Correlation between CAM-Cycling and Photosynthetic Gas Exchange in Five Species of Talinum (Portulacaceae)

Photosynthetic gas exchange and malic acid fluctuations were monitored in 69 well-watered plants from five morphologically similar species of Talinum in an investigation of the ecophysiological significance of the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)-cycling mode of photosynthesis. Unlike CAM, atmospheric CO₂ uptake in CAM-cycling occurs exclusively during the day; at night, the stomata are closed and respiratory CO₂ is recaptured to form malic acid. All species showed similar patterns of day-night gas exchange and overnight malic acid accumulation, confirming the presence of CAM-cycling. Species averages for gas exchange parameters and malic acid fluctuation were significantly different such that the species with the highest daytime gas exchange had the lowest malic acid accumulation and vice versa. Also, daytime CO₂ exchange and transpiration were negatively correlated with overnight malic acid fluctuation for all individuals examined together, as well as within one species. This suggests that malic acid may effect reductions in both atmospheric CO₂ uptake and transpiration during the day. No significant correlation between malic acid fluctuation and water-use efficiency was found, although a nonsignificant trend of increasing water-use efficiency with increasing malic acid fluctuation was observed among species averages. This study provides evidence that CO₂ recycling via malic acid is negatively correlated with daytime transpirational water losses in well-watered plants. Thus, CAM-cycling could be important for survival in the thin, frequently desiccated soils of rock outcrops on which these plants occur.