Summary
Two CAM plant species (Kalanchoe daigremontiana and K. tubiflora) were cultivated in pure cultures with two different levels of nitrogen and water supply. A comparison of the plant dry weight showed that the productivity was severely reduced under low nitrogen or/and water conditions. Additionally the proportion of the different organs contributing to the total biomass, and thus the ratio of root/shoot dry weight shifted substantially. At the same time the production of leaf buds in ratio to leaf biomass was increased. Concentrations of organic nitrogen and nitrate in the shoots were drastically reduced under low nitrogen or/and water conditions, but organic nitrogen concentration in the roots remained relatively high. The leaf conductance over a day was investigated only for K. daigremontiana, and decreased with reduced water and nitrogen supply. The results indicate that CAM plants do not have the predicted high nitrogen use efficiency. Under environmental stress they change from biomass production towards provisions for life preservation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Austenfeld F-A (1972) Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Nitratspeicherung und Nitratassimilation von Chenopodium album L. Z Pflanzenphysiol 67:255–270
Bennett JM, Jones JW, Zur B, Hammond LC (1986) Interactive effects of nitrogen and water stresses on water relations of field-grown corn leaves. Agr J 78:273–280
Björkman O, Boynton J, Berry J (1976) Comparison of the heat stability of photosynthesis, chloroplast membrane reactions, photosynthetic enzymes, and soluble protein in leaves of heat-adapted and cold-adapted C4 species. Carnegie Inst Washington Yearb 75:400–407
Brown RH (1978) A difference in the N use efficiency in C3 and C4 plants and its implications in adaption and evolution. Crop Sci 18:93–98
Clarkson DT, Hanson JB (1980) The mineral nutrition of higher plants. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 31:239–298
Davidson RL (1969) Effects of soil nutrient and moisture on root/shoot ratios in Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. Ann Bot (London) 33:571–577
Edwards GE, Ku MSB, Monson RK (1985) C4 photosynthesis and its regulation. In: Barber J, Baker NR (eds) Photosynthetic mechanisms and the environment. Elsevier, Amsterdam-New York, pp 288–327
Ehleringer J (1983) Ecophysiology of Amaranthus palmeri, a Sonoran desert summer annual. Oecologia 57:107–112
Ellenberg H (1977) Stickstoff als Standortsfaktor, insbesondere für mitteleuropäische Pflanzengesellschaften. Oecol Plant 12:1–22
Gebauer G, Melzer A, Rehder H (1984) Nitrate content in Rumex obtusifolius L. I. Differences in organs and diurnal changes. Oecologia 63:136–142
Gebauer G, Schubert B, Schuhmacher MI, Rehder H, Ziegler H (1987a) Biomass production and nitrogen content of C3- and C4-grasses in pure and mixed culture with different nitrogen supply. Oecologia 71:613–617
Gebauer G, Schuhmacher MI, Krstić B, Rehder H, Ziegler H (1987b) Biomass production and nitrate metabolism of Atriplex hortensis L. (C3 plant) and Amaranthus retroflexus L. (C4 plant) in cultures at different levels of nitrogen supply. Oecologia 72:303–314
Hipkin CR, Al Gharbi A, Robertson KP (1984) Studies on NRA in British angiosperms. II. Variation in nitrate reductase activity in natural populations. New Phytol 97:641–651
Ihlenfeldt H-D (1985) Lebensformen und Überlebensstrategien bei Sukkulenten. Ben Deutsch Bot Ges 98:409–423
Janiesch P (1973) Beitrag zur Physiologie der Nitrophyten. Nitrat-speicherung und Nitratassimilation bei Anthriscus sylvestris Hoffm. Flora 162:479–491
Kluge M, Fischer K (1967) Über Zusammenhänge zwischen dem CO2-Austausch und der Abgabe von Wasserdampf durch Bryophyllum daigremontianum Berg. Planta 77:212–223
Knapp R (1983) Die Vegetation von Afrika. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, pp 266–269
Küppers M, Koch G, Mooney HA (1988) Compensating effects to growth of changes in dry matter allocation in response to variation in photosynthetic characteristics induced by photoperiod, light and nitrogen. Aust J Plant Physiol 15:287–298
Lee JA, Stewart RG (1978) Ecological aspects of nitrogen assimilation. Adv Bot Res 6:2–43
Medina E (1970) Relationships between nitrogen level, photosynthetic capacity and carboxydismutase activity in Atriplex patula leaves. Carnegie Inst Yearb 69:655–662
Melzer A, Gebauer G, Rehder H (1984) Nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity in Rumex obtusifolius L. II. Responses to nitrate starvation and nitrogen fertilization. Oecologia 63:380–385
Öztürk M, Rehder H, Ziegler H (1981) Biomass production of C3- and C4-plant species in pure and mixed culture with different water supply. Oecologia 50:73–81
Osmond CB, Winter K, Ziegler H (1982) Functional significance of different pathways of CO2 fixation in photosynthesis. In: Lange OL, Nobel PS, Ziegler H (eds) Physiological plant ecology II. Encyclopedia of plant physiology, NS, vol 12 B. Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York-Tokyo, pp 479–547
Pearcy RW, Ehleringer J (1984) Comparative ecophysiology of C3 and C4 plants. Plant Cell Environ 7:1–13
Pearcy RW, Tumosa N, Williams K (1981) Relationship between growth, photosynthesis and competitive interactions for a C3 and a C4 plant. Oecologia 48:371–376
Radin JW, Parker LL (1979) Water relation of cotton plants under nitrogen deficiency. II. Environmental interactions on stomata. Plant Physiol 64:499–501
Rehder H (1982) Nitrogen relations of ruderal communities (Rumicion alpini) in the northern calcareous alps. Oecologia 55:120–129
Schmidt G, Gebauer G, Rehder H, Ziegler H (in preparation) Biomass production and transpiration of Atriplex hortensis L. (C3 plant) and Amaranthus retroflexus L. (C4 plant) in pure and mixed cultures with different nitrogen and water supply
Smith JAC, Lüttge U (1985) Day-night changes in leaf water relations associated with the rhythm of CAM in Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Planta 163:272–282
Szarek SR, Ting IP (1974) Seasonal patterns of acid metabolism and gas exchange in Opuntia basilaris. Plant Physiol 54:76–81
Thayer JR, Huffaker RC (1980) Determination of nitrate and nitrite by high-pressure liquid chromatography: comparison with other methods for nitrate determination. Anal Biochem 102:110–119
Willert DJ von, Brinckmann E, Scheitler B, Eller BM (1985) Availability of water controls CAM in succulents of the Richtersveld (Namib desert, South Africa). Planta 164:44–55
Willingen P de (1986) Supply of soil nitrogen to the plant during the growing season. In: Lambers H, Neeteson JJ, Stulen I (eds) Fundamental, ecological, and agricultural aspects of nitrogen metabolism in higher plants. Nijhof Publisher, Dordrecht-Boston-Lancaster, pp 417–432
Winter K (1985) Crassulacean acid metabolism. In: Barber J, Barker NR (eds) Photosynthetic mechanisms and the environment. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam-New York, pp 330–381
Winter K, Foster JG, Schmitt MR, Edwards GE (1982) Activity and quantity of Rubp-carboxylase- and PEP-carboxylase-protein in two CAM-plants in relation to leaf age, nitrogen nutrition, and point in time during a day/night cycle. Planta 154:309–317
Wong SC (1979) Elevated atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 and plant growth. I. Interactions of nitrogen and photosynthetic capacity in C3 and C4 plants. Oecologia 44:68–74
Zander R (1984) Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen. Ulmer, Stuttgart
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Widmann, K., Gebauer, G., Rehder, H. et al. Biomass production and nitrogen contents of the CAM plants Kalanchoe daigremontiana and K. tubiflora in cultures with different nitrogen and water supply. Oecologia 82, 478–483 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319789
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319789