Characterization of Early Morning Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Opuntia erinacea var Columbiana (Griffiths) L. Benson.

The nature and sequence of metabolic events during phase II (early morning) Crassulacean acid metabolism in Opuntia erinacea var columbiana (Griffiths) L. Benson were characterized. Gas exchange measurements under 2 and 21% O(2) revealed increased O(2) inhibition of CO(2) fixation with progression of phase II. Malate and titratable acidity patterns indicated continued synthesis of C(4) acids for at least 30 minutes into the light period. Potential activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and NADP-malic enzyme exhibited little change during phase II, while light activation of NADP-malate dehydrogenase, pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase was apparent. Short-term (14)CO(2) fixation experiments showed that the per cent of (14)C incorporated into C(4) acids decreased while incorporation into other metabolites increased with time. PEPC exhibited increased sensitivity to 2 millimolar malate, and the K(i)(malate) for PEPC decreased markedly with time. Sensitivity of PEPC to malate inhibition was considerably greater at pH 7.5 than at 8.0. The results indicate that decarboxylation and synthesis of malate occur simultaneously during the early morning period, and that phase II acid metabolism is not limited by CO(2) diffusion through stomata. With progression of phase II, CO(2) fixation by PEPC decreases while fixation by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase increases.