title: Seasonal shift from C3photosynthesis to Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum growing in its natural environment.
abstract: Changes in δ13C value, diurnal malate content, water content and Na+, K+and Cl-content of the annual Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Aizoaceae) were followed in a natural population on a coastal cliff at the Mediterranean Sea shore close to Caesarea (Israel). Plants germinated in the middle of the rainy season in December 1976/January 1977. Diurnal malate fluctuations in the leaves were not detected until the end of March. Later on, at the start of the dry season, pronounced diurnal changes in malate developed. This was correlated with a progressive change in δ13C value from about -26‰ to about -16‰ which is consistent with a change from normal C3photosynthetic CO2fixation to a predominantly nocturnal CO2assimilation pattern involving Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Botanik der Technischen Hochschule, Schnittspahnstr. 3-5, D-6100, Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Institut für Botanik der Technischen Hochschule, Schnittspahnstr. 3-5, D-6100, Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lüttge
authors.affiliation: Institut für Botanik der Technischen Hochschule, Schnittspahnstr. 3-5, D-6100, Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Troughton