Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Temperature and water regulation of gas exchange of Opuntia polyacantha

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Opuntia polyacantha was collected from the shortgrass prairie in Colorado. Carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange was monitored in plants pretreated and analyzed under cool temperatures (20/15°C) and warm temperatures (35/15°C). Well watered plants under a 35/15 thermoperiod supported the fixation of atmospheric CO2 during the night, early morning, and late afternoon. Plants under a 20/15 thermoperiod exhibited CO2 uptake only during the afternoon. The fixation of CO2 at night could be stimulated or induced by decreasing the night temperature. Plants from which water was withheld two or four weeks showed a decline in CO2 fixation with the uptake at night exhibiting the greatest sensitivity. Under conditions of water stress the enhancement of CO2 uptake at night by cool night temperatures was largely lost. Plants water stressed for 4 weeks recovered rapidly upon rewatering under warm or cool temperatures. Rates of CO2 fixation were comparable to well watered plants within 24 h. The effects of temperature and water stress on gas exchange are compared to the in situ growth pattern of O. polyacantha and contrasted with the regulation of gas exchange observed in C3 and C4 grasses of the shortgrass prairie.

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

  • Bartholomew, B.: Drought response in the gas exchange of Dudleya farinosa (Crassulaceae) grown under natural conditions. Photosyn. 7, 114–120 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bement, R.E.: Plains pricklypear: Relation to grazing intensity and blue grama yield on central Great Plains. J. Range Manage. 21, 83–86 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow, P.C., Burnside, O.C., Lavy, T.L.: Physiological studies with prickly-pear. Weeds 14, 58–62 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, C.E., Dodd, J.L.: Phenological pattern in the shortgrass prairie. Am. Mid. Nat. 96, 367–378 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, J.L., Lauenroth, W.K.: Responses of Opuntia polyacantha to water and nitrogen perturbations in the shortgrass prairie. In: Prairie: A multiple view (M.K. Wali, ed.), pp. 229–240. Grand Forks, N.D.: North Dakota Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerwick, B.C., Williams, G.J. III: Environmental regulation of gas exchange in Opuntia polyacantha and its ecological implications in the shortgrass prairie ecosystem. Plant Physiol. (Supplement) (1977)

  • Hyder, D.N., Bement, R.E., Remmenga, E.E., Harvey, D.F.: Ecological responses of native plants and guidelines for management of shortgrass range. USDA. Tech. Bull. No. 1503, 87 pp. (1975)

  • Kausch, W.: Beziehungen zwischen Wurzelwachstum, Transpiration und CO2-Gaswechsel bei einigen Kakteen. Planta (Berl.) 66, 229–238 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, P.R.: Niche divergence between Agropyron smithii, C3, and Bouteloua gracilis, C4: A study of the role of differing photosynthetic pathways in the shortgrass prairie ecosystem. Ph. D. thesis, Washington State University, 167 pp. (1965)

  • Kluge, M., Lange, O.L., v. Eichmann, M., Schmid, R.: Diurnaler Säurerhythmus bei Tillandsia usneoides: Untersuchungen über den Weg des Kohlenstoffs sowie die Abhängigkeit des CO2-Gaswechsels von Lichtintensität, Temperatur und Wassergehalt der Pflanze. Planta (Berl.) 112, 357–372 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, D.H.: Leaf area dynamics of shortgrass prairie in Colorado. Ecology 54, 891–896 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange, O.L., Schulze, E.D., Kappen, L., Evenari, M., Buschbom, U.: CO2 exchange patterns under natural conditions of Caralluma negevensis, a CAM plant of the Negev desert. Photosyn. 9, 318–326 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luttge, V., Ball, E.: Water relation parameters of the CAM plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana in relation to diurnal malate oscillations. Oecologia (Berl.) 31, 89–94 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moir, W.H., Trlica, M.J.: Plant communities and vegetation pattern as affected by various treatments in shortgrass prairies of northeastern Colorado. Southwestern Nat. 21, 359–371 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalborczyk, E., La Croix, L.J., Hill, R.D.: Environmental influences on light and dark CO2 fixation by Kalanchoë daigremontiana. Can. J. Bot. 53, 1132–1138 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neales, T.F.: Effect of night temperature on the assimilation of carbon dioxide by mature pineapple plants, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. Aust. J. Biol Sci. 26, 539–546 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neales, T.F.: The effect of night temperature on CO2 assimilation, transpiration, and water use efficiency of Agave americana (L.). Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 26, 705–714 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neales, T.F.: The gas exchange patterns of CAM plants. In: Environmental and biological control of photosynthesis (R. Marcelle, ed.), pp. 290–310. The Hague: Junk 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbet, R.A., Patten, D.T.: Seasonal temperature acclimation of prickly pear cactus in South-Central Arizona. Oecologia (Berl.) 15, 345–352 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nobel, P.D.: Water relations and photosynthesis of a desert CAM plant, Agave deserti. Plant Physiol. 58, 576–582 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Osmond, C.B.: CO2 assimilation and dissimilation in the light and dark in CAM plants. In: CO2 metabolism and plant productivity (R.H. Burris, C.C. Black, eds.), pp. 217–233. Baltimore: University Park Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Patten, D.T., Dinger, B.E.: Carbon dioxide exchange patterns of cacti from different environments. Ecology 50, 686–688 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, B.G.: The path of carbon in CAM plants at night. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 2, 377–387 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Szarek, S.R., Ting, I.P.: Seasonal patterns of acid metabolism and gas exchange in Opuntia basilaris. Plant Physiol. 54, 76–81 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Szarek, S.R., Ting, I.P.: Physiological responses to rainfall in Opuntia basilaris (Cactaceae). Am. J. Bot. 62, 602–609 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting, I.P.: Crassulacean acid metabolism in natural ecosystems in relation to annual CO2 uptake patterns and water utilization. In: CO2 metabolism and plant productivity (R.H. Burris, C.C. Black, eds.), pp. 251–268. Baltimore: University Park Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Troughton, J.H., Wells, P.V., Mooney, H.A.: Photosynthetic mechanisms in ancient C4 and CAM species. Carnegie Inst. Year Book 73, 812–816 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G.J. III: Photosynthetic adaptation to temperature in C3 and C4 grasses. A possible ecological role in the shortgrass prairie. Plant Physiol. 54, 709–711 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G.J. III, Kemp, P.R.: Temperature relations of photosynthetic response in populations of Verbascum thapsus L. Oecologia (Berl.) 25, 47–54 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G.J. III, Markley, J.L.: The photosynthetic pathway of North American shortgrass prairie species and some ecological implications. Photosyn. 7, 262–270 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. B. Clifford Gerwick

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, GA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA

    B. Clifford Gerwick & George J. Williams III

  2. Program in General Biology, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA

    B. Clifford Gerwick & George J. Williams III

Authors
  1. B. Clifford Gerwick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. George J. Williams III
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported by funds from NSF Grants BMS 74-07894, GB-31862X, and GB-41233X

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clifford Gerwick, B., Williams, G.J. Temperature and water regulation of gas exchange of Opuntia polyacantha . Oecologia 35, 149–159 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344728

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344728

Keywords

Search

Navigation