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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2002; 4(1): 62-69
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-20437
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Photosynthesis in Salsola Species (Chenopodiaceae) from Southern Africa Relative to their C4 Syndrome Origin and their African-Asian Arid Zone Migration Pathways

V. Pyankov † 1 , C. Black 2 , W. Stichler 3 , H. Ziegler 4
  • 1 Department of Plant Physiology, Ural State University, Lenin Prospect 51, Ekaterinburg, 620083, Russia
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
  • 3 GSF Forschungszentrum, Institut für Hydrologie, Neuherberg, 85758 Oberschleissheim, Germany
  • 4 Botanisches Institut, Technische Universität München, Biologikum Weihenstephan, 85354 Freising, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

July 25, 2001

November 16, 2001

Publication Date:
28 February 2002 (online)

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Abstract

Over 60 Salsola species of Chenopodiaceae from South Africa were studied for their photosynthesis type, using δ13C analysis and light microscopy of leaf anatomy. These species cover about 70 % of the total list of Southern African Salsola species and grow naturally in South and Southwest African desert regions. All species are shrubby forms and belong to the single subsection Caroxylon. Only C4 photosynthesis was found in the Salsola species determined with 13C/12C carbon isotope discrimination values that ranged from - 11.04 to - 14.03 ‰ (PDB), plus the presence of a Kranz type assimilation tissue anatomy. The apparent absence of C3 in Salsola in South and Southwest Africa and the known presence of C3 and C3 - C4 intermediate photosynthesis in Caroxylon, Salsola species in Asia strongly indicate that the genus Salsola originated in Asia and later migrated to South Africa.

Key words

Asia - C4 photosynthesis - Chenopodiaceae - Salsola - δ13C - evolution - Kranz anatomy - plant migration - South Africa

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H. Ziegler

Botanisches Institut
Technische Universität München
Biologikum Weihenstephan

85354 Freising
Germany

Email: oekologie@lrz.badw-muenchen.de

Section Editor: U. Lüttge