Changes in antioxidant activities and phenol content in tomato plants subjected to partial root drying and regulated deficit irrigation

Abstract

Partial rootzone drying (PRD) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) are water saving irrigation systems that have been developed to increase water use efficiency (WUE) without significant yield reduction. To examine whether tomato responded differently to RDI and PRD, we compared the changes in antioxidative defenses in tomato plants using a split-root system. Tomato plants were grown for 21 days under controlled conditions with their roots separated equally between two soil compartments. Three irrigation treatments were imposed: Control, receiving an amount of water equivalent to 100% of plant transpiration; PRD in which one compartment was watered with 50% of the amount of water supplied to the controls, allowing one-half of the root system to be exposed to dry soil, and switching irrigation between sides weekly; RDI in which 50% of the amount of water given to the controls was supplied, half to each side of the root system. Relative water content (RWC), midday leaf Ψ and chlorophyll content decreased largely in RDI-treated plants, whereas the PRD plants exhibited relatively higher Ψ and RWC values. An enhanced level of lipid peroxidation in both roots and leaves indicated that PRD and RDI caused oxidative stress in tomato plants. In leaves, superoxide dismutase (SOD), soluble peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities showed an increase in the early phase of water deficit, and then decreased in the remaining phase of the drying cycle. However, the increase was more pronounced under RDI. Catalase (CAT) activity declined continuously from the onset of PRD and RDI treatments to below the control level, and the reduction was less under PRD than RDI. POX cell-wall associated activities exceeded the control level by 450% and 230%, respectively, under RDI and PRD. At the root level, while CAT activity also decreased under both PRD and RDI, the activities of SOD, POX and PPO significantly increased and their activities showed an alternating increase/decrease paralleling the alternating irrigation in PRD-treated roots. As a result of the difference in POX and PPO activities between the two water treatments applied, PRD-treated plants accumulated more soluble and cell-wall bound phenolic compounds.     

Growth,water relations and antioxidant defence mechanisms of olive (Olea europaea L.) subjected to Partial Root Drying (PRD) and Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI)

Abstract

We compared the effects of Partial Root-zone Drying (PRD) and Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) on water relations, vegetative growth and antioxidant enzyme activities in two olive varieties Picholine marocaine (Pm) and Picholine languedoc (Pl). A split-root technique was used to divide the root system of the plants in two parts, placed in separate pots, and exposed simultaneously to different water regimes: (i) Control with both root compartments well-watered, (ii) PRD, with one compartment fully irrigated, while the other was kept dry, and (iii) RDI, with both compartments partially irrigated. Compared with the control, both PRD and RDI treatments resulted in decreased stomatal conductance (Gs), pre-dawn leaf water potential (ψ_pd) and relative water content (RWC). The PRD-treated plants of both varieties exhibited lower Gs, and higher ψ_pd and RWC compared with those exposed to RDI, although both treatments received the same amount of water. Plant vegetative growth was substantially reduced under both PRD and RDI compared with the control, as expressed by lower values of shoot length, leaf number and total leaf area. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, soluble peroxidase, insoluble peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase were up-regulated by water deficits under PRD and RDI treatments, compared with the control.     

Chemical signals and their regulations on the plant growth and water use efficiency of cotton seedlings under partial root-zone drying and different nitrogen applications

Partial root-zone drying during irrigation (PRD) has been shown effective in enhancing plant water use efficiency (WUE), however, the roles of chemical signals from root and shoot that are involved and the possible interactions affected by nitrogen nutrition are not clear. Pot-grown cotton (Gossypium spp.) seedlings were treated with three levels of N fertilization and PRD. The concentrations of nitrate (NO₃⁻), abscisic acid (ABA) and the pH value of leaf and root xylem saps, biomass and WUE were measured. Results showed that PRD plants produced larger biomass and higher WUE than non-PRD plants, with significant changes in leaf xylem ABA, leaf and root xylem NO₃⁻ concentrations and pH values, under heterogeneous soil moisture conditions. Simultaneously, high-N treated plants displayed larger changes in leaf xylem ABA and higher root xylem NO₃⁻ concentrations, than in the medium- or low-N treated plants. However, the WUE of plants in the low-N treatment was higher than that of those in the high- and medium-N treatments. PRD and nitrogen levels respectively induced signaling responses of ABA/NO₃⁻ and pH in leaf or root xylem to affect WUE and biomass under different watering levels, although significant interactions of PRD and nitrogen levels were found when these signal molecules responded to soil drying. We conclude that these signaling chemicals are regulated by interaction of PRD and nitrogen status to regulate stomatal behavior, either directly or indirectly, and thus increase PRD plant WUE under less irrigation.     

Water relations and gas exchange in olive trees under regulated deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying

It is widely believed that partial root drying (PRD) reduces water losses by transpiration without affecting yield. However, experimental work carried out to date does not always support this hypothesis. In many cases a PRD treatment has been compared to a full irrigated treatment, so doubt remains on whether the observed benefits correspond to the switching of irrigation or just to PRD being a deficit irrigation treatment. In addition, not always a PRD treatment has been found advantageous as compared to a companion regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatment. In this work we have compared the response of mature ‘Manzanilla‘ olive trees to a PRD and an RDI treatment in which about 50% of the crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) was supplied daily by localised irrigation. We alternated irrigation in the PRD treatment every 2 weeks in 2003 and every 3 weeks in 2004. Measurements of stem water potential (Ψ_stem), stomatal conductance (g _s) and net CO₂ assimilation rate (A) were made in trees of both treatments, as well as in trees irrigated to 100% of ET_c (Control trees) and in Rain-fed trees. Sap flow was also measured in different conductive organs of trees under both PRD and RDI treatments, to evaluate the influence of alternating irrigation on root water uptake and tree water consumption. We found small and random differences in Ψ_stem, g _s and A, which gave no evidence of PRD causing a positive effect on the olive tree performance, as compared to RDI. Stomatal conductance decreased in PRD trees as compared to Control trees, but a similar decrease in g _s was also recorded in the RDI trees. Sap flow measurements, which reflected water use throughout the irrigation period, also showed no evidence of g _s being more reduced in PRD than in RDI trees. Daily water consumption was also similar in the trees of the deficit irrigation treatments, for most days, throughout the irrigation period. Alternating irrigation in PRD trees did not cause a change in either water taken up by main roots at each side of the trees, or in the sap flow of both trunk locations and main branches of each side. Results from this work, and from previous work conducted in this orchard, suggest that transpiration is restricted in trees under deficit irrigation, in which roots are left in drying soil when water is applied by localised irrigation, and that there is no need to alternate irrigation for achieving this effect. Section Editor: R. E. Munns     

Potential of partial rootzone drying as an alternative irrigation technique for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

The increasing demands on limited water supplies worldwide require the adoption of more efficient irrigation techniques for sustainable production in agriculture. Partial rootzone drying (PRD) is one of the techniques that offer potential saving of irrigation water. This technique involves alternate irrigation to two sides of a plant root system. The studies reported here investigated PRD irrigation regimes and the optimum time of starting PRD in potatoes grown in a protected environment. In the first experiment, plants of the potato cv. Estima were exposed to five different irrigation treatments and a fully watered control at tuber initiation. The treatment that performed most similar to the control was alternate PRD to field capacity (APRD₁₀₀). This treatment produced similar total leaf area, haulm fresh and dry weights, plant water status and no significant yield reduction compared with the control plants. The APRD₁₀₀ treatment utilised 29% less water and increased water use efficiency (WUE) by 19%. In the second experiment, the APRD₁₀₀ irrigation was started at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after plant emergence. Vegetative growth and yield increased with the delay of the APRD₁₀₀. APRD₁₀₀ started at 6 weeks after emergence did not significantly reduce fresh tuber yield but received 21% less total water with a 19% increase in WUE. The results indicate that PRD may have potential use in the potato crop for conserving irrigation water with minimal loss of yield.     

Benefits of alternate partial root-zone irrigation on growth, water and nitrogen use efficiencies modified by fertilization and soil water status in maize

Alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI) is a new water-saving technique and may improve crop water use efficiency without much yield reduction. We investigated if the benefits of APRI on biomass accumulation, water and nitrogen use efficiencies could be modified by different soil fertilization and watering levels in pot-grown maize (Zea mays L. cv. super-sweet No 28, a local variety). Three irrigation methods, i.e. conventional irrigation (CI), alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI, alternate watering on both sides of the pot) and fixed partial root-zone irrigation (FPRI, fixed watering on one side of the pot), two watering levels, i.e. water deficit (W₁, 45–55% of field capacity) and well-watered (W₂, 70–80% of field capacity), and two N fertilization levels, i.e. no fertilization and fertilization, were designed. Results showed that APRI and FPRI methods led to more reduction in transpiration than in photosynthesis, and thus increased leaf water use efficiency (leaf WUE, i.e. the ratio of leaf net photosynthetic rate to transpiration rate). Compared to the CI treatment, APRI and FPRI increased leaf WUE by 7.7% and 8.1% before the jointing stage and 3.6% and 4.2% during the jointing stage, respectively. Under the fertilization and well-watered conditions, APRI treatment saved irrigation water by 38.4% and reduced shoot and total dry masses by 5.9% and 6.7%, respectively if compared to the CI treatment. APRI also enhanced canopy WUE (defined as the amount of total biomass per unit water used) and nitrogen (N) apparent recovery fraction (Nr, defined as the ratio of the increased N uptake to N applied) by 24.3% and 16.4%, respectively, indicating that effect of APRI can be better materialized under appropriate fertilization and water supply. Responsible Editor: Rana E. Munns     

Physiological responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to partial root-zone drying: ABA signalling, leaf gas exchange, and water use efficiency

The physiological responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Folva) to partial root-zone drying (PRD) were investigated in potted plants in a greenhouse (GH) and in plants grown in the field under an automatic rain-out-shelter. In the GH, irrigation was applied daily to the whole root system (FI), or to one-half of the root system while the other half was dried, for 9 d. In the field, the plants were drip irrigated either to the whole root system near field capacity (FI) or using 70% water of FI to one side of the roots, and shifted to the other side every 5-10 d (PRD). PRD plants had a similar midday leaf water potential to that of FI, whereas in the GH their root water potential (Psi(r)) was significantly lowered after 5 d. Stomatal conductance (g(s)) was more sensitive to PRD than photosynthesis (A) particularly in the field, leading to greater intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE) (i.e. A/g(s)) in PRD than in FI plants on several days. In PRD, the xylem sap abscisic acid concentration ([ABA](xylem)) increased exponentially with decreasing Psi(r); and the relative [ABA](xylem) (PRD/FI) increased exponentially as the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) in the drying side decreased. In the field, the leaf area index was slightly less in PRD than in FI treatment, while tuber biomass was similar for the two treatments. Compared with FI, PRD treatment saved 30% water and increased crop water use efficiency (WUE) by 59%. Restrictions on leaf area expansion and g(s) by PRD-induced ABA signals might have contributed to reduced water use and increased WUE.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Fractal Dimension Characteristics of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Seedlings Through Regulating Plant Growth,Leaf Water Status,Photosynthesis, and Nutrient Concentration Under Drought Stress

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, on plant growth, leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, nutrient concentration, and fractal dimension (FD) characteristics of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings was studied in pot culture under well-watered, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress treatments. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher dry biomass, leaf relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Under all treatments, AMF colonization notably enhanced net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, but decreased intercellular CO₂ concentration. Leaf chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll concentrations were higher in AM seedlings than those in non-AM seedlings although there was no significant difference between AMF species. AMF colonization improved leaf C, N, and P concentrations, but decreased C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Mycorrhizal seedlings had a larger FD value than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The FD value was positively and significantly correlated to the plant growth parameters, photosynthesis, RWC, WUE, and nutrient concentration but negatively correlated to leaf/stem ratio, C:N and C:P ratios, and intercellular CO₂ concentration. We conclude that AMF lead to an improvement of growth performance of black locust seedlings under all growth conditions, including drought stress via improving leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake. Moreover, FD technology proved to be a powerful non-destructive method to characterize the effect of AMF on the physiology of host plants during drought stress.     

Response of stem sap flow and leaf photosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix chinensis</Emphasis> to soil moisture in the Yellow River Delta,China

Soil moisture is the main limiting factor for vegetation growth at shell ridges in the Yellow River Delta of China. The objective of this study was to explore the soil moisture response of photosynthetic parameters and transpiration in Tamarix chinensis Lour., a dominant species of shell ridges. Leaf photosynthetic light-response parameters and sap flow were measured across a gradient of relative soil water content (RWC), from drought (23%) to waterlogging (92%) conditions. Leaf photosynthetic efficiency and stem sap flow of T. chinensis showed a clear threshold response to soil moisture changes. Leaf net photosynthetic rate, water-use efficiency (WUE), light-saturation point, apparent quantum yield, maximum net photosynthetic rate, and dark respiration rate peaked at moderately high RWC, decreasing towards high and low values of RWC. However, peak or bottom RWC values substantially differed for various parameters. Excessively high or low RWC caused a significant reduction in the leaf photosynthetic capacity and WUE, while the high photosynthetic capacity and high WUE was obtained at RWC of 73%. With increasing waterlogging or drought stress, T. chinensis delayed the starting time for stem sap flow in the early morning and ended sap flow activity earlier during the day time in order to shorten a daily transpiration period and reduce the daily water consumption. The leaf photosynthetic capacity and WUE of T. chinensis were higher under drought stress than under waterlogging stress. Nevertheless, drought stress caused a larger reduction of daily water consumption compared to waterlogging, which was consistent with a higher drought tolerance and a poor tolerance to waterlogging in this species. This species was characterized by the low photosynthetic capacity and low WUE in the range of RWC between 44 and 92%. The RWC of 49–63% was the appropriate range of soil moisture for plant growth and efficient physiological water use of T. chinensis seedlings.     

On the Use of Leaf Spectral Indices to Assess Water Status and Photosynthetic Limitations in Olea europaea L. during Water-Stress and Recovery

Diffusional limitations to photosynthesis, relative water content (RWC), pigment concentrations and their association with reflectance indices were studied in olive (Olea europaea) saplings subjected to water-stress and re-watering. RWC decreased sharply as drought progressed. Following rewatering, RWC gradually increased to pre-stress values. Photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g_s), mesophyll conductance (g_m), total conductance (g_t), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), water index (WI) and relative depth index (RDI) closely followed RWC. In contrast, carotenoid concentration, the carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio, water content reflectance index (WCRI) and structural independent pigment index (SIPI) showed an opposite trend to that of RWC. Photosynthesis scaled linearly with leaf conductance to CO₂; however, A measured under non-photorespiratory conditions (A_1%O2) was approximately two times greater than A measured at 21% [O₂], indicating that photorespiration likely increased in response to drought. A_1%O2 also significantly correlated with leaf conductance parameters. These relationships were apparent in saturation type curves, indicating that under non-photorespiratory conditions, CO₂ conductance was not the major limitations to A. PRI was significant correlated with RWC. PRI was also very sensitive to pigment concentrations and photosynthesis, and significantly tracked all CO₂ conductance parameters. WI, RDI and WCRI were all significantly correlated with RWC, and most notably to leaf transpiration. Overall, PRI correlated more closely with carotenoid concentration than SIPI; whereas WI tracked leaf transpiration more effectively than RDI and WCRI. This study clearly demonstrates that PRI and WI can be used for the fast detection of physiological traits of olive trees subjected to water-stress.     

交替灌溉对山黧豆叶片气体交换和土壤水分以及产量指标的影响

改变土壤根系的分布以汲取深层土壤水分的能力是植物避免干旱的主要策略。山黧豆是一种抗逆性强的豆类作物,该研究通过起垄条播控制性沟灌的方式,设置传统灌溉(FI)、交替灌溉(PRD,灌水量减少50%)和不灌溉(NI)3种处理模式,探索不同灌溉模式对播种后不同时期山黧豆土壤水分、根系分布、叶片气体交换、水分利用效率和籽粒产量的影响。结果表明：(1)在FI、PRD和NI处理下,山黧豆的根系分别有89.8%、86.9%和84.9%生长在0~20 cm的表层土壤中;干旱胁迫使PRD和NI处理下深层土壤中根系的比例提高至13.05%和15.07%。(2)在整个生育期内,土壤干旱显著降低了山黧豆叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度;在种植后60 d时,PRD和NI处理下叶片的瞬时水分利用效率分别较FI处理显著提高了21.4%和14.9%。(3)干旱胁迫显著降低了山黧豆植株高度、第一豆荚高、平均结荚数和豆粒数以及地上部和根系的干重,但显著增加了根冠比;PRD处理对豆荚长度、豆荚重和每荚豆粒重没有显著影响;PRD和NI处理下山黧豆平均籽粒产量分别比FI处理显著降低了53%和63%。研究发现,在干旱胁迫条件下,山黧豆能够通过提高深层土壤中根系的比例、更多吸收深层土壤水分、显著增加根冠比以及显著提高生殖生长期叶片的瞬时水分利用效率,减轻干旱胁迫对自身生长的影响。该研究结果可为山黧豆在旱区推广种植提供理论依据。     

Physiomorphological response of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) to irrigation frequency

The effect of irrigation frequency on leaf physiomorphological processes of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum × P. radens cv. Rose) was investigated in a glasshouse study at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from November 2005 to October 2006. Daily, and every 2nd, 3rd, 4th^, and 5th day irrigation were applied as treatments. Leaf samples for electron-microscopic observations were taken one week prior to harvesting, whereafter all plants were re-watered. For each of the irrigation frequency treatments, 50% of the plants were then exposed to a one-week irrigation withholding period (brief stress treatment) prior to harvesting. During this period, physiological properties were recorded on a daily basis to identify or monitor change. Higher irrigation frequency and a brief water stress period increased essential oil yield. Lower irrigation frequency tended to increase the citronellol to geraniol (C:G) ratio to unacceptably high levels (C:G > 3). Upon re-watering, stomatal conductance (G_s) and transpiration rate (R_t) were significantly lower for the lower irrigation frequency treatments, compared to the higher irrigation frequency treatments, while no noticeable differences were observed in water potential (ψ_w) and relative water content (RWC). At the end of the one-week stress period, G_s, R_t, ψ_w and RWC were lower for the plants that were more frequently irrigated compared to the less frequently irrigated treatments. Water stress reduced leaf size, and apparently increased trichome density, whereas the total number of trichomes per leaf remained more or less the same, indicating that total essential oil yield is mainly affected by leaf number (and not by leaf size or trichome number). Stomatal closure was the main water stress avoiding/adaptation mechanism. These results demonstrate that rose-scented geranium plants can make physiomorphological adaptations to save water. However, such a water saving strategy was counter-productive, since it resulted in lower essential oil yield and lower water-use efficiency.     

Phosphorus concentrations in the leaves of defoliated white clover affect abscisic acid formation and transpiration in drying soil

Increased leaf phosphorus (P) concentration improved the water-use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance of regularly defoliated white clover plants by decreasing the rate of daily transpiration per unit leaf area in dry soil. Night transpiration was around 17% of the total daily transpiration. The improved control of transpiration in the high-P plants was associated with an increased individual leaf area and WUE that apparently resulted from net photosynthetic assimilation rate being reduced less than the reductions in the transpiration (27% vs 58%). On the other hand, greater transpiration from low-P plants was associated with poor stomatal control of transpirational loss of water, less ABA in the leaves when exposed to dry soil, and thicker and smaller leaf size compared with high-P leaves. The leaf P concentration was positively related with leaf ABA, and negatively with transpiration rates, under dry conditions ( P < 0.001). However, leaf ABA was not closely related to the transpiration rate, suggesting that leaf P concentration has a greater influence than ABA on the transpiration rates.     

Comparative responses of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apple trees to deficit irrigation: Placement versus volume effects

Aims

Climate, soil water potential (SWP), leaf relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (g_s), fruit and shoot growth, and carbohydrate levels were monitored during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons to study the responses of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apple trees to irrigation placement or volume.

Methods

Three irrigation treatments were imposed, conventional irrigation (CI), partial root-zone drying (PRD, 50% of CI water on one side of the root-zone, which was alternated periodically), and continuous deficit irrigation (DI, 50% of CI water on both sides of the root-zone).

Results

After each irrigation season, DI generated twice the soil water deficit (SWD_int) than PRD (average of dry and wet sides) and a greater integrated leaf water deficit (LWD_int) than PRD and CI. Both PRD and DI reduced g_s by 9 and 15% over the irrigation period. RWC of both PRD and DI was directly related to SWP and inversely related (non-linear) to vapor pressure deficit (VPD), whereas it was unrelated to g_s. Considering individual sampling days, g_s of ‘Gala’ leaves was inversely related to VPD mainly until early August (fruit at cell expansion phase and high VPD), while it was directly related to VPD in September (no fruit and low VPD). On the contrary, g_s of ‘Fuji’ leaves was inversely related to VPD from late August until mid October (low VPD and fruit at cell expansion phase). Fruit growth was not affected by irrigation, whereas shoot and trunk growth was reduced by DI. Irrigation induced sporadic and inconsistent changes in carbohydrate contents or partitioning, with a general tendency of DI leaves to degrade and PRD to accumulate sorbitol and sucrose in dry periods.

Conclusions

‘Gala’ trees exhibited a more conservative water use than ‘Fuji’ trees due primarily to different timing of fruit growth and crop loads. Different levels of SWD_int, rather than changes in stomatal control and carbohydrate partitioning, seem to play a major role in determining a better water status in PRD than in DI trees.     

Responses of water use efficiency of 9 plant species to light and CO2 and their modeling

Photosynthesis coupled with transpiration determines water use efficiency (WUE) at leaf level, and the responses of WUE controlled by gas exchanges through stomata to environment are the basis of carbon and water cycles in the ecosystem. In this paper, by using Li-6400 Portable Photosynthesis System (LI-COR), WUE at leaf level was analyzed under controlled photosynthetic photons flux density (PPFD) and CO₂ concentration conditions across 9 plant species including maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), millet (Setaria italica), soybean (Glycine max), peanut (Arachis phyogaea), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), rice (Oryza sativa), Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) and Schima superba. We had developed a new model to estimate the water use efficiency in response to the combined effects of light and CO₂ concentration. Our measured data validated that this model could simulate the changes of water use efficiency very well under combined effect of light and CO₂ concentration. It could be used to estimate contribution of photosynthesis increase and transpiration decline on water use efficiency with the rising of CO₂ concentration. Great differences in water use efficiency occurred in these different plant species under various CO₂ concentration levels. Based on water use efficiency at regional scale, we concluded that plants should be separated into C₃ plants and C₄ plants, and furthermore, C₃ plants should be separated into herbaceous plants and woody plants. Our separation criteria would do a great favor in modeling the evapotranspiration of terrestrial ecosystem with carbon and water balance.     

Daily irrigation attenuates xylem abscisic acid concentration and increases leaf water potential of Pelargonium × hortorum compared with infrequent irrigation

The physiological response of plants to different irrigation frequencies may affect plant growth and water use efficiency (WUE; defined as shoot biomass/cumulative irrigation). Glasshouse‐grown, containerized Pelargonium × hortorum BullsEye plants were irrigated either daily at 100% of plant evapotranspiration (ET) (well‐watered; WW), or at 50% ET applied either daily [frequent deficit irrigation (FDI)] or cumulatively every 4 days [infrequent deficit irrigation (IDI)], for 24 days. Both FDI and IDI applied the same irrigation volume. Xylem sap was collected from the leaves, and stomatal conductance (g_s) and leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf) measured every 2 days. As soil moisture decreased, g_s decreased similarly under both FDI and IDI throughout the experiment. Ψ_leaf was maintained under IDI and increased under FDI. Leaf xylem abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations ([X‐ABA]_leaf) increased as soil moisture decreased under both IDI and FDI, and was strongly correlated with decreased g_s, but [X‐ABA]_leaf was attenuated under FDI throughout the experiment (at the same level of soil moisture as IDI plants). These physiological changes corresponded with differences in plant production. Both FDI and IDI decreased growth compared with WW plants, and by the end of the experiment, FDI plants also had a greater shoot fresh weight (18%) than IDI plants. Although both IDI and FDI had higher WUE than WW plants during the first 10 days of the experiment (when biomass did not differ between treatments), the deficit irrigation treatments had lower WUE than WW plants in the latter stages when growth was limited. Thus, ABA‐induced stomatal closure may not always translate to increased WUE (at the whole plant level) if vegetative growth shows a similar sensitivity to soil drying, and growers must adapt their irrigation scheduling according to crop requirements.     

Regulated irrigation of woody ornamentals to improve plant quality and precondition against drought stress

Regulated irrigation has the potential to improve crop quality in woody ornamentals by reducing excessive vigour and promoting a more compact habit. This research aimed to compare the effectiveness and the mode of action of two techniques, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root drying (PRD), when applied to container-grown ornamentals through drip irrigation. Results showed that RDI and PRD reduced growth in Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', but in Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood', significant reductions were recorded only with RDI. Physiological measurements in Forsythia indicated that reductions in stomatal conductance (g_s) occurred in both treatments, but those in the RDI tended to be more persistent. Reduced g_s in PRD was consistent with the concept that chemical signals from the root can regulate stomatal aperture alone; however, the data also suggested that optimising the growth reduction required a moderate degree of shoot water deficit (i.e. a hydraulic signal to be imposed). As RDI was associated with tissue water deficit, it was used in a second experiment to determine the potential of this technique to precondition container-grown plants against subsequent drought stress (e.g. during retail stages or after planting out). Speed of acclimation would be important in a commercial context, and the results demonstrated that both slow and rapid imposition of RDI enabled Forsythia plants to acclimate against later drought events. This article discusses the potential to both improve ornamental plant quality and enhance tolerance to subsequent adverse conditions through controlled, regulated irrigation.     

Growth,photosynthesis and water relations as affected by different drought regimes and subsequent recovery in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago laciniata</Emphasis> (L.) populations

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of water deficit and recovery on growth, photosynthesis and water relations in four Medicago laciniata populations from saharian (Ml-90), inferior arid (Ml-204), superior arid (Ml-306) and semi-arid (Ml-376) Tunisian regions. After 28 d of sowing with ample irrigation, the plants were subjected to 4 water regimes: optimal irrigation (100% of field capacity, FC), moderate drought (75% FC), severe drought (35% FC) and rewatering (plants submitted to 35% FC during 7 d, afterwards the plants were rewatered to 100% FC). Harvest was carried out after 28 d of treatments. The drought tolerance in M. laciniata populations was found to be increased particularly with increasing temperatures of collection site of the population. The Ml-204 and Ml-90 populations used mainly physiological strategies for survival under moderate water shortage. Higher severe drought tolerance in both signaled populations would be related to their lower photosynthesis metabolic impairment, relatively higher leaf RWC and greater osmotic potential decrease. The results suggest that plants with low values of leaf features are likely to maintain higher leaf RWC under sever drought. The largest decrease of osmotic potential was found associated with the solute accumulations such as proline and K⁺.     

不同植物叶片水分利用效率对光和CO2的响应与模拟

植物叶片水分利用效率的高低取决于气孔控制的光合作用和蒸腾作用两个相互耦合的过程,模拟水分利用效率对环境变化的响应特征和机制是理解生态系统碳循环和水循环及其耦合关系的基础.研究通过人工控制光强和CO2浓度,对叶片水分利用效率进行了研究.提出了植物水分利用效率在光强和CO2浓度共同作用下的估算模型.数据分析表明,该模型在包括C3和C4植物、草本和木本植物在内的9种植物上能很好地模拟水分利用效率对光强和CO2浓度共同作用的响应.该模型可以用于估算CO2浓度升高条件下光合速率的提高和蒸腾速率的降低对水分利用效率提高的贡献量.CO2浓度变化条件下,水分利用效率在不同植物之间有巨大差异,研究区域尺度植物的水分利用效率时至少需要将植物区分为C4植物和C3植物,其中C3植物区分为草本和木本植物3种生态功能型才能较为准确地估算植物的整体水分利用效率.应用本研究提出的水分利用效率估算模型和植物水分利用效率生态功能型分类标准,可以为建立以植物的水分利用效率为基本参数的陆地生态系统水循环模型和陆地生态系统生产力模型提供重要依据.     

Modelling the impact of heterogeneous rootzone water distribution on the regulation of transpiration by hormone transport and/or hydraulic pressures

Aims

A simulation model to demonstrate that soil water potential can regulate transpiration, by influencing leaf water potential and/or inducing root production of chemical signals that are transported to the leaves.

Methods

Signalling impacts on the relationship between soil water potential and transpiration were simulated by coupling a 3D model for water flow in soil, into and through roots (Javaux et al. 2008) with a model for xylem transport of chemicals (produced as a function of local root water potential). Stomatal conductance was regulated by simulated leaf water potential (H) and/or foliar chemical signal concentrations (C; H?+?C). Split-root experiments were simulated by varying transpiration demands and irrigation placement.

Results

While regulation of stomatal conductance by chemical transport was unstable and oscillatory, simulated transpiration over time and root water uptake from the two soil compartments were similar for both H and H?+?C regulation. Increased stomatal sensitivity more strongly decreased transpiration, and decreased threshold root water potential (below which a chemical signal is produced) delayed transpiration reduction.

Conclusions

Although simulations with H?+?C regulation qualitatively reproduced transpiration of plants exposed to partial rootzone drying (PRD), long-term effects seemed negligible. Moreover, most transpiration responses to PRD could be explained by hydraulic signalling alone.