Abstract
C4 photosynthetic pathway and morphological functional types were determined for 104 species in 45 genera and 10 families from the deserts of China. 67 C4 species (64.4 %) were found in Dicotyledoneae (e.g. Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae, and Amaranthaceae), the other 37 species were in Monocotyledoneae (e.g. Gramineae, Cyperaceae, and Commelinaceae). 36.5 % of the Chenopodiaceae species (predominantly members of the genera Anabasis, Atriplex, Kochia, Salsola, and Suaeda) identified in the desert regions were found with C4 photosynthesis, which was about 48 % of the total C4 species. Many C4 species (58.7 %) were annuals (e.g. Amaranthus, Atriplex, Digitaria, Eragrostis, Kochia, and Salsola) and experienced long-term droughts, high temperature, and high irradiance. Relatively more shrub C4 species (28 species of 104) were found in Chenopodiaceae (e.g. Anabasis, Camphorosma, Haloxylon, and Salsola) and Polygonaceae (e.g. Calligonum) in the desert regions. Most of shrub C4 species with small leaf area were no more than 1 m in height and distributed in sandy soils. Composition of relatively more annual species, shrubs, and Chenopodiaceae C4 species was the primary characteristic for the C4 species occurrence in deserts, and this was remarkably related with the arid environmental conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Black, C.C.: Ecological implications of dividing plants into groups with distinct photosynthetic production capacities.-In: Cragg, J.B. (ed.): Advances in Ecological Research. Vol. 7. Pp. 87–114. Academic Press, New York-London 1971.
Commissione Redactorum Florae Xinjiangensis: Flora Xinjiangensis.-Xinjiang Science & Technology & Hygiene Publishing House, Urmqi 1996.
Delectis Florae Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Agendae Academiae Sinicae Edita: Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae. Vols. 9, 10, 11, 12, 25, 26, 44, 63.-Science Press, Beijing 1977–1999.
Downton, W.J.S.: The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.-Photosynthetica 9: 96–105, 1975.
Downton, W.J., Tregunna, E.B.: Carbon dioxide compensation-its relation to photosynthetic carboxylation reactions, systematics of the Gramineae and leaf anatomy.-Can. J. Bot. 46: 207–215, 1968.
Ehleringer, J.R., Cerling, T.E., Helliker, B.R.: C4 photosynthesis, atmospheric CO2, and climate.-Oecologia 112: 285–299, 1997.
Hattersley, P.W.: Variations in photosynthetic pathway.-In: Soderstrom, T.R., Hilu, K.W., Campbell, C.D., Barkworth, M.E. (ed.): Grass Systematics and Evolution. Pp. 49–64. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington 1987.
Hattersley, P.W., Watson, L.: Diversification of photosynthesis.-In: Chapman, G.P. (ed.): Grass Evolution and Domestication. Pp. 38–116. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1992.
Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ed.): Vegetation in Xinjiang and its Use.-Science Press, Beijing 1978.
Liu, Y.X. (ed.): Flora in Desertis Reipublicae Populorum Sinarum. Tomus 1, 2, and 3.-Science Press, Beijing 1985–1992.
Kennedy, R.A., Eastburn, J.L., Jensen, K.G.: C3-C4 photosynthesis in the genus Mollugo: structure, physiology and evolution of intermediate characteristics.-Amer. J. Bot. 67: 345–363, 1983.
Mateu Andrés, I.: A revised list of the European C4 plants.-Photosynthetica 26: 323–331, 1993.
Pyankov, V.I., Gunin, P.D., Tsoog, S., Black, C.C.: C4 plants in the vegetation of Mongolia: their natural occurrence and geographical distribution in relation to climate.-Oecologia 123: 15–31, 2000.
Raghavendra, A.S., Das, V.S.R.: The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis: A supplementary list of C4 plants reported during late 1974-mid 1977.-Photosynthetica 12: 200–208, 1978.
Redmann, R.E., Yin, L., Wang, P.: Photosynthetic pathway types in grassland plant species from Northeast China.-Photosynthetica 31: 251–255, 1995.
Stowe, L.G., Teeri, J.A.: The geographic distribution of C4 species of the Dicotyledonae in relation to climate.-Amer. Naturalist 112: 609–623, 1978.
Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G.: Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America.-Oecologia 23: 1–12, 1976.
Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G., Livingstone, D.A.: The distribution of C4 species of the Cyperaceae in North America in relation to climate.-Oecologia 47: 307–310, 1980.
Waller, S.S., Lewis, J.K.: Occurrence of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in North American grasses.-J. Range Manage. 32: 12–28, 1979.
Wang, R.Z.: The C4 photosynthetic pathway and life forms in grassland species from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 97–102, 2002a.
Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathways and life forms in different grassland types from North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 243–250, 2002b.
Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathways, life forms and reproductive types for forage species along the desertification gradient on Hunshandake desert, North China.-Photosynthetica 40: 321–329, 2002c.
Wang, R.Z.: C4 plants in the vegetation of Tibet, China: their natural occurrence and altitude distribution pattern.-Photosynthetica 41: 21–26, 2003a.
Wang, R.Z.: Photosynthetic pathway and morphological functional types in the steppe vegetation from Inner Mongolia, North China.-Photosynthetica 41: 143–150, 2003b.
Wang, R.Z.: C4 species and their response to large-scale longitudinal climate variables along the Northeast China Transect (NECT).-Photosynthetica 42: 71–79, 2004.
Winter, K.: C4 plants of high biomass in arid regions of Asia-occurrence of C4 photosynthesis in Chenopodiaceae and Polygonaceae from the Middle East and USSR.-Oecologia 48: 100–106, 1981.
Ziegler, H., Batanouny, K.H., Sankhla, N., Vyas, O.P., Stichler, W.: The photosynthetic pathway types of some desert plants from India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iraq.-Oecologia 48: 93–99, 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, R.Z. C4 plants in the deserts of China: occurrence of C4 photosynthesis and its morphological functional types. Photosynthetica 45, 167–171 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-007-0028-y
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-007-0028-y