Re-evaluation of proposed C4 photosynthetic characteristics in the genus Larix |
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| Authors: | J H Richards J A Teeri |
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| Institution: | Dept. of Range Science and the Ecology Center, UMC-52, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322, USA;Barnes Lab. The Univ. of Chicago, 5630 South Ingleside Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. |
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| Abstract: | It has been suggested previously that Japanese larch ( Larix kaempferi ) exhibits characteristics of C4 photosynthesis. To further evaluate this suggestion, stable carbon isotope ratios were determined for leaf and bark tissue of Larix gmelini, L. kaempferi, L. laricina, L. Iyallii, L. occidentalis , and L. sibirica. All δ13C values were more negative than –22‰. Short-term labeling with 14CO2 showed that phosphoglyceric acid and other phosphorylated compounds were the first products of photosynthesis in L. sibirica. Both of these results strongly suggest that the initial fixation of atmospheric CO2 in these six Larix species is accomplished solely via the C3 photosynthetic pathway. |
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| Keywords: | C3 photosynthesis δ13C |
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