C3 photosynthetic activity in ephemeral leaflets of the constitutive CAM species Opuntia ficus-indica

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ID: 330816
2026
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Abstract
Ephemeral leaflets are produced on emerging daughter cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica, a constitutive crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species of major agronomic and ecological importance. Despite their ubiquity across Cactaceae, these transient organs have never been characterized as discrete photosynthetic units. Here we investigate whether leaflets operate via C3 or CAM photosynthesis and quantify their contribution to early cladode carbon (C) economy. Gas-exchange measurements, stomatal aperture analysis, titratable acidity assays, C isotope discrimination (δ13C), and 13CO2 pulse-labelling consistently indicate that leaflets operate via the C3 pathway: they exhibit daytime stomatal opening, minimal nocturnal acid accumulation, greater discrimination against 13CO2 (δ13C reaching -17‰ in mature leaflets compared with -10‰ to -11‰ in cladodes) and net daytime CO2 uptake at rates approximating 50 % of those in mature cladodes. Carbon-balance calculations indicate that leaflets supply ∼0.12 g C cladode-1 day-1, meeting approximately 20 % of the daily C demand of the expanding daughter cladode. Experimental leaflet removal and stomatal blockage reduced daughter cladode surface area by 28-34 % and dry weight by ∼38 % relative to controls at three weeks. These findings reveal an intra-plant co-ordination of C3 and CAM C fixation in spatially distinct organs and identify leaflets as adaptive source organs that accelerate biomass accumulation during pulsed periods of water availability in arid environments.
Reference Key
openalex_W7215116813 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Patrick Mdemba, Udi Zurgil, Noemi Tel‐Zur, Sofia Bouchebti, Ilya Gelfand, Eran Raveh
Journal Journal of experimental botany
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/jxb/erag490
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erag490
Keywords Keywords not found

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