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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2001; 3(3): 214-222
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15197
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Implications of Genotypic Diversity and Phenotypic Plasticity in the Ecophysiological Success of CAM Plants, Examined by Studies on the Vegetation of Madagascar[1]

M. Kluge 1 , B. Razanoelisoa 1 , J. Brulfert 2
  • 2 Institut für Botanik der Technischen Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
  • 3 Institut Biotechnologie des Plantes, Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

March 27, 2001

May 2, 2001

Publikationsdatum:
31. Dezember 2001 (online)

  Lizenzen und Reprints

Abstract

On the basis of δ13C-values, genotypic diversity and phenotypic plasticity of CAM behaviour in plants of the Malagasy vegetation is surveyed. The study compares CAM patterns performed in the wild on the levels of genera (Kalanchoë [Crassulaceae], Angraecum [Orchidaceae], Lissochilus [Orchidaceae] and Rhipsalis [Cactaceae]), on the level of a family (Didiereaceae) and finally on the level of a common growth form, namely in leafless orchids. For Rhipsalis, also non-Malagasy species were included in the comparison. The genus Kalanchoë was found to be dominated by species representing the CAM-physiotype with CO2 fixation taking place only during the night, whereas the CAM/C3- and the C3-physiotypes (with limited intrinsic CAM potential) were less frequent. The opposite holds true for Angraecum. In the genus Rhipsalis, in the Didiereacean family and in the leafless orchids only the CAM-physiotype is represented. The photosynthetic physiotypes of CAM plants were found to be related to the environmental conditions of the habitat. That is, strong CAM performers are typically abundant in the dry climatic zones or at otherwise dry niches, species of the C3-physiotype (possibly with weak intrinsic capability of CAM performance) are distributed at humid sites and those of the CAM/C3-physiotype occupy sites with medium and changing exposure to stress. Phenotypic plasticity of CAM, as indicated by the intraspecific variability of the δ13C-values, was lower in the CAM-physiotype compared with the CAM/C3-physiotype.

Our data support the view that strong stress leads to the dominance of highly adapted specialists among the CAM plants, with low phenotypic plasticity of the photosynthetic behaviour, whereas medium stress advances the unfolding of plastic CAM behaviour. Moreover, the data suggest that genera comprising all three physiotypes (Kalanchoë, Angraecum) are dispersed all over Madagascar, whilst groups comprising only strong CAM performers are restricted to limited areas or special types of habitats. This suggests that both genotypic diversity and phenotypic plasticity are important factors for the ecophysiological success of CAM.

Abbreviations

CAM: Crassulacean Acid Metabolism

ITS: Internal Transcribed Spacer

PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction

PEPC: Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase

RAPD: Random Arbitrary Primer Directed

RUBISCO: Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase Oxygenase

Key words

CAM diversity - carbon isotope composition - Madagascar

1 In memoriam of Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh († 7. April 2000), the great investigator and connoisseur of the flora of Madagascar

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1 In memoriam of Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh († 7. April 2000), the great investigator and connoisseur of the flora of Madagascar

M. Kluge

Institut für Botanik der TU Darmstadt

Schnittspahnstrasse 10
64287 Darmstadt
Germany

eMail: kluge@bio.tu-darmstadt.de

Section Editor: U. Lüttge