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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2001; 3(5): 569-576
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17748
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Carbon-Isotope Ratios and Photosynthetic Pathways in the Neotropical Family Rapateaceae

D. M. Crayn 1, 3 , J. A. C. Smith 2 , K. Winter 1
  • 1 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
  • 2 Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
  • 3 Present address: School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, UNSW, NSW 2052, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

September 9, 2000

May 8, 2001

Publication Date:
11 October 2001 (online)

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Abstract

The Rapateaceae is a small, mainly Neotropical family of terrestrial or occasionally epiphytic herbs that grow on mesic, nutrient-poor sites. Some recent studies suggest that the Rapateaceae may be closely related to the Bromeliaceae, one of the major families containing CAM plants. To investigate the photosynthetic pathway in Rapateaceae, the plant carbon-isotope ratio (δ13C) was determined for samples from dried herbarium specimens for 85 of the approximately 100 species in the family. The δ13C values ranged from - 37.7 to - 19.8 ‰. Most Rapateaceae showed δ13C values typical of C3 plants. However, six species (Kunhardtia rhodantha Maguire, Marahuacaea schomburgkii (Maguire) Maguire, Saxofridericia compressa Maguire, Stegolepis grandis Maguire, St. guianensis Klotzsch ex Körn. and St. squarrosa Maguire) showed δ13C values less negative than - 23 ‰, i.e., at the higher end of the range for C3 plants and at the lower end of the distribution for plants exhibiting CAM. The δ13C values became significantly less negative with increasing altitude (regression analysis indicating a change from about - 30.7 ‰ at sea level to - 22.5 ‰ at 2500 m). Although other environmental factors and the type of tissue analysed may also influence δ13C values, these results suggest that some Rapateaceae may be capable of performing CAM. Further studies, including measurements of diel gas exchange patterns and leaf organic-acid fluctuations, would be needed to demonstrate CAM in Rapateaceae unequivocally, but living material of many of these enigmatic plants is difficult to obtain.

Abbreviation

CAM: crassulacean acid metabolism

Key words

Carbon-isotope ratio - photosynthetic pathway - crassulacean acid metabolism - Rapateaceae - monocotyledons

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K. Winter

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Unit 0948

APO AA 34002-0948
U.S.A.

Email: winterk@tivoli.si.edu

Section Editor: C. B. Osmond