Stem photosynthesis in a desert ephemeral, Eriogonum inflatum: Morphology, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency in field populations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1987

Publication Title

Oecologia

Volume

72

Issue

4

First page number:

533

Last page number:

541

Abstract

Seasonal patterns in plant morphology, phenology, and physiology were monitored in several populations of Eriogonum inflatum, a desert ephemeral which produces a large photosynthetic inflorescence above a basal leaf rosette. Green stems accounted for 66-77% of whole plant photosynthetic surface area when integrated over a developmental cycle, whereas only 40-67% of the yearly transpirational water loss could be attributed to stems. Stems were found to have lower nitrogen and chlorophyll contents than leaves, and lower stomatal conductance under all physiological conditions encountered. However, because stems occur later in the year than leaves, comparison of physiological patterns was complicated by the two structures being exposed to different climatic regimes during their developmental cycles. Stems exhibited higher δ 13C values than leaves, indicating that stems operated at higher water-use efficiencies than leaves, at least during periods when both leaves and stems were present. Higher water-use efficiency in stems of E. inflatum is attributed to both more conservative water use patterns and to their vertical orientation, allowing stems to remain photosynthetically active longer into the dry season after senescence of the horizontal leaf rosette.

Keywords

Gamma(symbol)13C; Eriogonum inflatum; Great Basin; Mojave desert; Photosynthetic morphology; Stem photosynthesis; Water-use efficiency

Disciplines

Desert Ecology | Plant Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Language

English

UNLV article access

Search your library

Share

COinS