The influence of day length, light quality, temperature, drought, and oxygen concentration on gas exchange of Kalanchoe daigremontiana was investigated. The ratio of photosynthesis to dark CO2 fixation with plants under a long-day and short-warm-night regime was 2.0 and under a short-day and long-cool-night regime, 0.2. With drought conditions this value may be less than 0.02. Under low oxygen concentrations high photosynthetic rates of about 20 mg CO2 dm−2 h−1 were observed with a compensation point of about 20 ppm. Restricting CO2 supply to dark periods produced plants with a δ13C value of −10.6‰. Restricting CO2 supply to light periods gave a δ13C value of −25.9‰, whereas no control of CO2 gave δ13C values of −15‰. The data obtained suggest that variations in δ13C values in Kalanchoe result from changes in the proportion of light and dark CO2 fixation.Far-red light and oxygen promoted the release of CO2 from Kalanchoe after the plants had undergone a period of dark CO2 fixation. Maximum release occurred within about 1 h. The effect could be reversed by removal of either far-red light or oxygen. Decreases in the acidity of the plants accompanied CO2 release, which indicated that decarboxylation of a C4 acid was the source of the CO2.
Enzyme changes in root initials of Hydrangea macrophylla during adventitious root formation are described. Extensive changes in enzyme activity were demonstrated by histochemical staining and all enzymes investigated showed increased activity in the tissue responsible for root initiation.The earliest change observed was that of peroxidase in the phloem and xylem ray cells. This was followed by a change in the activity of cytochrome oxidase and succinic dehydrogenase. Alpha-amylase was localized by the substrate film method. The highest amylase activity was demonstrated in the epidermal tissues and vascular bundles. As the root primordia developed, enzyme activity shifted from the vascular bundles to the periphery of the bundles. A positive correlation was found between the starch content and root number of cuttings.
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