The Asian Journal of Horticulture

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Physiological Efficiency of Succulents under Different Growing Environments in Tropical Condition


Affiliations
1 Department of Floriculture and Landscape Gardening, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
2 Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
     

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Investigations were undertaken to study the physiological effectiveness of different ornamental succulents under tropical condition. Six species of succulents were evaluated under four different growing environments. Results showed that the performance of succulents grown under conservatory house condition was found to be performed well and ideal with respect to chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content and photosynthetic rate than other growing environments. The succulent species viz., Haworthia limifolia, Monadenium lugardiae and Aloe juvenna were the most suitable species for growing under conservatory house condition due to its high nocturnal CO2 uptake and cell sap acidification which possess CAM metabolism. CAM involves nocturnal CO2 uptake and fixation by cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase into malic acid that is stored in the vacuole causing nocturnal cell sap acidification. During the subsequent light period, malic acid is released from the vacuole in the form of malate that is then decarboxylated leading to deacidification of cell sap, formation of pyruvate or phosphoenolpyruvate and liberation of CO2. Repeated acidification and deacidification cycles represent a characteristic physiological feature of CAM metabolism in succulents which is best suited for xeric environment and possess high photosynthetic efficiency.

Keywords

Succulents, Chlorophyll, Photosynthetic Rate, CAM Metabolism.
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  • Physiological Efficiency of Succulents under Different Growing Environments in Tropical Condition

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Authors

M. Dhivya
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Gardening, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
R. Sankaranarayanan
Department of Floriculture and Landscape Gardening, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
G. Dileep Kumar
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India

Abstract


Investigations were undertaken to study the physiological effectiveness of different ornamental succulents under tropical condition. Six species of succulents were evaluated under four different growing environments. Results showed that the performance of succulents grown under conservatory house condition was found to be performed well and ideal with respect to chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content and photosynthetic rate than other growing environments. The succulent species viz., Haworthia limifolia, Monadenium lugardiae and Aloe juvenna were the most suitable species for growing under conservatory house condition due to its high nocturnal CO2 uptake and cell sap acidification which possess CAM metabolism. CAM involves nocturnal CO2 uptake and fixation by cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase into malic acid that is stored in the vacuole causing nocturnal cell sap acidification. During the subsequent light period, malic acid is released from the vacuole in the form of malate that is then decarboxylated leading to deacidification of cell sap, formation of pyruvate or phosphoenolpyruvate and liberation of CO2. Repeated acidification and deacidification cycles represent a characteristic physiological feature of CAM metabolism in succulents which is best suited for xeric environment and possess high photosynthetic efficiency.

Keywords


Succulents, Chlorophyll, Photosynthetic Rate, CAM Metabolism.

References