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Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM Cycle)
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism CAM is a cyclic reaction occurring in the dark phase of photosynthesis in the plants of Crassulaceae. It is a CO2 fixation process wherein, the first product is malic acid. It is the third alternate pathway of Calvin cycle, occurring in mesophyll cells. The plants exhibiting CAM cycle are called CAM plants. Most of the CAM plants are succulents e.g., Bryophyllum, Kalanchoe, Crassula, Sedium, Kleinia etc. It is also seen in certain plants of Cactus e.g. Opuntia, Orchid and Pine apple families. CAM plants are usually succulents and they grow under extremely xeric conditions. In these plants, the leaves are succulent or fleshy. The mesophyll cells have larger number of chloroplasts and the vascular bundles are not surrounded by well defined bundle sheath cells. In these plants, the stomata remain open during night and closed during day time. The CAM plants are adapted to photosynthesis and survival under adverse xeric conditions. CAM plants are not as efficient as C4 plants in photosynthesis. But they are better suited to conditions of extreme desiccation. CAM involves two steps
1. Acidification
2. Deacidification Deacidification
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Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 5:07 AM