Physiological ecology of Mexican CAM plants: history, progress, and opportunities

Abstract

In Mexico, plants with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) are part of the Mexican culture, have different uses and are even emblematic. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of the Mexican CAM plants has been studied physiologically. For this review, the following questions were considered: What ecophysiological studies have been conducted with CAM species native to Mexico? What ecophysiological processes in Mexican CAM plants are the most studied? What type of ecophysiological studies with CAM plants are still needed? A database of scientific studies on CAM plant species from Mexico was documented, including field and laboratory works for species widely distributed, and those studies made outside Mexico with Mexican species. Physiological processes were grouped as germination, photosynthesis, and water relations. Most studies were done for CAM species of Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae, Asparagaceae and Orchidaceae, andmost ecophysiological studies have been done on germination of cacti. Field and laboratory studies on photosynthesis and water relations were mostly for terrestrial cacti and epiphytic bromeliads. There were few physiological studies with CAM seedlings in Mexico and few studies using stable isotopes of water and carbon of CAM plants in the field. More field and laboratory studies of physiological responses and plasticity of CAM plants to multiple stress factors are required to model plant responses to global climate change. In general, more physiological studies are essential for all CAM species and for species of the genus Clusia, with C3-CAM and CAM members, which can become ecologically important under some climate change scenarios.

A review of the entomofauna associated with decaying cacti in New World deserts

“…Cacti are an important part of Mexican and Latin American culture, having diverse uses, and are even emblematic (Flores et al 2022). Cacti are used to make alcoholic beverages, scents, in ceremonies and for mystical and religious purposes, as colorants and for crafts, for food and preserving food, for ethnoveterinary and medicinal purposes, for firewood and fuel, fodder, to produce glues, as live fences, as ornamental plants, to extract poisons or stimulants, to make soap, to provide shade, for soil protection and reforestation, and to yield useful fibers, resins, latex, and sap, and wood and materials for construction (Casas et al 2001, Castillo-Campohermoso et al 2010, Silva 2015).…”

Botanical Sciences : an honorable fellow in the international assembly of botanical journals

“…The contribution of Flores et al (2022) focuses on Mexican plants having crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). These authors examine key physiological aspects (germination, photosynthesis, and water relations) of these plants and the degree to which these have been studied.…”