Photosynthetic Characteristics of the C(3)-C(4) Intermediate Parthenium hysterophorus

The weedy species Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) possesses a Kranz-like leaf anatomy. The bundle sheath cells are thick-walled and contain numerous granal chloroplasts, prominent mitochondria, and peroxisomes, all largely arranged in a centripetal position. Both mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts accumulate starch. P. hysterophorus exhibits reduced photorespiration as indicated by a moderately low CO(2) compensation concentration (20-25 microliters per liter at 30 degrees C and 21% O(2)) and by a reduced sensitivity of net photosynthesis to 21% O(2). In contrast, the related C(3) species P. incanum and P. argentatum (guayule) lack Kranz anatomy, have higher CO(2) compensation concentrations (about 55 microliters per liter), and show a greater inhibition of photosynthesis by 21% O(2). Furthermore, in P. hysterophorus the CO(2) compensation concentration is relatively less sensitive to changes in O(2) concentrations and shows a biphasic response to changing O(2), with a transition point at about 11% O(2). Based on these results, P. hysterophorus is classified as a C(3)-C(4) intermediate. The activities of diagnostic enzymes of C(4) photosynthesis in P. hysterophorus were very low, comparable to those observed in the C(3) species P. incanum (e.g. phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity of 10-29 micromoles per milligram of chlorophyll per hour). Exposures of leaves of each species to (14)CO(2) (for 8 seconds) in the light resulted in 3-phosphoglycerate and sugar phosphates being the predominant initial (14)C products (77-84%), with