Measurements of internal gas phase CO2 concentration, stomatal resistance, and acid content were made in Crassulacean acid metabolism plants growing under The physiological significance of CAM is believed to result from the temporal separation of photosynthetic CO2 reduction and gas exchange with the atmosphere. Gas exchange with the atmosphere is restricted to the hours of darkness when the inevitable associated water loss is likely to be minimized. Photosynthetic CO2 reduction occurs without gas exchange with the atmosphere and hence without water loss. CO2 acquired at night is temporarily stored in malic acid and is consumed in photosynthetic reactions the following day.Earlier work (4, 5) has shown that CO2 may be released to the atmosphere surrounding CAM plants following illumination. This indicates that release of CO2 from malic acid is not directly caused by photosynthetic consumption of CO2 and suggests that there might be an accumulation of CO2 inside illuminated CAM tissues.Since CO2 concentration has effects on photosynthesis, respiration, photorespiration, and stomatal behaviour (1, 3, 6-8, 10) and inasmuch as it has been suggested that CO2 concentration is involved in the regulation of CAM (2) Gas Sampling. Disposable hypodermic syringes (2.0-ml capacity, 22-gauge needle) were used to withdraw gas samples (0.5-2.0 ml) from photosynthetic tissue. The syringe needle was inserted into the tissue through a globule of water standing on the surface of the plant or contained in a cup of Plasticine adhering to the plant. Taking samples by this method ensured, providing that stomata were closed, that any gas entering the syringe came from inside the plant and not from leakage around the needle. Furthermore, as the syringe was withdrawn from the plant this procedure ensured that any partial vacuum in the syringe was filled by water and not by gas from the atmosphere. If the syringe was sealed by plunging the needle deeply into a rubber stopper the sample could be stored for periods of up to 30 min without significant change in CO2 concentration. For the longer periods of storage required for field experiments (up to 30 h) gas samples, usually 1.0 ml, were injected through a serum bottle stopper into small glass vials which contained C02-free N2 and also sand to reduce the internal gas space.Measurement of CO2 Concentration. CO2 was separated from other atmospheric gases by GC of 0.5-ml samples at 70 C on a 2.15-m Porapak Q column using helium at a flow rate of 40 ml/