DISTRIBUTION OF DIURNAL ACID METABOLISM IN THE GENUS ISOETES

Previous studies have revealed a crassulacean acid metabolism-like pathway in the submerged aquatic Isoetes howellii (Isoetaceae). A survey of 11 other species in this largely aquatic genus showed all had diurnal fluctuations in titratable acidity and malic acid concentration. The magnitude of the diurnal fluctuation in titratable acidity varied from 119 (μeq g^–1 fresh weight) for I. bolanderi to 44 for I. engelmanni. Although these species were grown under similar conditions in a greenhouse, it is questionable whether or not any significance can be attached to observed species specific differences in magnitude of diurnal acid fluctuation. This is suggested by a single species comparison of plants in the field with greenhouse grown plants which indicated nearly as much variation in magnitude of acid fluctuations as observed across all species in the greenhouse. Much of this variation may be due to seasonal differences. Substrate appears to have very little effect on magnitude of acid fluctuations. Since this survey covered most of the range of the latitudinal, elevational, habitat, and morphological variation in the genus, it is likely that diurnal acid metabolism will prove to be common in the genus Isoetes.