Photosynthetic Enzyme Activities in the C3-C4 Intermediate Neurachne minor S. T . Blake (Poaceae)

Abstract

The activities of eight key photosynthetic enzymes were measured in leaf blade extracts of the C3-C4 intermediate Neurachne minor S. T. Blake, its C3 and C4 relatives, C3-C4 Panicum milioides Nees ex Trin., and controls (all Poaceae). Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPC) activity in N. minor (5.46 �mol mg Chl-1 min-1) is higher than previously reported for any other C3-C3 plant, and the ratio of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity to PEPC activity is lower than for P. milioides or C3 species. Activity of pyruvate,PI dikinase (up to 0.88 �mol mg Chl-1 min-1) is 3-5 times higher than in P. milioides. Assays of NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) and PEP carboxykinase (PCK) show Paraneurachne muelleri (Hack.) S. T. Blake and Neurachne munroi (F. Muell.) F. Muell., N. minor's two close C4 relatives, to be NADP-ME type, as predicted from leaf anatomy. Aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities in these species are higher than expected, however. N. minor (C3-C4) exhibits higher C4 acid decarboxylase activity than C3 species or P. milioides, for NADP-ME only (up to 1.07 �mol mg Chl-1 min-1). Our results suggest that N. minor possesses a limited C4 acid cycle, and that it is the most C4-like C3-C4 intermediate grass currently identified, comparable with some of the known C3-C4 Flaveria (Asteraceae) species.