New perspectives on crassulacean acid metabolism biology

Abstract

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis is one of the principle carbon-concentrating mechanisms in terrestrial plants. A primary feature of the CAM photosynthetic pathway revolves around the night-time uptake of CO2 and its subsequent storage as organic acids for later daytime fixation into sugars. This unique, water-saving, and carbon-concentrating photosynthetic pathway is the major means by which land plants achieve superior levels of resource-use efficiency. As a result, CAM plants are increasingly recognized as among the world's most important climate-resilient crops for food, forage, fodder, fiber, and fuel, as well as being key drivers of ecosystem function in dry regions.