Photosynthetic characterization of Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis

Abstract

Australian carnivorous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis Labill. produces two types of leaves. During the spring time, the plant produces a foliage type of noncarnivorous leaf called lamina. Later, the second type of leaf is producedcarnivorous pitcher. Using simultaneous measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence photosynthetic efficiency of these two distinct forms of leaves were compared. In addition stomatal density, an important component of gas exchange, and Chl concentration were also determined. Pitcher trap had lower net photosynthetic rate (P N ) in comparison to noncarnivorous lamina, whereas the rate of respiration (R D ) was not significantly different. This was in accordance with lower stomatal density and Chl concentration in the pitcher trap. On the other hand maximum quantum yield of PSII (F v /F m ) and effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII (Φ PSII ) was not significantly different. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) was significantly higher in the lamina at higher irradiance. These data are in accordance with hypothesis that changing the leaf shape in carnivorous plants to make it a better trap generally makes it less efficient at photosynthesis. However, the pitcher of Cephalotus had much higher P N than it was expected from the data set of the genus Nepenthes. Because it is not possible to optimize for contrasting function such as photosynthesis and carnivory, it is hypothesized that Cephalotus pitchers are less elaborated for carnivorous function than the pitchers of Nepenthes.

Nutritional benefit from leaf litter utilization in the pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria

“…The very low efficiency of photosynthetic assimilation in the pitchers is probably widespread among Nepenthes species, but it is not observed in other unrelated pitcher plants Sarracenia , Darlingtonia (Ellison & Farnsworth 2005; Karagatzides & Ellison 2009) or Cephalotus (Pavlovič 2011). Low A N has been found in the pitchers of Nepenthes alata , N. mirabilis , N. talangensis , Nepenthes x miranda and Nepenthes x coccinea (Pavlovič et al .…”

Whole leaf photosynthetic light response in a carnivorous plant species Sarracenia alata

“…The traps consist of modified leaves which take on various forms and function from species to species. Because the traps are modified leaves, the photosynthetic efficiency can be affected by the environment and nutrient availability (Pavlovič 2011). This includes species that have leaves that perform both photosynthesis as well as capturing prey.…”

“…This includes species that have leaves that perform both photosynthesis as well as capturing prey. Some species are heterophyllous, meaning they have one type of leaf for photosynthesis, and another type of leaf specifically for the capture of prey (Pavlovič 2011). Some even have one part of the leaf designated for photosynthesis and another part of the leaf designated for prey capture (Pavlovič 2011).…”

“…Some species are heterophyllous, meaning they have one type of leaf for photosynthesis, and another type of leaf specifically for the capture of prey (Pavlovič 2011). Some even have one part of the leaf designated for photosynthesis and another part of the leaf designated for prey capture (Pavlovič 2011). These adaptations allow carnivorous plants to thrive in an environment not habitable to most other plants which require a high level of nutrient gain from the soil.…”

“…The morphology and physiology of a whole leaf is important for understanding the roles of leaf photosynthetic carbon gain in carnivorous plants. Photosynthetic characteristics have been examined on Sarracenia leucophylla and Sarracenia purpurea (Ellison and Gotelli 2002, Wakefield et al 2005, Bruzzese et al 2010, Hájek and Adamec 2010, Pavlovič 2011, but these previous studies focused on the photosynthetic gas exchange of the keel (Hájek and Adamec 2010) or excised portions of pitchers (Hájek and Adamec 2010) using a clamp-on type chamber. In S. leucophylla and S. purpurea photosynthetic measurements were recorded by attaching prefabricated chambers (0.25 L) on smaller, less than 15-cm tall leaves (Bruzzese et al 2010).…”