Kranz anatomy is not essential for terrestrial C4 plant photosynthesis

Elena V. Voznesenskaya, Vincent R. Franceschi, Olavi Kiirats, Helmut Freitag and Gerald E. Edwards ()
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Elena V. Voznesenskaya: Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V. L. Komarov Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences
Vincent R. Franceschi: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
Olavi Kiirats: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University
Helmut Freitag: Morphologie u. Systematik der Pflanzen, Universität Gesamthochschule Kassel, FB19
Gerald E. Edwards: School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University

Nature, 2001, vol. 414, issue 6863, 543-546

Abstract: Abstract An important adaptation to CO2-limited photosynthesis in cyanobacteria, algae and some plants was development of CO2-concentrating mechanisms (CCM)1. Evolution of a CCM occurred many times in flowering plants, beginning at least 15–20 million years ago, in response to atmospheric CO2 reduction, climate change, geological trends, and evolutionary diversification of species2. In plants, this is achieved through a biochemical inorganic carbon pump called C4 photosynthesis, discovered 35 years ago3. C4 photosynthesis is advantageous when limitations on carbon acquisition are imposed by high temperature, drought and saline conditions. It has been thought that a specialized leaf anatomy, composed of two, distinctive photosynthetic cell types (Kranz anatomy), is required for C4 photosynthesis4. We provide evidence that C4 photosynthesis can function within a single photosynthetic cell in terrestrial plants. Borszczowia aralocaspica (Chenopodiaceae) has the photosynthetic features of C4 plants, yet lacks Kranz anatomy. This species accomplishes C4 photosynthesis through spatial compartmentation of photosynthetic enzymes, and by separation of two types of chloroplasts and other organelles in distinct positions within the chlorenchyma cell cytoplasm.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35107073

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