Diversity of CAM plant photosynthesis (crassulacean acid metabolism): a tribute to Barry Osmond

Abstract

This special issue is a tribute to the Australian plant biologist Professor Charles Barry Osmond – Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, and Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences – and his many contributions to our understanding of the biochemistry and physiological ecology of CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) photosynthesis. This water-conserving photosynthetic pathway is characterised by nocturnal uptake of atmospheric CO2 and typically enables succulent plants to perform and survive in warm semiarid terrestrial and epiphytic habitats. The idea for this issue is to mark the occasion of Barry’s 80th birthday in 2019. The foreword highlights some of his outstanding contributions and introduces the research papers of the special issue.