Photosynthetica 1997, 33(2):227-240 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1022112329990

Occurrence and ecological characteristics of C4 dicot and Cyperaceae species in the Hungarian flora

T. Kalapos1, A. Baloghné-Nyakas2, P. Csontos3
1 Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, L. Eötvös, University, Budapest, Hungary
2 Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Agricultural University, Debrecen, Hungary
3 Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology, L. Eötvös University, Ecological Modelling Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

The non-graminaceous wild flora of Hungary was screened for C4 plants by using the stable carbon isotope ratio, the leaf anatomy and the photosynthetic carbon dioxide compensation concentration to determine the photosynthetic pathway type. On the whole, 31 C4 species (native or naturalized) were found in the Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Portulacaceae and Zygophyllaceae families. Together with the 26 C4 grass species (Poaceae) reported earlier (Kalapos 1991), a total of 57 wild C4 species occur in Hungary, which forms 2.6 % of the country's angiosperm flora. This figure is somewhat higher than what was expected on climatic grounds, a fact probably due to certain edaphic conditions favouring C4 plant growth. In Hungary, the C4 species are predominantly annuals growing in open habitats such as dry grasslands, inland saline areas, temporarily exposed riverbeds and disturbed sites. In comparison with C3 plants, the C4 species have higher temperature and light preferences, and their phenology lags behind that of the C3 plants. These differences might account for C4 plants being usually excluded from productive biotopes in Hungary, where the C3 canopy may become closed during the growing season before C4 plants can start their ontogenetic development. Ecological properties of C3 and C4 plants differ considerably in the Cyperaceae, but much less in the Chenopodianceae family. Among C4 annuals naturalized aliens are common, most of which colonized hungary in the last two centuries. Increasing preponderance of C4 plants is anticipated in the future as a consequence of possible climate changes and the ever increasing human impact on terrestrial vegetation.

Additional key words: carbon isotope ratio; CO2 compensation concentration; phenology; photosynthetic pathways

Published: March 1, 1997  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Kalapos, T., Baloghné-Nyakas, A., & Csontos, P. (1997). Occurrence and ecological characteristics of C4 dicot and Cyperaceae species in the Hungarian flora. Photosynthetica, 33(2), 227-240. doi: 10.1023/A:1022112329990
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Batanouny, K.H., Stichler, W., Ziegler, H.: Photosynthetic pathways and ecological distribution of Euphorbia species in Egypt.-Oecologia 87: 565-569, 1991. Go to original source...
    2. Bazzaz, F.A.: The response of natural ecosystems to the rising global CO2 levels.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 21: 167-196, 1990. Go to original source...
    3. Boissier, E.: Subordo I. Euphorbiae.-In: de Candolle, A.P.: Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis. Vol. 15(1). Pp. 3-188. Victoris Maason et Filii, Paris 1862.
    4. Borhidi, A.: Social behaviour types, the naturalness and relative ecological indicator values of the higher plants in the Hungarian flora.-Acta bot. Acad. Sci. hung. 39: 97-181, 1995.
    5. Boutton, T.W., Harrison, A.T., Smith, B.N.: Distribution of biomass of species differing in photosynthetic pathway along an altitudinal transect in southeastern Wyoming grassland.-Oecologia 45: 287-298, 1980. Go to original source...
    6. Bruhl, J.J., Watson, L., Dalwitz, D.J.: Genera of Cyperaceae: interactive identification and information retrieval.-Taxon 41: 225-234, 1992. Go to original source...
    7. Carraro, L., Patrignani, G., Iacumin, P., Orsenigo, M.: Leaf morphology and carbon isotope discrimination in members of the genus Salsola. II. Studies on Salsola soda L.-Caryologia 46: 335-342, 1993. Go to original source...
    8. Collins, R.P., Jones, M.B.: The influence of climatic factors on the distribution of C4 species in Europe.-Vegetatio 64: 121-129, 1985. Go to original source...
    9. Csontos, P.: The applicability of a seed ecological database (SEED) in botanical research.-Studia bot. hung. 26: in press, 1996.
    10. Dancza, I.: [The occurrence of Cyperus esculentus L. in the environs of Keszthely and Héviz. A preliminary report.]-Növényvédelem 30: 475-476, 1994. [In Hung.]
    11. Doliner, L.H., Jolliffe, P.A.: Ecological evidence concerning the adaptive significance of the C4 dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis.-Oecologia 38: 23-34, 1979. Go to original source...
    12. Downton, W.J.S.: The occurrence of C4 photosynthesis among plants.-Photosynthetica 9: 96-105, 1975.
    13. Ehleringer, J.R., Monson, R.K.: Evolutionary and ecological aspects of photosynthetic pathway variation.-Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 24: 411-439, 1993. Go to original source...
    14. Elmore, C.D., Paul, R.N.: Composite list of C4 weeds.-Weed Sci. 31: 686-692, 1983. Go to original source...
    15. Frey, W., Kürschner, H., Stichler, W.: Photosynthetic pathways and ecological distribution of halophytes from four littoral salt marshes (Egypt/Sinai, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran).-Flora 177: 107-130, 1985. Go to original source...
    16. Hargitai, Z.: [The vegetation of Nagykőrös II. Phytocoenoses on sandy soil.]-Botanikai Közlemények 37: 205-240, 1940. [In Hung.]
    17. Hesla, B.I., Tieszen, L.L., Imbamba, S.K.: A systematic survey of C3 and C4 photosynthesis in the Cyperaceae of Kenya, East Africa.-Photosynthetica 16: 196-205, 1982.
    18. Horánszky, A., Nagy, A.H.: Study of assimilation types in species of a sand steppe community.-Acta bot. Acad. Sci. hung. 23: 91-95, 1977.
    19. Járai-Komlódi, M.: Postglacial climate and vegetation history in Hungary.-In: Pécsi, M., Kordos, L. (ed.): Holocene Environment in Hungary. Pp. 37-47. Geographical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest 1987.
    20. Kalapos, T.: C3 and C4 grasses of Hungary: their environmental requirements, phenology and role in the vegetation.-Abstr. bot. 15: 83-88, 1991.
    21. Kemp, P.R., Williams, G.J., III.: A physiological basis for niche separation between Agropyron smithii (C3) and Bouteloua gracilis (C4).-Ecology 61: 846-858, 1980. Go to original source...
    22. Knapp, A.K., Hamerlynck, E.P., Owensby, C.E.: Photosynthetic and water relations responses to elevated CO2 in the C4 grass Andropogon gerardii.-Int. J. Plant Sci. 154: 459-466, 1993. Go to original source...
    23. Kolchevskiï, K.G., Kocharyan, N.I., Koroleva, O.Ya.: Effect of salinity on photosynthetic characteristics and ion accumulation in C3 and C4 plants of Ararat plain.-Photosynthetica 31: 277-282, 1995.
    24. Li, M.: Distribution of C3 and C4 species of Cyperus in Europe.-Photosynthetica 28: 119-126, 1993.
    25. Long, S.P.: C4 photosynthesis at low temperatures.-Plant Cell Environm. 6: 345-363, 1983. Go to original source...
    26. Mateu Andrés, I.: A revised list of the European C4 plants.-Photosynthetica 26: 323-331, 1993.
    27. Monson, R.K., Williams, G.J., III.: A correlation between photosynthetic temperature adaptation and seasonal phenology patterns in the shortgrass prairie.-Oecologia 54: 58-62, 1982. Go to original source...
    28. Nagy, A.H., Horánszky, A.: Productivity and photosynthetic flexibility in some species of a grassland community.-Acta bot. Acad. Sci. hung. 26: 389-395, 1980.
    29. Nagy, Z., Tuba, Z., Szente, K., Uzvölgyi, J., Fekete, G.: Photosynthesis and water use efficiency during degradation of a semiarid loess steppe.-Photosynthetica 30: 307-311, 1994.
    30. Nyakas, A.: [Comparative Studies on the Leaf Anatomy of Grasses in the Flora of Hungary.]-Ph.D. Thesis. Agricultural University, Debrecen 1992. [In Hung.]
    31. Ode, D.J., Tieszen, L.L., Lerman, J.C.: The seasonal contribution of C3 and C4 species to primary production in a mixed prairie.-Ecology 61: 1304-1311, 1980. Go to original source...
    32. Priszter, Sz.: [Changes in the weed vegetation of Hungary since 1945.]-Agrártudományi Egyetem Kert-és Szőlőgazdaságtudományi Karának Évkönyve 15: 73-80, 1951a. [In Hung.]
    33. Priszter, Sz.: Revisio critica specierum generis Amaranthi L. in Hungaria.-Agrártudományi Egyetem Kert-és Szőlőgazdaságtudományi Karának Évkönyve 15: 121-262, 1951b.
    34. Raghavendra A.S., Das, V.S.R.: The occurrence of C4-photosynthesis: A supplementary list of C4 plants reported during late 1974-mid 1977.-Photosynthetica 12: 200-208, 1978.
    35. Redmann, R.E., Yin, L., Wang, P.: Photosynthetic pathway types in grassland plant species from Northeast China.-Photosynthetica 31: 251-255, 1995.
    36. Shomer-Ilan, A., Nissenbaum, A., Waisel, Y.: Photosynthetic pathways and the ecological distribution of the Chenopodiaceae in Israel.-Oecologia 48: 244-248, 1981. Go to original source...
    37. Simon, T.: [The Vascular Flora of Hungary. Pteridophytes and Flowering Plants.]-Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest 1992. [In Hung.]
    38. Sofer, Z.: Preparation of carbon dioxide for stable carbon isotope analysis of petroleum fractions.-Anal. Chem. 52: 1389-1391, 1980. Go to original source...
    39. Sokal, R.R., Rohlf, F.J.: Biometry. 2nd Ed.-Pp. 208-270. Freeman and Co., New York 1981.
    40. Solymosi, P., Priszter, Sz.: [New Amaranthus species (A. bouchonii Thell.) in Hungary.]-Botanikai Közlemények 71: 133-136, 1984. [In Hung.]
    41. Stowe, L.G., Teeri, J.A.: The geographic distribution of C4 species of the Dicotyledonae in relation to climate.-Amer. Naturalist 112: 609-623, 1978. Go to original source...
    42. Sváb, J.: Biometriai módszerek a kutatásban. [Biometry methods for scientific research.]-Pp. 445-448. Mezőgazdasági Kiadó, Budapest 1981. [In Hung.]
    43. Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G.: Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America.-Oecologia 23: 1-12, 1976. Go to original source...
    44. Teeri, J.A., Stowe, L.G., Livingstone, D.A.: The distribution of C4 species of the Cyperaceae in North America in relation to climate.-Oecologia 47: 307-310, 1980. Go to original source...
    45. Tissue, D.T., Griffin, K.L., Thomas, R.B., Strain, B.R.: Effects of low and elevated CO2 on C3 and C4 annuals. II. Photosynthesis and leaf biochemistry.-Oecologia 101: 21-28, 1995. Go to original source...
    46. Ueno, O., Takeda, T.: Photosynthetic pathways, ecological characteristics, and the geographical distribution of the Cyperaceae in Japan.-Oecologia 89: 195-203, 1992. Go to original source...
    47. Ubrizsi, G.: [Ruderal weed communities of Hungary. II. Ecological and successional studies.]-Növénytermelés 4: 109-126, 1955.
    48. Újvárosi, M.: Gyomnövények, gyomirtás. [Weeds and weed control.]-Mezőgazdasági Kiadó, Budapest 1957. [In Hung.]
    49. Voznesenskaya, E.V.: [Ultrastructure of assimilating organs of some species of the family Chenopodiaceae II.]-Bot. Zh. 61: 1546-1557, 1976. [In Russ.]
    50. Voznesenskaya, E.V., Gamaleï, Yu.V.: [The ultrastructural characteristics of leaf types with Kranzanatomy.]-Bot. Zh. 71: 1291-1307, 1986. [In Russ.]
    51. Webster, G.L., Brown, W.V., Smith, B.N.: Systematics of photosynthetic carbon fixation pathways in Euphorbia.-Taxon 24: 27-33, 1975. Go to original source...
    52. Watson, L., Dallwitz, M.J.: The families of Angiosperms: automated descriptions, with interactive identification and information retrieval.-Aust. Syst. Bot. 4: 681-695, 1991. Go to original source...
    53. Welkie, G.W., Caldwell, M.: Leaf anatomy of species in some dicotyledon families as related to the C3 and C4 pathway of carbon fixation.-Can. J. Bot. 48: 2135-2146, 1970. Go to original source...
    54. Winter, K.: C4 plants of high biomass in arid regions of Asia - occurrence of C4 photosynthesis in Chenopodiaceae and Polygonaceae from the Middle East and USSR.-Oecologia 48: 100-106, 1981. Go to original source...
    55. Ziegler, H., Batanouny, K.H., Sankhla, N., Vyas, O.P., Stichler, W.: The photosynthetic pathway types of some desert plants from India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq.-Oecologia 48: 93-99, 1981. Go to original source...
    56. Zólyomi, B.: [Vegetation history of Hungary since the last glaciation.]-MTA Biológiai Osztály Közleményei 1: 491-525, 1952. [In Hung.]
    57. Zólyomi, B., Fekete, G.: The Pannonian loess steppe: differentiation in space and time.-Abstr. bot. 18: 29-41, 1994.

    Return to the content