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the effects of the water stress and the salt treatment on the transition of photosynthetic modes of ice plant ( Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. ) were studied.By the application of PVF auto-water-supply systems, 7 substrate water contents were distinguished by various water levels, furthermore, the salt treatment were combined in the same series of the experiment. As the medium water content decreased, the PEPCase activity of treated plants without salt increased and also the difference between the day/night titratable acid content, while the stomatal conductance during daytime decreased. However, the salt-treated ice plant tended to show more CAM-like photosynthetic mode that indicated an additive effect of water stress and salt treatment. The results suggested the salt treatment could enhance the transition of photosynthetic mode of ice plant.The titratable acid accumulation of water-withholding plant was observed after one week of treatment, however, the titratable acid contents of ice plant were significantly increased after 2 to 3 weeks of water- withholding treatment, it is suggested that water-withholding can induced the photosynthetic mode of ice plant immediately.Key parameters of the water relations of ice plant after treatment were also investigated, namely, the water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor pressure of the leaf. The results showed that the leaf turgor of ice plant decreased to negative value after long-term drought treatment and wilted appearances were observed, subsequently, the stomatal conductance decreased during daytime, the PEPCase activity and titratable acid content both increased. After all that, the turgor pressure of leaf increased back to positive value and the water balance of plant was also improved. It is suggested that the C3-CAM transition had been reached.The present study indicated that ice plant can switch the photosynthetic mode from C3 to CAM to adapt to stress conditions by means of various physiological modifications, namely, the increase of PEPCase, the decrease of leaf conductance, and increase of diurnal titratable acid content.
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