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Low temperature tolerances, nocturnal acid accumulation, and biomass increases for seven species of agave

Simple techniques for measuring low temperature sensitivity and nocturnal acid accumulation by agaves in the laboratory were compared with freezing damage and biomass increases observed in the field in southern Arizona. Taking cold acclimation into consideration, uptake of a vital stain into the chl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 1988-11, Vol.15 (2), p.147-155
Main Authors: Nobel, Park S., McDaniel, Robert G.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Simple techniques for measuring low temperature sensitivity and nocturnal acid accumulation by agaves in the laboratory were compared with freezing damage and biomass increases observed in the field in southern Arizona. Taking cold acclimation into consideration, uptake of a vital stain into the chlorenchyma cells of seven species indicated that Agave sisalana was most sensitive to low temperatures, followed by A. vilmoriniana, and then A. americana. This agrees with the relative degree of leaf necrosis observed in the field in response to a freezing episode. Thus, stain uptake can be useful for assessing whether various species will survive in regions outside their natural range or where they are currently cultivated. Except for A. vilmoriniana, nocturnal acid accumulation among the other six species was greatest for A. americana, next for A. weberi, second least for A. parryi, and least for A. deserti, which agrees with the relative increases in fresh weight and dry weight observed over a 26-month period in the field. Agave vilmoriniana, which had an anomalous response of nocturnal acid accumulation to day/night air temperatures, had the second highest biomass increase, apparently because of its substantial net CO2 uptake during the daytime. When allowance is taken for such daytime CO2 uptake, relative nocturnal acid accumulation should prove useful for evaluating the potential performance of agaves and other crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants under new environmental conditions.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-1963(18)30987-X