerial roots contained chlorophylls and were shown to be capable of photosynthesis. 14 CO 2 feeding in the light showed that the C 3 pathway was operating during the day. Aerial roots also exhibited diurnal acidity fluctuations typical of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and malate was the only labelled compound isolated after night 14 CO 2 feeding. CO 2 exchange patterns in aerial roots were consistent with CAM CO., fixation during the night hours. The rate of photosynthetic CO., fixation in the light was much greater than the rate of CAM CO 2 fixation in the night. Measurements of CO 2 exchange, however, showed little or no net uptake indicating that these roots were not completely autotrophic.