Photosynthetica 2002, 40(1):97-102 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1020162728473

The C4 Photosynthetic Pathway and Life Forms in Grassland Species from North China

R.Z. Wang1
1 Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

C4 photosynthetic pathway and life form were determined for 159 species in 71 genera and 13 families in the grassland of North China. 45 % of the C4 species were found in Graminae, 19 % in each of Cyperaceae and Chenopodiaceae. More than 51 % of these C4 species were in therophyta and 36 % hemicryptophyta, while fewer species were in nanophanerophyta (9 %) or geophyta (5 %). The numbers of C4 species and their life forms were closely related with grassland deterioration and succession in North China. This indicated that the C4 species had greater capacity to tolerate environmental stress (e.g. drought and salinity) caused by animal grazing and cultivation.

Additional key words: C4 species

Published: March 1, 2002  Show citation

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Wang, R.Z. (2002). The C4 Photosynthetic Pathway and Life Forms in Grassland Species from North China. Photosynthetica, 40(1), 97-102. doi: 10.1023/A:1020162728473
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