施肥与竞争生长对入侵植物黄顶菊和本地植物光合特性的影响

【背景】黄顶菊具有较强的生态适应性和竞争能力,可压制或排挤本地物种,形成单优势种群,进而导致当地生物多样性下降。【方法】选取黄顶菊入侵域的4种伴生植物益母草、苘麻、马唐、反枝苋为研究对象,采用LI-6400便携式光合仪测定入侵植物黄顶菊与这4种植物竞争生长过程中的光合特性,并研究施肥对不同植物与黄顶菊竞争生长过程中光合速率、蒸腾速率和胞间CO2浓度的影响。【结果】竞争生长对黄顶菊净光合速率的影响与本地植物种类密切相关,施肥促进了黄顶菊的净光合速率;竞争生长显著抑制了益母草、马唐和反枝苋的净光合速率,促进了苘麻的净光合速率,施肥增强了这4种植物的净光合速率。竞争生长对益母草和苘麻蒸腾速率的影响显著,而对其他2种植物的影响较小;与苘麻、益母草和反枝苋竞争生长过程中黄顶菊的蒸腾速率显著降低;施肥显著降低了单种处理中黄顶菊的蒸腾速率。与益母草、苘麻和反枝苋竞争生长过程中黄顶菊的胞间CO2浓度明显降低,施肥处理对黄顶菊的CO2利用率有显著抑制作用。【结论与意义】施肥影响黄顶菊的光合特性,与不同本地植物竞争生长对黄顶菊光合特性的影响不同。本研究结果将为进一步揭示黄顶菊的入侵机制及其综合治理提供理论依据。     

河北地区入侵植物黄顶菊与本地种苍耳光合特性比较

【目的】了解河北3个不同地区(邯郸、衡水和沧州)菊科入侵植物黄顶菊和其本地伴生植物苍耳光合特性的差异,探讨黄顶菊与本地种对环境光强变化产生的响应机制,综合分析入侵植物的光合特性及其与叶片特性之间的相关性。【方法】采用Li-6400便携式光合测定仪测定黄顶菊和苍耳叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度等指标,并比较分析入侵植物与本地种光合特性及叶片特性的差异。【结果】3个地区的2种植物光饱和点均高于1200μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1),且邯郸和衡水地区的黄顶菊光饱和点显著高于本地种苍耳达221.8%、122.9%;3个地区黄顶菊的光补偿点显著低于苍耳,而最大净光合效率则显著高于苍耳,但叶绿素含量差异并不显著;除邯郸地区外,黄顶菊的比叶面积、光合氮利用效率均要显著高于苍耳,各地区黄顶菊的叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、光合能量利用效率均显著高于本地种。相关分析表明,叶片最大净光合速率与叶片建成成本、叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、光合能量利用效率以及光合氮利用效率显著正相关(P0.05);比叶面积与光合能量利用效率呈显著正相关(P0.05),与光合氮利用效率呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。【结论】黄顶菊在同一环境条件下比苍耳有着更高的光合速率、光合能量利用效率以及光合氮利用效率,成为其具备高入侵性的生理基础。     

不同植物(组合)对入侵杂草黄顶菊功能性状的影响

【目的】外来植物的入侵能力与其性状之间的关系是入侵生态学中的基本问题之一。外来植物成功入侵具备哪些植物功能性状,一直是研究的热点问题,研究和把握这些性状对外来植物的入侵机理研究具有重要的现实意义。【方法】利用同质园实验,以入侵植物黄顶菊为研究对象,设置不同的植物(或组合)与黄顶菊竞争处理,研究不同植物(组合)对黄顶菊植物功能性状的影响,从而探究不同植物对黄顶菊的抵御能力。【结果】地肤、苘麻、苏丹草和苏丹草与地肤、黄花草木樨组合对黄顶菊有一定抑制作用,混种处理中黄顶菊的生物量、分枝数、株高显著低于黄顶菊单种处理,且对叶片功能性状、根功能性状、植株的全C和全N量等都有一定程度的影响。而反枝苋、反枝苋和紫花苜蓿组合对黄顶菊的生长有一定的促进作用,混种处理中黄顶菊的生物量与全C、全N含量较单种黄顶菊显著增加。【结论】不同植物与黄顶菊竞争生长对黄顶菊的影响不同,地肤和苘麻可以显著地抑制黄顶菊的主要功能性状生长发育,而反枝苋和紫花苜蓿促进黄顶菊生长发育。     

兰州银滩黄河湿地不同植物夏季光合日变化

以兰州银滩黄河湿地的千屈菜、芦苇、酸模叶蓼、稗草、龙葵、反枝苋、曼陀罗、红豆草、藨草和水莎草10种植物为材料,采用美国CI-340便携式光合测定系统在晴朗天气下测定了各植物成熟叶片的光合有效辐射(PAR)、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)以及大气温度(Ta)、大气CO2浓度(Ca)等指标的日变化,以探讨其光合生理生态特性。结果表明:有7种湿地植物的净光合速率呈不对称的双峰曲线,光合"午休"现象明显,分别是由气孔和非气孔2个因素引起;通过相关分析、逐步回归分析发现,大多数植物的Pn与Tr、Gs、PAR有较好的相关性,各生态因子对Pn的贡献系数不同,说明影响它们光合速率的主要生理生态因子各不相同;午间强光、高温导致湿地植物的蒸腾速率加剧。本研究对了解湿地植物优势种的光合特性及其与环境因子关系、人工种植湿地植物物种选择有重要意义。     

不同混种密度下杀真菌剂对黄顶菊与反枝苋种间竞争的影响

为探究AM真菌共生对黄顶菊(Flaveria bidentis)与本地物种间竞争关系的影响,开展了不同种植比例条件下杀真菌剂对黄顶菊与反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)的种间竞争试验。结果表明:黄顶菊是一种菌根真菌(AM)高度依赖性植物,杀真菌剂处理对其竞争效应产生了显著影响;在添加杀真菌剂条件下黄顶菊的相对产量在黄顶菊与反枝苋种植比例为1∶2、1∶1、2∶1条件下均1.0,而反枝苋的相对产量均1.0,且两者混种时的相对产量总和在黄顶菊与反枝苋种植比例为1∶2、1∶1、2∶1条件下均1.0,这说明反枝苋相对于黄顶菊而言是一种较强的竞争者,两者需要相同的资源;不添加杀真菌剂条件下,黄顶菊植株全氮、全磷含量分别增加1.1~1.6倍和1.1~1.2倍,而反枝苋的全氮、全磷含量无明显变化;AM真菌共生可能通过菌根介导的化感互作影响外来入侵植物与土著植物竞争格局,且受外界环境条件影响,这种共生关系可以减缓外界胁迫对共生植物不利的影响。     

外来入侵杂草反枝苋的研究进展

反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)原产于美洲,是广泛分布于我国的外来入侵杂草。本文就反枝苋的种子生物学特性、化感作用、表型可塑性、作为典型C4植物的生理生态特征、其与作物的竞争机制、在我国的入侵扩散过程及影响因子,以及其对增强紫外线辐射的生理生态响应和防除方法分别进行了评述。结果表明:反枝苋的一些生物学特性对其入侵成功具有重要作用,其种子数量大、种子萌发温度范围广、表型可塑性强、光合能力强、并可通过化感作用影响多种作物的生长,温度和湿度适应范围广,可以入侵多种生境类型。针对目前研究中的不足,应加强以下方面的研究:1)反枝苋对大范围环境梯度变化的适应机制;2)反枝苋对农田生态系统资源波动的响应;3)反枝苋的化感作用机制;4)反枝苋的综合控制技术。     

入侵植物黄顶菊与本地植物的竞争

温室和田间试验条件下,对黄顶菊与4种本地植物(马唐、牛筋、反枝苋和苘麻)在3种混生比例下的竞争效应进行了研究.温室试验结果表明:黄顶菊与马唐或牛筋混生所占比例低时,其株高受到明显抑制,在混生比例相同或黄顶菊所占比例高时,其株高未受到抑制;与反枝苋或苘麻混生时,黄顶菊的株高受到明显抑制,而反枝苋和苘麻的株高未受到抑制;黄顶菊与这4种本地植物混生,相对产量总和接近1;与马唐混生时,黄顶菊在高比例下的相对产量与1接近,而在其他比例下的相对产量均<1;与牛筋、反枝苋和苘麻混生时,黄顶菊的相对产量均显著<1;与4种本地植物混生,黄顶菊的竞争攻击力系数均<0.田间试验和温室试验结果一致.研究表明,黄顶菊与马唐、牛筋、反枝苋和苘麻利用相同的营养资源,其竞争力比供试的本地植物弱.     

外来杂草反枝苋对农作物的化感作用及其风险评价

利用改进的差时播种共培法,以麦田伴生恶性杂草播娘蒿为对照,在实验室条件下研究反枝苋根系分泌物及其不同浓度残枝浸提液对小麦、玉米、油菜种子萌发及生长的影响.结果显示:(1)反枝苋幼苗的根系分泌物能够显著抑制作物根长和苗高的生长;(2)反枝苋不同浓度浸提液均能抑制作物种子的萌发,其抑制作用随浓度的增加而增强;(3)除0.025 g·mL-1处理对小麦根长和苗高、玉米苗高有促进作用外,其余各浓度反枝苋浸提液对作物幼苗的根长和苗高有不同程度的抑制,且对根长的抑制作用更强;(4)反枝苋对作物幼苗的抑制作用强于恶性杂草播娘蒿,风险评估定量分析结果认定反枝苋为陕西省高度危险性植物.     

不同水分条件下混种密度对芦苇和反枝苋种间竞争的影响

与本地植物的种间竞争是影响外来植物能否成功入侵的关键因素之一,该研究通过受控模拟试验研究了本地植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)和外来入侵植物反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)在淹水和干旱两种水分条件下混种密度(6∶2、4∶4和2∶6)对其种间竞争的影响。结果表明:(1)芦苇和反枝苋的相对产量与相对产量总和均小于1,即两种植物存在种间竞争。(2)种间竞争使芦苇和反枝苋的生长均受到了不同程度的抑制,表现在两者的株高和生物量均随着竞争者密度的增加而降低。(3)植株地上部分和地下部分的氮浓度表现出与株高和生物量相同的趋势,且在不同水分条件下存在差异。(4)芦苇和反枝苋分别在淹水和干旱环境下具有较强竞争力,但在各自较高混种密度下亦具有较强竞争力。可见,芦苇和反枝苋的种间竞争受到了水分和混种密度的影响。因此,在有反枝苋分布的湿地中,植物生长初期可通过增加土壤水分和/或增加芦苇等本地植物的种群密度以降低反枝苋的种群密度来限制其竞争能力,防止反枝苋在湿地中生长建群和扩散入侵。     

降雨年型变化及竞争对反枝苋和大豆生长的影响

为探索不同降雨年型及栽培方式下外来杂草与本地作物的竞争机制, 为未来全球变化背景下控制外来杂草提供理论依据, 本研究以广泛入侵东北农田生态系统的外来杂草反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)和本地作物大豆(Glycine max)为研究对象, 在遮雨棚内人工模拟正常、欠缺、丰沛三种降雨年型, 采用盆栽实验的方法, 研究两种植物在单种和混种条件下的生长季节动态。结果表明, 降雨丰沛年两种植物的株高和总生物量均大于降雨正常年, 降雨欠缺年则均小于降雨正常年。生长季初期两种植物的根冠比均在降雨欠缺年最高, 说明两种植物均可通过增大根系的生物量分配, 减少地上生物量的分配来适应干旱环境。在三种降雨年型下, 混种时大豆的株高、相对生长速率及总生物量均显著小于单种大豆, 而反枝苋则相反, 尽管有时不显著, 说明种间竞争抑制大豆生长而促进反枝苋的生长, 两种植物之间的竞争是不对称竞争。总的来看, 降雨增加有利于提高大豆的竞争能力, 降雨减少有利于提高反枝苋的竞争能力, 随着生长发育的推移, 这种现象更明显。反枝苋可以在较广的降雨变化范围内保持较高的株高、相对生长速率及生物量, 这很可能是其成为全球范围成功入侵的外来杂草的重要原因之一; 干旱更有利于反枝苋入侵大豆田。     

替代牧草对黄顶菊生物量分配及光合作用的影响

选用高丹草、沙打旺两种牧草对入侵植物黄顶菊进行生物替代,比较不同替代处理中黄顶菊的生物量分配和光合特性的差异以验证替代效果。结果表明:替代调控明显地影响了黄顶菊的生物量积累并且改变了其分配格局;替代处理区的各生物量指标均显著低于对照区;与黄顶菊单种对照相比,沙打旺和高丹草中的黄顶菊总生物量分别下降了90.2%、94.2%;沙打旺中的黄顶菊和高丹草中的黄顶菊叶生物量比升高,而根生物量比、支持结构生物量比、根冠比降低,显示黄顶菊在替代处理下倾向于增加光合同化器官面积。替代处理下的黄顶菊光合作用均受到显著影响,净光合速率Pn显著下降,其中高丹草中的黄顶菊的Pn仅为2.15 μmolCO2·m-2·s-1。试验结果显示,在替代条件下限制光合的主要因素是非气孔限制因素,即导致黄顶菊光合作用大幅下降的原因是替代牧草遮阴作用引起的光能供应的不足。可塑性指数分析表明,黄顶菊具有较高的表型可塑性,显示其对逆境条件较强的适应性与入侵能力。替代措施能抑制黄顶菊的生物量积累与繁殖,影响其光合生产力,具有较好的防控效果。     

刈割对外来入侵植物黄顶菊的生长、 气体交换和荧光的影响

为明确不同刈割处理对黄顶菊生长和生理特性的影响,本研究在田间条件下,对黄顶菊在生长季内不同时间进行刈割处理。结果表明,刈割降低了黄顶菊植株各部分的生物量积累,其中以刈割3次效果最为显著,使黄顶菊总生物量、根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量分别较对照下降82.57%、44.53%、80.04%、91.76%;植株的高度和花序数随刈割次数的增加显著降低,其中刈割3次的花序数为0;刈割1次植株分枝数最大,出现超补偿现象,刈割3次分枝数显著低于其他处理;叶绿素含量除了刈割2次出现增高趋势外,随刈割次数的增加,叶绿素含量逐渐降低;刈割处理使黄顶菊净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Cond)和蒸腾速率(Tr)均显著升高;刈割3次的PSⅡ的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ的潜在活性(Fv/F0)显著低于其它各处理,而初始荧光(F0)则显著增加;生长指标的可塑性指数大于生理指标可塑性指数,表明前者在黄顶菊对刈割处理等物理措施适应方面起到了更为重要的作用。总之,刈割3次处理黄顶菊的各项生长和生理指标所受影响最大,对黄顶菊植株的再生和开花结实抑制效果最为理想。     

Two genes encode highly similar chloroplastic NADP-malic enzymes in Flaveria. Implications for the evolution of C4 photosynthesis.

To gain an understanding of the molecular events underlying the evolution of C4 photosynthesis, we have undertaken as detailed study of the NADP-malic enzyme gene family in C4 and C3 species of Flaveria. Three genomic clones form the C4 species Flaveria bidentis were characterized and found to encode two highly similar chloroplastic forms of NADP-malic enzyme, termed ME1 and ME2. Genomic southern blotting with gene-specific probes showed that both Me1 and Me2 are found in Flaveria trinervia (C4) and Flaveria pringlei (C3) as well as in F. bidentis. Northern blots demonstrated that Me1 expression in leaves parallels the degree of C4 photosynthesis in seven Flaveria species. Furthermore, whereas Me2 was expressed at a low level in both roots and leaves of F. bidentis, Me1 expression was seen only in leaves and was light-regulated. We discuss these results in the context of the evolution of C4 photosynthesis in Flaveria.     

Antisense RNA Inhibition of RbcS Gene Expression Reduces Rubisco Level and Photosynthesis in the C4 Plant Flaveria bidentis

The C4 dicot Flaveria bidentis was genetically transformed with an antisense RNA construct targeted to the nuclear-encoded gene for the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; RbcS). RbcS mRNA levels in leaves of transformants were reduced by as much as 80% compared to wild-type levels, and extractable enzyme activity was reduced by up to 85%. There was no significant effect of transformation with the gene construct on levels of other photosynthetic enzymes. Antisense transformants with reduced Rubisco activity exhibited a stunted phenotype. Rates of photosynthesis were reduced in air at high light and over a range of CO2 concentrations but were unaffected at low light. From these results we conclude that, as is the case in C3 plants, Rubisco activity is a major determinant of photosynthetic flux in C4 plants under high light intensities and air levels of CO2.     

The molecular evolution of β-carbonic anhydrase in Flaveria

Limited information exists regarding molecular events that occurred during the evolution of C(4) plants from their C(3) ancestors. The enzyme β-carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1), which catalyses the reversible hydration of CO(2), is present in multiple forms in C(3) and C(4) plants, and has given insights into the molecular evolution of the C(4) pathway in the genus Flaveria. cDNAs encoding three distinct isoforms of β-CA, CA1-CA3, have been isolated and examined from Flaveria C(3) and C(4) congeners. Sequence data, expression analyses of CA orthologues, and chloroplast import assays with radiolabelled CA precursor proteins from the C(3) species F. pringlei Gandoger and the C(4) species F. bidentis (L.) Kuntze have shown that both contain chloroplastic and cytosolic forms of the enzyme, and the potential roles of these isoforms are discussed. The data also identified CA3 as the cytosolic isoform important in C(4) photosynthesis and indicate that the C(4) CA3 gene evolved as a result of gene duplication and neofunctionalization, which involved mutations in coding and non-coding regions of the ancestral C(3) CA3 gene. Comparisons of the deduced CA3 amino acid sequences from Flaveria C(3), C(4), and photosynthetic intermediate species showed that all the C(3)-C(4) intermediates investigated and F. brownii, a C(4)-like species, have a C(3)-type CA3, while F. vaginata, another C(4)-like species, contains a C(4)-type CA3. These observations correlate with the photosynthetic physiologies of the intermediates, suggesting that the molecular evolution of C(4) photosynthesis in Flaveria may have resulted from a temporally dependent, stepwise modification of protein-encoding genes and their regulatory elements.     

Bacillus promotes invasiveness of exotic Flaveria bidentis by increasing its nitrogen and phosphorus uptake

芽孢杆菌通过提高黄顶菊对氮和磷的吸收促进外来黄顶菊的入侵 外来植物入侵对土壤芽孢杆菌(Bacillus)多样性的影响及芽孢杆菌在外来植物入侵中的作用目前尚不清楚。黄顶菊(Flaveria bidentis)是入侵中国的有害杂草,狗尾草(Setaria viridis)是黄顶菊入侵地常见的伴生植物种。本研究利用野外大田试验和温室盆栽试验,比较黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌群落结构的差异,以及黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌对黄顶菊竞争生长的影响。野外大田试验包括黄顶菊 单种、黄顶菊和狗尾草混种、狗尾草单种3个处理。利用16S rRNA基因测序技术研究了不同处理两种植物 根际土壤芽孢杆菌的多样性,获知黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的优势芽孢杆菌;利用温室盆栽试验探究优势芽孢杆菌对黄顶菊竞争生长的影响。研究结果表明,黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌多样性差异显著,其中耐寒芽孢杆菌是黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤聚集的优势芽孢杆菌,但是黄顶菊根际土壤中耐寒芽孢杆菌相对丰度显著高于狗尾草根际土壤耐寒芽孢杆菌的相对丰度。接菌试验表明,与狗尾草根际土壤中的耐寒芽孢杆菌相比,黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的耐寒芽孢杆菌提高了黄顶菊体内氮和磷的水平。总之,黄顶菊入侵改变了根际土壤芽孢杆菌的群落结构,黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的耐寒芽孢杆菌通过提高黄顶菊植株体内氮、磷水平来促进黄顶菊的生长。     

High temperature acclimation of C4 photosynthesis is linked to changes in photosynthetic biochemistry

With average global temperatures predicted to increase over the next century, it is important to understand the extent and mechanisms of C4 photosynthetic acclimation to modest increases in growth temperature. To this end, we compared the photosynthetic responses of two C4 grasses (Panicum coloratum and Cenchrus ciliaris) and one C4 dicot (Flaveria bidentis) to growth at moderate (25/20 degrees C, day/night) or high (35/30 degrees C, day/night) temperatures. In all three C4 species, CO2 assimilation rates (A) underwent significant thermal acclimation, such that when compared at growth temperatures, A increased less than what would be expected given the strong response of A to short-term changes in leaf temperature. Thermal photosynthetic acclimation was further manifested by an increase in the temperature optima of A, and a decrease in leaf nitrogen content and leaf mass per area in the high- relative to the moderate-temperature-grown plants. Reduced photosynthetic capacity at the higher growth temperature was underpinned by selective changes in photosynthetic components. Plants grown at the higher temperature had lower amounts of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and cytochrome f and activity of carbonic anhydrase. The activities of photosystem II (PSII) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase were not affected by growth temperature. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements of F. bidentis showed a corresponding decrease in the quantum yield of PSII (phi(PSII)) and an increase in non-photochemical quenching (phi(NPQ)). It is concluded that through these biochemical changes, C4 plants maintain the balance between the various photosynthetic components at each growth temperature, despite the differing temperature dependence of each process. As such, at higher temperatures photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency increases more than A. Our results suggest C4 plants will show only modest changes in photosynthetic rates in response to changes in growth temperature, such as those expected within or between seasons, or the warming anticipated as a result of global climate change.     

The biochemistry of Rubisco in Flaveria

C(4) plants have been reported to have Rubiscos with higher maximum carboxylation rates (kcat(CO(2))) and Michaelis-Menten constants (K(m)) for CO(2) (K(c)) than the enzyme from C(3) species, but variation in other kinetic parameters between the two photosynthetic pathways has not been extensively examined. The CO(2)/O(2) specificity (S(C/O)), kcat(CO(2)), K(c), and the K(m) for O(2) (K(o)) and RuBP (K(m-RuBP)), were measured at 25 degrees C, in Rubisco purified from 16 species of Flaveria (Asteraceae). Our analysis included two C(3) species of Flaveria, four C(4) species, and ten C(3)-C(4) or C(4)-like species, in addition to other C(4) (Zea mays and Amaranthus edulis) and C(3) (Spinacea oleracea and Chenopodium album) plants. The S(C/O) of the C(4) Flaveria species was about 77 mol mol(-1), which was approximately 5% lower than the corresponding value in the C(3) species. For Rubisco from the C(4) Flaverias kcat(CO(2)) and K(c) were 23% and 45% higher, respectively, than for Rubisco from the C(3) plants. Interestingly, it was found that the K(o) for Rubisco from the C(4) species F. bidentis and F. trinervia were similar to the C(3) Flaveria Rubiscos (approximately 650 microM) while the K(o) for Rubisco in the C(4) species F. kochiana, F. australasica, Z. mays, and A. edulis was reduced more than 2-fold. There were no pathway-related differences in K(m-RuBP). In the C(3)-C(4) species kcat(CO(2)) and K(c) were generally similar to the C(3) Rubiscos, but the K(o) values were more variable. The typical negative relationships were observed between S(C/O) and both kcat(CO(2)) and K(c), and a strongly positive relationship was observed between kcat(CO(2)) and Kc. However, the statistical significance of these relationships was influenced by the phylogenetic relatedness of the species.     

The Promoter of the Gene Encoding the C4 Form of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Directs Mesophyll-Specific Expression in Transgenic C4 Flaveria spp

The function of the C4 mechanism of photosynthesis depends on the strict compartmentation of the enzymes involved. Here, we investigate the regulatory mechanisms that ensure the mesophyll-specific expression of the C4 isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. We show that 2 kb of the 5[prime] flanking region of the Flaveria trinervia C4 PpcA1 gene is sufficient to direct mesophyll-specific expression of the [beta]-glucuronidase reporter gene in transgenic F. bidentis (C4) plants. In young leaves of seedlings, the activity of this promoter is dependent on the developmental stage of the mesophyll cells. It is induced in a basipetal fashion (leaf tip to base) during leaf development. The promoter region of the orthologous nonphotosynthetic Ppc gene of F. pringlei (C3) induces reporter gene expression mainly in the vascular tissue of leaves and stems as well as in mesophyll cells of transgenic F. bidentis plants. Our experiments demonstrate that during the evolution of the C4 Flaveria species, cis-acting elements of the C4 Ppc gene must have been altered to achieve mesophyll-specific expression.