[On the analysis of CO2-exchange in bryophyllum : II. Inhibition of starch loss during the night in an atmosphere free from CO2]

Abstract

Starch consumption during the dark period in detached phyllodia of Bryophyllum tubiflorum is inhibited, when the phyllodia are held in an atmosphere free from carbon dioxide during the night. This is true also in other succulent plants with Crassulacean acid metabolism=CAM (examined were Bryophyllum calycinum and Sedum morganianum). This effect seems to indicate that the role of starch in CAM is production of CO2 acceptors rather than production of carbon dioxide by respiration. If the CO2 acceptors are not used, starch consumption comes to an end.This hypothesis could also explain results of experiments in which phyllodia were held at different temperatures during the dark period, and net CO2 fixation, starch loss and malate gain were determined. At 10° CO2 uptake was at a maximum (the necessary supply of CO2 acceptors must have therefore been at a maximum, too). Under these conditions there was the greatest amount of starch consumption. At 23° C, CO2 uptake was clearly lowered, and this was also true for starch consumption. At 35° C net CO2 uptake was balanced by net CO2, output (no CO2 acceptors were needed in CO2 dark fixation). At this temperature no starch loss could be measured.