Elemental analyses of crassulacean acid metabolism plant tissue

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Abstract
Environmental effects on serveral CAM [crassulacean acid metabolism] plants which bring them IN CAM (when plants show diurnal fluctuations in the concentration of titratable acid) and OUT OF CAM (when acid concentration remains low with no diurnal fluctuation) were studied. Change in photoperiod alone caused the greatest amplitude of the acid fluctuation from 23.8-1.8 meq acid/100 g FW (fresh weight) in Kalanchoe daigremontiana as compared to either K. tubiflora or Sedum telephoides. The K/Ca ratio varied from a high when IN CAM to a low when OUT OF CAM in the 3 sp. The plasma emission spectrograph analysis of the leaf tissue grown in the specific environment showed the presence of high levels of Mn, B, Cu, Zn, Na, Al and Si in some CAM plants. The elemental analyses of CAM plants showed 1.8-14.7% K.