Young daughter cladodes affect CO2 uptake by mother cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica.

摘要: • Background and Aims Drought damages cultivated C3, C4 CAM plants in the semi-arid lands of central Mexico. damage to Opuntia is common when mother cladodes, planted during dry spring season, develop young daughter cladodes that behave like C3 plants, with daytime stomatal opening water loss. In contrast, wild are less affected because do not on them under extreme drought conditions. The main objective this work evaluate effects number gas exchange parameters ficus-indica exposed varying soil contents. • Methods Rates net CO2 uptake, conductance, intercellular concentration, chlorophyll content relative were measured mature a variable growing wet conditions. • Key Results Daily carbon gain by was reduced as increased eight, especially drought. This accompanied decreased cladode content, suggesting movement from cladodes. assimilation most phase IV (late afternoon uptake) combined Rainfall raised decreasing uptake cladodes. • Conclusions Daughter significantly hasten competition for supply thus decrease daily mainly inhibiting CAM.