Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthesis pathways, ecological characteristics, and the geographical distribution of the Cyperaceae in Japan

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The nature of the photosynthetic pathways of Cyperaceae found in Japan were investigated on the basis of Kranz anatomy, the CO2 compensation concentration and previously reported data. Among 301 species (96% of all cyperaceous species recorded in the region), 58 species were classified as being C4 plants. These C4 species were scattered among the tribes Fimbristylideae, Lipocarpheae, Cypereae and Rhynchosporeae in the subfamily Cyperoideae. The genera Cyperus, Eleocharis and Rhynchospora included, in Japan, both C3 and C4 species within a single genus. Using these data, an analysis was made of the ecological characteristics and geographical distribution of the C3 and C4 species in Japan. Although cyperaceous species grow in markedly different environments, the majority were found in wet and aquatic areas (61%) or shaded areas, such as forest floors (20%). Most of the C3 species were also hygrophytes (58%) and forest-living species (25%), and C3 species growing in mesic and dry areas were relatively rare. The C4 species inhabited wet and aquatic (75%), mesic (13%) and dry areas (6%) and showed marked ecological characteristics with respect to soil-moisture conditions, unlike other C4 plants, although they were absent from shaded habitats. In order to determine the climatic factors that influence the relative floristic abundance of C3 and C4 members of the Cyperaceae in Japan, the ratios of number of C4 species to the total number of members of Cyperaceae (C4 percentage) in 16 representative locales were examined in terms of various climatic variables. There were strong positive correlations between the C4 percentage and temperature. Among the C3 groups of three subfamilies, there were different distributional trends for various temperature regimes. The C3 subfamily Caricoideae increased its relative contribution to the cyperaceous flora with a decrease in mean annual temperature, while the C3 subfamily Sclerioideae exhibited the opposite pattern. The C3 group of the subfamily Cyperoideae did not show any marked change in pattern along temperature gradients, unlike the two other C3 subfamilies, and seemed to be heterogeneous in terms of its response to temperature. The relationships between the C4 biochemical subtypes and ecological characteristics are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akita S, Miyasaka A, Murata Y (1969) Studies on the differences of photosynthesis among species. I. Differences in the response of photosynthesis among species in normal oxygen concentration as influenced by some environmental factors. Proc Crop Sci Soc Japan 38:507–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender MM (1971) Variations in the 13C/12C ratios of plants in relation to the pathway of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation. Phytochemistry 10:1239–1244

    Google Scholar 

  • Black CC (1971) Ecological implications of dividing plants into groups with distinct photosynthetic production capacities. Adv Ecol Res 7:87–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Black CC (1973) Photosynthetic carbon fixation in relation to net CO2 uptake. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 24:253–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RH (1978) A difference in the N use efficiency in C3 and C4 plants and its implications in adaptation and evolution. Crop Sci 18:93–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RH (1985) Growth of C3 and C4 grasses under low N levels. Crop Sci 25:954–957

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RH (1975) Variations in anatomy, associations, and origin of Kranz tissue. Am J Bot 62:395–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruhl JJ, Stone NE, Hattersley PW (1987) C4 acid decarboxylation enzymes and anatomy in sedges (Cyperaceae): First record of NAD-malic enzyme species. Aust J Plant Physiol 14:719–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Carolin RC, Jacobs SWL, Vesk M (1977) The ultrastructure of Kranz cells in the family Cyperaceae. Bot Gaz 138:413–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards G, Walker DA (1983) C3, C4: Mechanisms and Cellular and Environmental Regulation of Photosynthesis. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis RP, Vogel JC, Flus A (1980) Photosynthetic pathways and the geographical distribution of gresses in South West Africa/Namibia. S Afr J Sci 76:307–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebauer G, Schubert B, Schuhmacher MI, Rehder H, Ziegler H (1987) Biomass production and nitrogen content of C3 and C4 grasses in pure and mixed culture with different nitrogen supply. Oecologia 71:613–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorham E, Somers MG (1973) Seasonal changes in the standing crop of two montane sedges. Can J Bot 51:1097–1108

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatushima S (1975) Flora of the Ryukyus, (In Japanese) Okinawa Seibutu Kyouiku Kenkyukai, Naha

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesla BI, Tieszen LL, Imbamba SK (1982) A systematic survey of C3 and C4 photosynthesis in the Cyperaceae of Kenya, East Africa. Photosynthetica 16:196–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstra JJ, Aksornkoae S, Atmowidiojo S, Banaag JF, Sastrohoetomo RA, Thu LYN (1972) A study of the occurrence of plants with a low CO2 compensation point in different habitats in the tropics. Ann Bogor 5:143–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper SS, Napper DM (1972) Cyperaceae. Flora of West Tropical Africa 111 (2):278–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Japan Meteorological Agency (1972) Climatic Table of Japan. Part 4, Pentad Normals 1941–1970, Tokyo

  • Jones MB (1987) The photosynthetic characteristics of papyrus in a tropical swamp. Oecologia 71:355–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones MB (1988) Photosynthetic responses of C3 and C4 wetland species in a tropical swamp. J Ecol 76:253–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones MB, Hannon GE, Coffey MD (1981) C4 photosynthesis in Cyperus longus L., a species occurring in temperate climates. Plant Cell Environ 4:161–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Kern JH (1974) Cyperaceae. Flora Malesiana I (7):435–753

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama T (1961a) Classification of the family Cyperaceae (1). J Fac Sci Univ Tokyo III 8 (3):37–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama T (1961b) Classification of the family Cyperaceae (3). J Taiwan Mus 14:159–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama T (1962) Classification of the family Cyperaceae (2). J Fac Sci Univ Tokyo III 8 (4):149–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama T (1979) Cyperaceae. Flora of Taiwan 5:191–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama T (1982) Cyperaceae. In: S Kitamura, G Murata, T Koyama (eds), Coloured Illustrations of Herbaceous Plants of Japan. Vol. 3 Monocotyledoneae. (In Japanese) Hoikusha Publ, Osaka, pp 210–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Krenzer EG, Moss DN, Crookston RK (1975) Carbon dioxide compensation points of flowering plants. Plant Physiol 56:194–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Kükenthal G (1936) Cyperaceae-Scirpoideae-Cypereae. Pflanzenreich 101 IV 20:1–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe CR (1971) Anatomy of the Monocotyledons. Vol. 5 Cyperaceae. Clarendon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Murata T, Ueno O, Ohsugi R (1989) Stimulatory effect of chloride ions on NADP-malic enzyme from leaves of two C4 species of Cyperus. Plant Cell Physiol 30:851–855

    Google Scholar 

  • Osmond CB, Winter K, Ziegler H (1982) Functional significance of different pathways of CO2 fixation in photosynthesis. Encycl Plant Physiol 12B II:479–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearcy RW, Ehleringer J (1984) Comparative ecophysiology of C3 and C4 plants. Plant Cell Environ 7:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Prendergast HDV (1989) Geographical distribution of C4 acid decarboxylation types and associated structural variants in native Australian C4 grasses (Poaceae). Aust J Bot 37:253–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Raghavendra AS, Das VSR (1976) Distribution of the C4 decarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis in local monocotyledonous plants and its taxonomic significance. New Phytol 76:301–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Raynal J (1973) Notes Cypérologiques: 19. Contribution à la classification de la sous-famille des Cyperoideae. Adansonia Ser. 2 13:145–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Sage RF, Pearcy RW (1987) The nitrogen use efficiency of C3 and C4 plants. I. Leaf nitrogen, growth, and biomass partitioning in Chenopodium album (L.) and Amaranthus retroflexus (L.). Plant Physiol 84:954–958

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt MR, Edwards GE (1981) Photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen use efficiency of maize, wheat and rice: a comparison between C3 and C4 photosynthesis. J Exp Bot 128:459–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Snaydon RW (1991) The productivity of C3 and C4 plants: a reassessment. Funct Ecol 5:321–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugahara S (1973) Plants of Saghalien. (In Japanese) Karafuto Shokubutu Kenkyu Koenkai, Toyohara

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeda T, Ueno O, Agata W (1980) The occurrence of C4 species in the genus Rhynchospora and its significance in Kranz anatomy of the Cyperaceae. Bot Mag (Tokyo) 93:55–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeda T, Ueno O, Samejima M, Ohtani T (1985a) An investigation for the occurrence of C4 photosynthesis in the Cyperaceae from Australia. Bot Mag (Tokyo) 98:393–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeda T, Tanigawa T, Agata W, Hakoyama S (1985b) Studies on the ecology and geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses 1. Taxonomic and geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Japan with special reference to climatic conditions. Japan J Crop Sci 54:54–64 (In Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Teeri JA, Stowe LG, Livingstone DA (1980) The distribution of C4 species of the Cyperaceae in North America in relation to climate. Oecologia 47:307–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Tieszen LL, Senyimba MM, Imbanba SK, Troughton JH (1979) The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses and carbon isotope discrimination along an altitudinal and moisture gradient in Kenya. Oecologia 37:337–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O (1983) Distribution and evolution of C4 photosynthesis in the family Cyperaceae. (In Japanese) Ph D Thesis, Kyushu University, Fukuoka

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Koyama T (1987) Distribution and evolution of C4 syndrome in Rhynchospora (Rhynchosporeae — Cyperaceae). Bot Mag (Tokyo) 100:63–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Samejima M (1989) Structural features of NAD-malic enzyme type C4 Eleocharis: An additional report of C4 acid decarboxylation types of the Cyperaceae. Bot Mag (Tokyo) 102:393–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Takeda T, Murata T (1986a) C4 acid decarboxylating enzyme activities of C4 species possessing different Kranz anatomical types in the Cyperaceae. Photosynthetica 20:111–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Takeda T, Samejima M, Koyama T (1986b) Morphological and photosynthetic characteristics of an amphibious C4 plant in the genus Eleocharis (Cyperaceae). (In Japanese) Japan J Crop Sci 55 Ext Issue 1:240–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Samejima M, Muto S, Miyachi S (1988) Photosynthetic characteristics of an amphibious plant, Eleocharis vivipara Expression of C4 and C3 modes in contrasting environments. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:6733–6737

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueno O, Samejima M, Koyama T (1989) Distribution and evolution of C4 syndrome in Eleocharis, a sedge group inhabiting wet and aquatic environments, based on culm anatomy and carbon isotope ratios. Ann Bot 64:425–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel JC, Fuls A, Danin A (1986) Geographical and environmental distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in the Sinai, Negev, and Judean deserts. Oecologia 70:258–265

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physiology, National Institute of Agrobiological Resources, 305, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan

    O. Ueno

  2. Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 804, Fukuoka, Japan

    T. Takeda

Authors
  1. O. Ueno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Takeda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ueno, O., Takeda, T. Photosynthesis pathways, ecological characteristics, and the geographical distribution of the Cyperaceae in Japan. Oecologia 89, 195–203 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317218

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317218

Key words

Search

Navigation