Crassulacean acid metabolism in Kalanchoë species collected in various climatic zones of Madagascar: a survey by δ13C analysis.
The carbon isotope compositions of samples of Kalanchoë species collected at the natural stands in Madagascar were determined. The results suggest that all species of the genus Kalanchoë are capable of crassulacean acid metabolism. The observed δ13C values cover the whole range from -10 to -30‰. This high diversity of the δ13C values was found among the species of the genus as well as, in certain cases, within a single species. This suggest that the CAM patterns in Kalanchoë are generally very flexible. The δ13C values show a clear correlation with the climate of the habitats from where the samples derived. Values indicative of CO2fixation taking place exclusively during the night were found in the dry regions of Madagascar, whereas δ13C values indicative of mixed CO2fixation during night and day or of CO2fixation entirely during the day are distributed in the humid zones.
Institut für Botanik der Technischen Hochschule, Schnittspahnstrasse 3-5, W-6100, Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany.
Manfred
M
Kluge
Lab.Biochim.Fonct.Membranes Veget., CNRS, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Jeanne
J
Brulfert
EES-Science, Lab.Phys.Veget., Université d'Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Didier
D
Ravelomanana
Institut für Hydrologie der GSF, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, W-8042, Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Joseph
J
Lipp
Institut für Botanik der Technischen Universität, Arcisstrasse 21, W-8000, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hubert
H
Ziegler
Carbon isotope composition; Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM); Ecophysiology; Kalanchoë; Madagascar