Are aliens overtaking the mangrove swamps in South Africa?

The giant reed, Arundo donax, is a very well performing alien not only in fresh water river beds but also in Mangrove swamps of South Africa. It was the aim of the investigation to study the features of Arundo donax at a site where it penetrates into a Mangrove swamp. Although Arundo donax is a C3-plant it grows vigorously which is due to an exceptionally high rate of photosynthetic CO2-uptake. Neither CO2-uptake nor electron transport through PS II saturated over the whole range of photon flux densities up to 2500 µmol m-2 s-1. Even though Arundo rooted in slightly saline soil minimum water potentials never fell below - 2.1 MPa and never induced stomatal closure. The photosynthetic apparatus of Arundo donax did not show any sign of photoinhibition, even not at noon. Arundo donax proved to be an exceptional C3-plant with a couple of C4-features. These features make Arundo donax a successful alien.

Drittmittelgeber:

Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Foundation for Research Development (South Africa)

Beteiligte Wissenschaftler:

Prof. Dr. G. Naidoo, Prof. Dr. D.J. von Willert, Dr. A. Tüffers, B. Rossa

Veröffentlichungen:

Rossa, B., A.V. Tüffers, G. Naidoo, D.J. von Willert: Arundo donax L. (Poaceae) - a C3 species with unusually high photosynthetic capacity. Botanic Acta 111, 216-221 (1998)