A comparison of the respiratory processes and growth rates of selected Australian alpine and related lowland plant species

Respiratory processes and growth rates of alpine and lowland species of 3 genera (Ranunculus, Plantago and Luzula) were compared. Generally, the relative growth rates of the alpine species were lower than those of their lowland relatives. Major differences were found between genera, particularly in their alternative oxidase activity, but respiratory patterns were maintained within a given genus, independent of the environmental or geographical origin of each species from that genus. The alpine plants apparently used their respiratory products less efficiently than did the lowland species. -from Authors