In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange
The accumulation of crystal calcium oxalate (CaOx) in plants is linked to a type of stress-induced photosynthesis termed ‘alarm photosynthesis’, serving as a carbon reservoir when carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) exchange is constrained. <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> is an extr...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/769 |
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| author | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Francisca I. Fuentes Constanza F. Ramírez León A. Bravo Patricia L. Sáez |
| author_facet | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Francisca I. Fuentes Constanza F. Ramírez León A. Bravo Patricia L. Sáez |
| author_sort | Olman Gómez-Espinoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The accumulation of crystal calcium oxalate (CaOx) in plants is linked to a type of stress-induced photosynthesis termed ‘alarm photosynthesis’, serving as a carbon reservoir when carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) exchange is constrained. <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> is an extremophyte found from southern Mexico to Antarctica, which thrives in high-altitude Andean regions. Growing under common garden conditions, <i>C. quitensis</i> from different latitudinal provenances display significant variations in CaOx crystal accumulation. This raises the following questions: are these differences maintained under natural conditions? And is the CaOx accumulation related to mesophyll conductance (g<sub>m</sub>) and net photosynthesis (A<sub>N</sub>) performed in situ? It is hypothesized that in provenances with lower g<sub>m</sub>, <i>C. quitensis</i> will exhibit an increase in the use of CaOx crystals, resulting in reduced crystal leaf abundance. Plants from Central Chile (33°), Patagonia (51°), and Antarctica (62°) were measured in situ and sampled to determine gas exchange and CaOx crystal accumulation, respectively. Both A<sub>N</sub> and g<sub>m</sub> decrease towards higher latitudes, correlating with increases in leaf mass area and leaf density. The crystal accumulation decreases at higher latitudes, correlating positively with A<sub>N</sub> and g<sub>m</sub>. Thus, in provenances where environmental conditions induce more xeric traits, the CO<sub>2</sub> availability for photosynthesis decreases, making the activation of alarm photosynthesis feasible as an internal source of CO<sub>2</sub>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:53:27Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:53:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0444d433d08e4992ac3a99e35613ce632024-03-27T14:00:36ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-03-0113676910.3390/plants13060769In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas ExchangeOlman Gómez-Espinoza0Francisca I. Fuentes1Constanza F. Ramírez2León A. Bravo3Patricia L. Sáez4Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileLaboratorio Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Centro de Biotecnología, Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileThe accumulation of crystal calcium oxalate (CaOx) in plants is linked to a type of stress-induced photosynthesis termed ‘alarm photosynthesis’, serving as a carbon reservoir when carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) exchange is constrained. <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> is an extremophyte found from southern Mexico to Antarctica, which thrives in high-altitude Andean regions. Growing under common garden conditions, <i>C. quitensis</i> from different latitudinal provenances display significant variations in CaOx crystal accumulation. This raises the following questions: are these differences maintained under natural conditions? And is the CaOx accumulation related to mesophyll conductance (g<sub>m</sub>) and net photosynthesis (A<sub>N</sub>) performed in situ? It is hypothesized that in provenances with lower g<sub>m</sub>, <i>C. quitensis</i> will exhibit an increase in the use of CaOx crystals, resulting in reduced crystal leaf abundance. Plants from Central Chile (33°), Patagonia (51°), and Antarctica (62°) were measured in situ and sampled to determine gas exchange and CaOx crystal accumulation, respectively. Both A<sub>N</sub> and g<sub>m</sub> decrease towards higher latitudes, correlating with increases in leaf mass area and leaf density. The crystal accumulation decreases at higher latitudes, correlating positively with A<sub>N</sub> and g<sub>m</sub>. Thus, in provenances where environmental conditions induce more xeric traits, the CO<sub>2</sub> availability for photosynthesis decreases, making the activation of alarm photosynthesis feasible as an internal source of CO<sub>2</sub>.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/769alarm photosynthesisCaOX crystals<i>C. quitensis</i>mesophyll conductancephotosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Francisca I. Fuentes Constanza F. Ramírez León A. Bravo Patricia L. Sáez In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange Plants alarm photosynthesis CaOX crystals <i>C. quitensis</i> mesophyll conductance photosynthesis |
| title | In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange |
| title_full | In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange |
| title_fullStr | In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange |
| title_short | In Situ Accumulation of CaOx Crystals in <i>C. quitensis</i> Leaves and Its Relationship with Anatomy and Gas Exchange |
| title_sort | in situ accumulation of caox crystals in i c quitensis i leaves and its relationship with anatomy and gas exchange |
| topic | alarm photosynthesis CaOX crystals <i>C. quitensis</i> mesophyll conductance photosynthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/769 |
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