Are thick leaves, large mesophyll cells and small intercellular air spaces requisites for CAM?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

It is commonly accepted that the leaf of a crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant is thick, with large mesophyll cells and vacuoles that can accommodate the malic acid produced during the night. The link between mesophyll characteristics and CAM mode, whether obligate or C3/CAM, was evaluated.

Methods

Published values of the carbon isotopic ratio (δ 13C) as an indicator of CAM, leaf thickness, leaf micrographs and other evidence of CAM operation were used to correlate cell density, cell area, the proportion of intercellular space in the mesophyll (IAS) and the length of cell wall facing the intercellular air spaces (Lmes/A) with CAM mode.

Key results

Based on 81 species and relatively unrelated families (15) belonging to nine orders, neither leaf

SUBMITTER: Herrera A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7218806 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature