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The occurrence of both C3 and C4 photosynthetic characteristics in a single Zea mays plant

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Abstract

The activities of the carboxylating enzymes ribulose-1,5-biphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase in leaves of three-week old Zea mays plants grown under phytotron conditions were found to vary according to leaf position. In the lower leaves the activity of PEP carboxylase was lower than that of RuBP carboxylase, while the upper leaves exhibited high levels of PEP carboxylase. Carbon dioxide compensation points and net photosynthetic rates also differed in the lower and upper leaves. Differences in the fine structure of the lowermost and uppermost leaves are shown. The existence of both the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in the same plant, in this and other species, is discussed.

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Abbreviations

PEP:

phosphoenolpyruvate

RuBP:

ribulose-1,5-biphosphate

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Author notes

  1. J. Tew

    Present address: Department of Botany, University of the Transkei, Umtata, Republic of the Transkei

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, 2001, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa

    H. M. Crespo, M. Frean, C. F. Cresswell & J. Tew

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  1. H. M. Crespo
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  2. M. Frean
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  3. C. F. Cresswell
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  4. J. Tew
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Crespo, H.M., Frean, M., Cresswell, C.F. et al. The occurrence of both C3 and C4 photosynthetic characteristics in a single Zea mays plant. Planta 147, 257–263 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388748

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388748

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