Influence of photoperiod on growth for three desert CAM species. [Agave deserti, Ferocactus acanthodes, Opuntia ficus-indica]

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Botanical Gazette (Chicago); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/337742· OSTI ID:5033997

Nobel, P S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

Agave deserti, Ferocactus acanthodes, and Opuntia ficus-indica were maintained in environmental growth chambers under a constant total daily photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for 1 yr to investigate the effects of photoperiod on growth of these Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species. As the photoperiod was increased from 6 h to 18 h, growth increased 33% for A. deserti, 81% for F. acanthodes, and 50% for O. ficus-indica. Such increases were explained based on PAR saturation of the C{sub 3} photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle utilized by CAM plants during the daytime. In particular, the highest instantaneous PAR occurred for the shortest photoperiod and led to less growth for the same total daily PAR. Also, the total daily net CO{sub 2} uptake which occurred primarily at night, increased 53% as the photoperiod was increased from 6 to 18 h for O. ficus-indica, even though the accompanying night length decreased. The only other observed morphological effect was the sevenfold increase in the number of new cladodes initiated as the photoperiod was increased from 6 h to 18 h for O. ficus-indica. The influence of photoperiod on the daily pattern of net CO{sub 2} uptake and lack of effect of drought on plant survival under long photoperiods for O. ficus-indica differ from previous reports on this and other CAM species.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-87ER60615
• OSTI ID: 5033997
• Journal Information: Botanical Gazette (Chicago); (USA), Vol. 150:1; ISSN 0006-8071
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DESERTS
PLANT GROWTH
PHOTOPERIOD
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
DROUGHTS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
ARID LANDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
GROWTH
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SYNTHESIS
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)