Cacti and bromeliads have developed several characteristics that allow them to survive in dry conditions through drought-tolerant mechanisms. Both are CAM plants that open their stomata at night to fix carbon. Cacti have lost their leaves and use their stems for photosynthesis, which are covered in a waxy cuticle and spines to reduce water loss. Their shallow roots spread widely to maximize water intake. Bromeliads form water-storing leaf tanks and have thick, water-storing leaves covered in scales. These adaptations allow cacti and bromeliads to effectively use water resources under drought conditions.
C4 cycle may also be referred as the di-carboxylic acid cycle or the β-carboxylation pathway or Hatch and Slack cycle or cooperative photosynthesis (Karpilov, 1970). For a long time, C3 cycle was considered to be the only photosynthetic pathway for reduction of CO2 into carbohydrates. Kortschak, Hartt and Burr (1965) reported that rapidly photosynthesizing sugarcane leaves produced a 4-C compound like aspartic acid and malic acid as a result of CO2 – fixation.
It was later supported by M. D. Hatch and C. R. Slack (1966) and they reported that a 4-C compound oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is the first stable product in CO2 reduction process. This pathway was first reported in members of family Poaceae like sugarcane, maize, sorghum, etc. (tropical grasses), but later on the other subtropical plant like Atriplex spongiosa (Salt bush), Dititaria samguinolis, Cyperus rotundus, Amaranthus etc. So, the cycle has been reported not only in the members of Graminae but also among certain members of Cyperaceae and certain dicots.
C4 cycle may also be referred as the di-carboxylic acid cycle or the β-carboxylation pathway or Hatch and Slack cycle or cooperative photosynthesis (Karpilov, 1970). For a long time, C3 cycle was considered to be the only photosynthetic pathway for reduction of CO2 into carbohydrates. Kortschak, Hartt and Burr (1965) reported that rapidly photosynthesizing sugarcane leaves produced a 4-C compound like aspartic acid and malic acid as a result of CO2 – fixation.
It was later supported by M. D. Hatch and C. R. Slack (1966) and they reported that a 4-C compound oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is the first stable product in CO2 reduction process. This pathway was first reported in members of family Poaceae like sugarcane, maize, sorghum, etc. (tropical grasses), but later on the other subtropical plant like Atriplex spongiosa (Salt bush), Dititaria samguinolis, Cyperus rotundus, Amaranthus etc. So, the cycle has been reported not only in the members of Graminae but also among certain members of Cyperaceae and certain dicots.
Plants have adaptations to help them survive (live and grow) in different areas. Adaptations are special features that allow a plant or animal to live in a particular place or habitat. These adaptations might make it very difficult for the plant to survive in a different place.
This explains why certain plants are found in one area, but not in another. For example, you wouldn't see a cactus living in the Arctic. Nor would you see lots of really tall trees living in grasslands.
This presentation focuses on anatomical adaptations of three major types of plants: Hydrophytes, mesophytes and xerophytes.
1. Leaf as a broad absorptive surface Most plants have broad leaves.pdfaquacosmossystems
1. Leaf as a broad absorptive surface: Most plants have broad leaves that increases the relative
surface area available for absorption of solar radiation. Plants with smaller (small surface area)
leaves absorb less solar radiation, but those may be beneficial for other environmental
conditions.
2. Modification of leaves in xerophytes: Xerophytes (succulents) have leaves modified into thorn
meant to minimize transpirational loss of water.
3. CAM pathway is present in many xerophytes. It allows the plants to maintain the stomata in
closed state for prolonged periods when exposed to water scarcity. Closure of stomata prevents
loss of water from plant tissue.
4. C4 pathway present in many plants of temperate regions spatially isolates “CO2 absorption”
and “CO2 fixation” through development of Kranz anatomy. This spatial separation benefits the
plant by minimizing the need of keeping stomata in open state during photosynthesis. It
therefore, also helps the plant increase efficiency of CO2 uptake under low [CO2] in
environment as well as minimize transpirational loss of water during photosynthesis.
Solution
1. Leaf as a broad absorptive surface: Most plants have broad leaves that increases the relative
surface area available for absorption of solar radiation. Plants with smaller (small surface area)
leaves absorb less solar radiation, but those may be beneficial for other environmental
conditions.
2. Modification of leaves in xerophytes: Xerophytes (succulents) have leaves modified into thorn
meant to minimize transpirational loss of water.
3. CAM pathway is present in many xerophytes. It allows the plants to maintain the stomata in
closed state for prolonged periods when exposed to water scarcity. Closure of stomata prevents
loss of water from plant tissue.
4. C4 pathway present in many plants of temperate regions spatially isolates “CO2 absorption”
and “CO2 fixation” through development of Kranz anatomy. This spatial separation benefits the
plant by minimizing the need of keeping stomata in open state during photosynthesis. It
therefore, also helps the plant increase efficiency of CO2 uptake under low [CO2] in
environment as well as minimize transpirational loss of water during photosynthesis..
Xerophytes are plants which grow in xeric environment. They have adapted morphological, physiological and anatomical changes in order to survive in xeric conditions. Various anatomical adaptations in xerophytic plants which helps to absorb as much as water as possible, to store for long time and to reduce the rate of transpiration which enables them to survive in xeric condition are included in the presentation.
1. TBF 3023
Plant Physiology
PBL-
WHEN NATURE STRIKES
Group members:
Wong Siew ChingD20091034815
Chew Mei Ping D20091034816
Ong Shwu Chyn D20091034817
Yee Hon Kit D20091034822
Ngang Huey Chi D20091034861
2. HOW CACTUS AND BROMELIADS CAN
GROW WELL UNDER DRY CONDITION?
3. Cacti -most water-resourceful plants in the world
Pineapple- highly tolerant of drought.
Drought tolerant
refers to the degree to which a plant is adapted
to arid or drought conditions.
drought tolerant plants typically make use of
either C4 carbon fixation / crassulacean acis
metabolism (CAM) to fix carbon during
photosynthesis.
Both cactus and bromeliads are CAM plants.
5. THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT HELP THEM TO SURVIVE
IN DROUGHT.
Cactuses Criteria Bromeliads
Leaves on most cacti are Leaves ~The epidermis of leaf is
absent or extremely tiny especially thick and tough
to resist damage and
desiccation.
~A special layer of water
storage cells on the
underside of the leaf that
act as a reserve in times
of water stress
~have tiny scales on their
leaves called trichomes.
The cactus stem serves Stem Have distinctive, water-
as the plant's main absorbing scales . Their
photosynthetic organ and thinness and large
is used for water storage surface area make the
scales ideal for rapidly
absorbing water.
6. Cactuses Criteria Bromeliads
Cactus roots help to Roots Able to resist wilting
gather and preserve
water in several ways .
open their stomates at Stomata Opens its stomata during
night rather than during the night rather than the
the day in hot or dry daytime
climates (CAM Photosynthesis)
(CAM Photosynthesis)
•Spines Others •Xerophytes
•Skin
7. BROMELIADS LEAVES
Unique shape and arrangement of the leaves of
bromeliads.
Wide and deeply U-shaped where they join the stem, forming
a series of vessel-like compartments.
When it rains, water flows down the leaves and pools in the
compartments, where it can be absorbed by the umbrella
scales.
Remarkable "tank plants" - Nidularium and Billbergia.
Greatly reduced stem & densely packed leaves have
broad, overlapping bases, resulting in a pitcher or vase-
like center-the tank.
Rainwater fills the tank ,as the tank is shaded by the
dense crown of leaves around it, the water does not
evaporate quickly and can persist, enabling the plant to
survive periods of drought
8. CACTUSES ROOTS
Shallow & extensive root systems
Spread laterally away from the plant.
Maximize water intake from a large area.
Change characteristics as the water supply fluctuates.
Existing dehydrated roots become more water conductive
after rainfall.
Formation of new rain roots to help soak up water.
In times of drought, the rain roots shrivel and fall off .The
existing roots dehydrate.
The shrinkage of the existing roots creates an air gap that
helps to prevent water in the roots from escaping back to the
soil.
A corky layer on the roots also helps to prevent water loss.
9. SPINES OF CACTUS
Spines help the cactus in several ways.
Protection against foragers.
Water from dew condenses on spines and, in some cactus
species, downward-pointing spines help to direct rainwater to
the roots of the plant.
Reflect light away from the cactus stem theoretically lowering
the stem temperature.
Trap in a layer of air next to the cactus stem preventing loss of
water via evaporative cooling.
10. SKIN OF CACTUS
Translucent & acts as the first line of defense against fungi,
bacteria, and foraging animals.
The skin has two parts: the epidermis and the hypodermis.
The skin's hypodermis layer provides mechanical support for the
plant.
A waxy layer of cells known as the cuticle covers the skin’s
epidermis.
The wax in the cuticle helps the stem to hold in its water vapor
reducing water loss.
Waxy cuticle is also lightly colored and reflects some of the incident
light.
Contains numerous stomata
(However, is less than the number for normal plants - another
water-saving characteristic.)
11. XEROPHYTES
Possess many of the usual, water-conserving
adaptations of such plants:
A thick epidermis covered with wax
Water-storage cells that cause the leaves to appear
succulent (that is thick and fleshy
Sheathing leaf bases.
20. CO2 FIXATION AND CO2 ACCEPTOR
C3 plants C4 plants CAM plants
Once, only in Twice, first in Once, only in
mesophyll cells. mesophyll cells and then mesophyll cells.
in bundle sheath cells.
Ribulose Phosphoenelpyruvate Phosphoenelpyruv
biphosphate RuBP PEP (3C) -mesophyll ate PEP (3C) -
(5C) –mesophyll cells cells mesophyll cells
Ribulose biphosphate
RuBP (5C) –bundle
sheath cells
21. ENZYME AND FIRST PRODUCT FORMED
C3 plants C4 plants CAM plants
RuBP carboxylase PEP carboxylase PEP
-inefficient at low CO2 -high affinity for CO2 carboxylase
concentration. at low concentration -high affinity for
CO2 at low
RuBP carboxylase concentration
-efficient at high
CO2 concentration.
Glycerate 3- Oxaloacetate, a C4 Oxaloacetate, a
phosphate (GP), a C3 acid. C4 acid.
acid.
22. PHOTORESPIRATION
CO2+RuBP(5C) 2G3P (3C)
O2+RuBP(5C) phosphoglycorate (2C)+G3P (3C)
Phosphoglycorate was the react with O2 to form
CO2 with no production of energy
Is wasteful
23. PHOTORESPIRATION
-O2 IS USED, CO2 IS RELEASED
C3 plants C4 plants CAM plants
Occurs. Inhibited by high Inhibited by high
Oxygen acts as concentration of CO2. concentration of
competitive inhibitor. Light intensity & CO2.
temperature are
higher, O2 is not a
competitive inhibitor.
24. EFFICIENCY OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
C3 plants C4 plants CAM plants
Less efficient Photosynthesis Photosynthesis
photosynthesis than C4 more efficient. more efficient.
plant. Yields are usually
Yields usually lower. much higher.
25. LEAF ANATOMY
C3 plants C4 plants CAM plants
Two distinct tissues: Vascular bundle Krantz anatomy
•palisade cell surrounded by two absent
•mesophyll cell rings of cells: 1 type of
Krantz anatomy •mesophyll cell chloroplast in
absent •bundle sheath cell mesophyll cells
1 type of chloroplast Thinner than C3
in mesophyll cells plant
Vascular bundle
packed tightly, many
chloroplasts
Bcoz hatch slack pathway is in the C4 and CAM plant, increase the CO2 conc for carboxylation in calvin cycle, so photorespiration is prevent or reduce.