Effects of mesophyll water potential on photosynthesis in Cyperaceae plants: with special reference to phylogeny of tribes and decarboxylation sub-types

We examined the photosynthetic rates under water stress conditions in 43 Japanese Cyperaceae species using the same method used for Gramineae plants. Compared with Gramineae, the difference between C4 and C3 species was more distinct in Cyperaceae. Moreover, C4 Cyperaceae species were very susceptible to water stress like Panicoideae C4 species. These species belong to the NADP-ME subtype. It appears that the sensitivity of photosynthesis to water stress would be different depending on the decarboxylation sub-types.