SCHOOL OF LIFESCIENCES,

SAMBALPUR UNIVERSITY
A PRESENTATION ON : CAM PATHWAY

Presented by-
ARADHANA SAHU
MSc 3rd Semester
19LS26
Roll No:
 CONTENTS
1) Introduction to CAM pathway
2) Main features of CAM pathway
3) Pathway involved in CAM plants
4) mechanism during day and night time
5) Significance of cam plants
 Introduction

• The CAM(Crassulacean Acid

Metabolism) pathway was 1st proposed
by Ranson and Thomas in 1940.
CAM is a specialised photosynthetic
adaptation which was 1st discovered in
Bryophyllum calycinum a member of the
family crassulaceae ,under natural
condition the acidity of some plants
increases at night and decreasing during
day ,hence this pathway is called CAM
pathway
• Example include plants like
succulent,xerophytes(cactus),members
of euphobeceae,pineapple,orchids etc.
 Main features of CAM pathway
• The leaves of the CAM plants have traits that minimize water loss,such as
thick cuticles,large vacuoles ,and stomata with small apperatues .Tight
packing of the mesophyllcell enhance CAM performance by restricting co2
loss during day time.
• The stomata remain open during night and remain close during day time ,
which is called scotoactive stomata.
• Malate is synthesized by the carboxylation of PEP.
• During night malate is accumulated in the vacuole of mesophyll cell.
• During day stomata remain close and malate is decarboxylated to produce
pyruvate.
• The co2 is fixed by Rubisco to form PGA ,then the PGA enters to c3 cycle to
produce starch during day time.
 CAM Plants -Pathway

•
 During day time -

•
 Significance of CAM plants
1. CAM pathway is an adaptation of plants to an extreme
xerophytic environment.
2. In case of C3 plants photosynthesis may completely stop
under severe water stress ,where as Co2 uptake may continue
in CAM plants in adverse condition.
3. In CAM plants stomata are closed during the hottest and dry
part of the day which reduces loss of water through
transpiration .
4. The rate of co2 fixation is comparatively less in CAM plants
than those of c3 and c4 plants .
Thank You