Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions
Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals are widespread among plant species. Their functions are not yet completely understood; however, they can provide tolerance against multiple environmental stress factors. Recent evidence suggested that CaOx crystals function as carbon reservoirs since its decomposition...
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/10/1307 |
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| author | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Daniel González-Ramírez Panagiota Bresta George Karabourniotis León A. Bravo |
| author_facet | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Daniel González-Ramírez Panagiota Bresta George Karabourniotis León A. Bravo |
| author_sort | Olman Gómez-Espinoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals are widespread among plant species. Their functions are not yet completely understood; however, they can provide tolerance against multiple environmental stress factors. Recent evidence suggested that CaOx crystals function as carbon reservoirs since its decomposition provides CO<sub>2</sub> that may be used as carbon source for photosynthesis. This might be advantageous in plants with reduced mesophyll conductance, such as the Antarctic plant <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i>, which have shown CO<sub>2</sub> diffusion limitations. In this study, we evaluate the effect of two CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in the CaOx crystals decomposition and chlorophyll fluorescence of <i>C. quitensis</i>. Plants were exposed to airflows with 400 ppm and 11.5 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> and the number and relative size of crystals, electron transport rate (ETR), and oxalate oxidase (OxO) activity were monitored along time (10 h). Here we showed that leaf crystal area decreases over time in plants with 11.5 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>, which was accompanied by increased OxO activity and only a slight decrease in the ETR. These results suggested a relation between CO<sub>2</sub> limiting conditions and the CaOx crystals decomposition in <i>C. quitensis</i>. Hence, crystal decomposition could be a complementary endogenous mechanism for CO<sub>2</sub> supply in plants facing the Antarctic stressful habitat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:52:34Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:52:34Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-279149a6f32946c2b552bd4fa67922952023-11-20T15:56:26ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-10-01910130710.3390/plants9101307Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting ConditionsOlman Gómez-Espinoza0Daniel González-Ramírez1Panagiota Bresta2George Karabourniotis3León A. Bravo4Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales & Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, 1145 Temuco, ChileCentro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa RicaLaboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 118 55 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 118 55 Athens, GreeceLaboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales & Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, 1145 Temuco, ChileCalcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals are widespread among plant species. Their functions are not yet completely understood; however, they can provide tolerance against multiple environmental stress factors. Recent evidence suggested that CaOx crystals function as carbon reservoirs since its decomposition provides CO<sub>2</sub> that may be used as carbon source for photosynthesis. This might be advantageous in plants with reduced mesophyll conductance, such as the Antarctic plant <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i>, which have shown CO<sub>2</sub> diffusion limitations. In this study, we evaluate the effect of two CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in the CaOx crystals decomposition and chlorophyll fluorescence of <i>C. quitensis</i>. Plants were exposed to airflows with 400 ppm and 11.5 ppm CO<sub>2</sub> and the number and relative size of crystals, electron transport rate (ETR), and oxalate oxidase (OxO) activity were monitored along time (10 h). Here we showed that leaf crystal area decreases over time in plants with 11.5 ppm CO<sub>2</sub>, which was accompanied by increased OxO activity and only a slight decrease in the ETR. These results suggested a relation between CO<sub>2</sub> limiting conditions and the CaOx crystals decomposition in <i>C. quitensis</i>. Hence, crystal decomposition could be a complementary endogenous mechanism for CO<sub>2</sub> supply in plants facing the Antarctic stressful habitat.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/10/1307alarm photosynthesisAntarcticoxalate oxidase |
| spellingShingle | Olman Gómez-Espinoza Daniel González-Ramírez Panagiota Bresta George Karabourniotis León A. Bravo Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions Plants alarm photosynthesis Antarctic oxalate oxidase |
| title | Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions |
| title_full | Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions |
| title_short | Decomposition of Calcium Oxalate Crystals in <i>Colobanthus quitensis</i> under CO<sub>2</sub> Limiting Conditions |
| title_sort | decomposition of calcium oxalate crystals in i colobanthus quitensis i under co sub 2 sub limiting conditions |
| topic | alarm photosynthesis Antarctic oxalate oxidase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/10/1307 |
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