Plant Respiration: From Cell to Ecosystem Contributor(s): Lambers, Hans (Editor), Univ de Les Illes Balears (Editor) |
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ISBN: 9048169038 ISBN-13: 9789048169030 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $208.99 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: December 2010 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Science | Life Sciences - Botany - Science | Life Sciences - Biochemistry - Technology & Engineering | Agriculture - General |
Dewey: 572.472 |
Series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration |
Physical Information: 250 pages |
Themes: - Topical - Ecology |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Respiration in plants, as in all living organisms, is essential to provide metabolic energy and carbon skeletons for growth and maintenance. As such, respiration is an essential component of a plant's carbon budget. Depending on species and environmental conditions, it consumes 25-75% of all the carbohydrates produced in photosynthesis - even more at extremely slow growth rates. Respiration in plants can also proceed in a manner that produces neither metabolic energy nor carbon skeletons, but heat. This type of respiration involves the cyanide-resistant, alternative oxidase; it is unique to plants, and resides in the mitochondria. The activity of this alternative pathway can be measured based on a difference in fractionation of oxygen isotopes between the cytochrome and the alternative oxidase. Heat production is important in some flowers to attract pollinators; however, the alternative oxidase also plays a major role in leaves and roots of most plants. A common thread throughout this volume is to link respiration, including alternative oxidase activity, to plant functioning in different environments. |