Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Biochemistry, Ecophysiology and Evolution [Paperback]

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) represents one of the best-studied metabolic examples of an ecological adaptation to environmental stress. Well over 5 % of all vascular plant species engage in this water-conserving photosynthetic pathway. Intensified research activities over the last 10 years have led to major advances in understanding the biology of CAM plants.
New areas of research reviewed in detail in this book include regulation of gene expression and the molecular basis of CAM, the ecophysiology of CAM plants from tropical environments, the productivity of agronomically important cacti and agaves, the ecophysiology of CAM in submerged aquatic plants, and the taxonomic diversity and evolutionary origins of CAM.Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) represents one of the best-studied metabolic examples of an ecological adaptation to environmental stress. Well over 5 % of all vascular plant species engage in this water-conserving photosynthetic pathway. Intensified research activities over the last 10 years have led to major advances in understanding the biology of CAM plants.
New areas of research reviewed in detail in this book include regulation of gene expression and the molecular basis of CAM, the ecophysiology of CAM plants from tropical environments, the productivity of agronomically important cacti and agaves, the ecophysiology of CAM in submerged aquatic plants, and the taxonomic diversity and evolutionary origins of CAM.An Introduction to Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. Biochemical Principles and Ecological Diversity.- Discovery of Dark CO2 Fixation.- Biochemistry.- Phenotypic Plasticity.- Ecophysiology and Species Diversity.- Conclusions.- References.- A: Biochemistry of Carbon Flow During Crassulacean Acid Metabolism: Preface.- 1 Stoichiometric Nightmares: Studies of Photosynthetic O2 and CO2 Exchanges in CAM Plants.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Simultaneous Measurements of O2 and CO2Exchange Using an O2/CO2 Electrode System.- 1.3 Photosynl(