Does sago palm have a high δ₁₃ C value ?

Abstract

 Sago palm (Metroxylon rumphii MARTIUS) has been regarded as a typical C3 plant because of a low apparent photosynthetic rate, low light saturation, high CO₂ compensation point, and warm optimum temperature. However, there has been no report on the carbon stable isotope ratio (δ¹³C) of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.). In the present study, sago palm leaflets in different growth stages and different leaf positions and sago starch samples were collected in Sungai Talau, Sarawak of Malaysia, Kendari, Sulawesi of Indonesia, and Pangasugan and Hilsig, Leyte of the Philippines, and their δ¹³C values were determined. The δ¹³C of sago samples ranged from -27.6 to -28.8‰, with a mean value of -28.4‰, indicating that sago palm is a C3 plant by means of δ¹³C.