水稻体细胞无性系在米质方面的变异

研究了水稻的体细胞无性系在稻米蒸煮品质和蛋白质含量方面的变异。结果表明体细胞无性系自交二代(SC_2)的胶稠度和直链淀粉含量有不同程度的变化,还发现有极少数糯性转变的变异株系,以碱消解值表示的糊化温度则变化较少。体细胞无性系的蛋白质含量也有各种变化,在18个产量不亚于起始品种的体细胞无性系中,蛋白质相对含量增加5％以上的有6个,减少5％以上的有3个。研究还表明,体细胞无性系稻米蒸煮品质的变异,至少能稳定地遗传到第八代。讨论了应用体细胞无性系改良米质的可行性。     

视黄酸对人肝癌细胞蛋白激酶的影响

 视黄酸(RA)处理SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞株72小时后,胞浆、膜性组分的蛋白激酶C(PK-C)的活力及比活力均下降,活力分别下降44.9％和48.8％,比活力下降42.7％和35.0％。然而,胞浆与膜性组分的活力,比活力比值在RA处理前后并无十分明显的变化,这提示在RA作用过程中,未发生PK-C的膜-浆转位。蛋白激酶A(PK-A)的变化则相反,RA处理72小时,活力、比活力上升了295％,258％。PK-A/PK-C的活力比值则从0.342增加到1.849,比活力比值从0.210增加到0.897。因PKC和PKA分别和细胞的去分化性增殖和分化有关,故上述结果和我们已报道的RA可抑制SMMC-7721细胞株的增殖和促进其分化相一致。     

亚高山林线优势种形态结构和竞争力对CO2浓度和温度升高的响应

利用封顶式生长室模拟未来变化的气候条件,研究了亚高山林线优势物种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)和4种草本植物形态与竞争指标对CO2浓度和温度升高的响应.结果表明:处理2个生长季后,高CO2浓度条件下,岷江冷杉冠体积增加42％,比叶面积、比冠体积和比根长分别增加17％、65％和19％;温度升高使岷江冷杉冠形更纵向生长,冠体积增加22％,根冠比和比根长均比对照增加17％;二者同时升高使岷江冷杉冠体积增加79％,比叶面积、比冠体积和比根长分别增加17％、197％和18％.CO2浓度升高处理下糙野青茅(Deyeuxia scabrescen)的株高、基茎和每株叶片数增加,但比叶面积降低;甘肃苔草(Carexkansuensis)、东方草莓(Fragaria orientali)和紫花碎米荠(Cardamine tangutorum)的各项指标变化与青茅相反.温度升高下青茅、苔草、草莓株高、基茎和根冠比下降.二者同时升高条件下4种草本植物的基茎和每株叶片数增加,但比叶面积和根冠比降低.这表明,在CO2浓度和温度升高处理下,岷江冷杉形成有利于生长的冠层结构且单位质量的竞争力增加,而4种草本植物的形态结构和竞争力均受到不同程度的负面影响.     

毛白杨种内杂交无性系苗期生长量及叶片性状变异研究

以1年生50个毛白杨种内杂交无性系(49个全同胞子代无性系和1个亲本)为材料,对其苗高、地径和10个叶片性状(叶片长度、叶片宽度、叶柄长度等)进行调查分析,结果表明:无性系间所有性状均存在极显著差异(P0.01),50个无性系苗高平均值为64.47 cm,地径平均值为7.53 mm,叶片长度、叶片宽度和单叶面积平均值分别为9.43 cm、8.78 cm和60.05 cm2;各性状表型变异系数变化范围为2.88%(叶基角)-100.36%(单叶面积),遗传变异系数与表型变异系数接近,重复力变化范围为0.851(地径)-0.973(叶尖角),高变异、高重复力有利于优良无性系的选择;相关分析结果表明叶片长度、叶片宽度、单叶面积与苗高和地径间均达极显著正相关水平(P0.01);从回归分析来看,叶片宽度、叶片长度和叶片锯齿数量是影响苗高、地径的重要因子;利用综合评价法,以10%入选率对无性系进行选择,无性系Ph111、Ph153、Ph90、Ph14和Ph12入选,入选无性系苗高和地径遗传增益分别为32.20%和13.01%。     

种间竞争梯度对白车轴草与其病原菌白车轴草单孢莠菌相互作用的影响

白车轴草（Trifolium repens)在与其病原菌白车轴草单孢锈菌（Uromyces trifolii-repentis)的长期相互作用中分化形成了抗病型（Resistance)无性系和易感型（Susceptibility)无性系。该研究工作旨在了解：1）在种间竞争不断增强的环境梯度中,抗型无性系和易感型无性系的生长表现有何区别？2）在同样的实验条件下,分别对抗病型无性系和易感型无性系进行接种感染后,两者的生长表现又有何区别？在一严重感病的白车轴草自然种群中,分别标定了17个抗病型无性系和14个易感型无性系,从各元性系的匍匐茎上分别剪取长5cm,具两个叶两个腋芽的小段作实验材料。接种孢子采自同一植物种群植株的病叶。实验在一个处在次生演替阶段的草本植物群落上进行,在该群落的种间竞争梯度上选定3个分别具有弱、中等和强种间竞争的生境（Habitat)建立实验站,每站设置等量的实验和对照组。结果显示：1）随着环境中种间竞争强度的增加,无论接种与否,抗病型和易感型白车轴草的叶生长量均凝减;2）在弱或强种间竞争环境条件下,无论接种与否,易感型无性系的生长均好于抗抗病型无性系;但在中等间竞争强度的环境条件下,对照实验中易感型无性系的生长显著好于抗病型无性系,而接种实验中的结果相反。这一研究结果表明,种间竞争强度可能是影响给定生境中寄主植物抗病型和易感型遗传型比率的重要因子之一,这一影响还将随着病原菌存在而否而发生改变。     

容器规格和添加生物炭的基质配方对西南桦幼苗生长的影响

为了揭示容器规格和添加生物炭的基质配方对西南桦(Betula alnoides)无性系幼苗生长的影响,以3个西南桦优良无性系(FB4、FB4+和FB01)作为研究对象,选用3种容器规格(4.5 cm×8.0 cm,6.0 cm×9.0 cm,8.0 cm×12.0 cm,直径×高)和6种基质配方(黄心土、沤制树皮、锯末、炭化树皮和竹炭不同比例)开展育苗试验,通过比较不同处理幼苗生长和根系形态等指标,结合育苗效果综合评价,确定适宜的容器规格和基质配方。结果表明:基质配方、容器规格、无性系均显著影响西南桦幼苗的地径、苗高、叶面积、叶片数、生物量和根系形态,且存在显著的交互效应。比较所有无性系在相同基质种类下不同基质比例之间的生长表现后发现:6个基质配方中,基质4表现出明显的生长优势,其地径、苗高、生物量、分枝数、叶面积、叶片数、根长、根表面积、根体积和根平均直径分别是其他基质配方的1.01～1.36、1.11～1. 62、1. 13～2. 94、1. 05～3. 94、1. 05～2. 86、1. 03～2. 44、1. 29～2.17、1. 29～2.20、1.32～2.44和1.00～1.60倍。所有无性系幼苗的地径、苗高、叶面积、叶片数、生物量和根系形态特征均随着容器规格的增大而增加,表明容器规格越大对幼苗生长的促进作用越明显。对西南桦幼苗的生长指标和根系形态指标进行主成分分析,筛选出叶面积、根表面积、根平均直径和存活率作为苗木质量综合评价指标,进一步计算综合评价指数发现,无性系FB4+、容器规格3(8.0 cm×12.0 cm)和基质4(74.625%黄心土+24.875%沤制树皮+0.5%竹炭)的综合评价指数最大(1.566),其育苗效果最好。     

湿地松无性系松脂组分分析及评价

为从湿地松种子园现有的速生材用无性系中选择产脂力强、松脂品质高的优良无性系,并高效利用湿地松良种资源。该研究以湿地松第一代种子园内36个无性系为材料,测定其树脂质量流速以及胸径生长量,进一步采用GC-MS分析其松脂组分,并基于上述指标利用相关性分析、聚类分析对参试的36个无性系进行综合评价。结果表明：(1)共鉴别出了21种松脂成分,包括8种单萜成分和13种二萜成分。(2)相关性分析显示,树脂质量流速(RMR)与单萜含量显著正相关,与枞酸型树脂酸呈弱的负相关,与海松酸型树脂酸无明显关联。(3)从松节油含量、树脂质量流速、枞酸型树脂酸、海松酸型树脂酸4个维度对参试无性系进行聚类分析,可将36个无性系分为三大类,并且各类型间差异显著,第1类的表现要远好于其他两类。(4)在产脂力高的基础上,6-44、4-11-1、1-38、3-64四个无性系单萜含量高,4-11-1、3-64、2-0420、3-468四个无性系海松酸型树脂酸含量高,而无性系2-173枞酸型树脂酸含量较高。该研究定性分析了湿地松的松脂组分,定量评估了36个无性系的产脂力与组分含量,为湿地松脂用无性系的选择奠定了基础。     

体外培养的胎肝细胞半同系移植效果的研究

以Dexter体系成功地建立了小鼠胎肝细胞体外长期培养技术。培养的胎肝造血干细胞(CFU-S)有旺盛的增殖力。半同系移植研究证实,5×10~6个培养细胞(含780～1200CFU-S)可使9.5Gy γ-线照射的受体小鼠30d和60d存活率达80％和74％。1个月造血功能恢复。无移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)征象,并在受体内形成了稳定的嵌合体。说明体外培养的胎肝细胞能有效地重建造血。观察小鼠移植后14.5个月的远期疗效,其造血机能健全,体内CFU-S的移植效力与正常相似。然而CFU-S的再生速率和自我更新力均较正常同龄鼠低,揭示出长期增殖状态的造血干细胞功能上的变化。     

白杨派杂种无性系生根特性研究

通过对采用杂交育种方法选育出的白杨无性系生根性状进行研究。结果表明,新无性系在最早生根时间、主侧根总数量、主侧根总长度等指标上均存在极显著差异,说明各无性系的生根能力具有显著差异。主根平均根数和侧根平均根数两个性状的遗传方差均大于环境方差,其重复力分别可达95％和87％。进一步分析结果表明易生根的无性系根原基数量最多,平均每段插穗约14．7～7．3个．而较难生根的无性系平均每段插穗约5．5～6．8个,难生根的毛白杨根原基数量最少,平均每段插穗约3．3个。通过层次分析法(AHP)对各无性系生根特性的综合评价结果表明：9606、9603、9608、9607、9614、9610、9602等7个无性系生根能力均优于其亲本和毛白杨。     

硅钾肥配施对水稻茎秆理化性状及抗倒伏能力的影响

该研究以易倒伏品种‘B优827’为试验材料,通过分析硅钾肥配合施用对水稻茎秆的弯曲力矩、抗折力以及倒伏指数的影响,探索通过肥料调控提高水稻抗倒伏能力的方法与技术措施。结果显示:(1)硅钾肥配施能显著增加水稻基部节间茎秆直径和壁厚,缩短节间长度,并在低硅中钾处理(T2,硅肥300kg/hm2、钾肥400kg/hm2)下基部各节间长度缩短幅度最大(12.44%~20.80%),直径和壁厚增加幅度分别为2.82%~5.76%、22.95%~28.57%。(2)硅钾肥配施处理后,水稻基部各节间纤维素、木质素及灰分含量显著变化,并以低硅中钾处理(T2)差异较显著,且基部节间木质素含量分别比对照显著提高14.55%、8.67%、7.73%。(3)硅钾肥配施处理能显著增加水稻基部节间抗折力,降低倒伏指数,同时仍以低硅中钾处理(T2)的抗折力最大、倒伏指数最小,对提高‘B优827’植株抗倒伏能力效果最好。研究表明,合理的硅钾肥配比(硅肥300kg/hm2、钾肥400kg/hm2)能显著增加易倒伏水稻品种‘B优827’的茎秆壁厚和直径,缩短基部节间长度,提高抗折力,同时还能增加其基部节间木质化程度,最终增强植株抗倒伏能力;硅钾肥配合施用可通过改善茎秆物理化学特性有效增强易倒伏水稻植株的抗倒伏能力。     

Improvement of jojoba shoot multiplication <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> by ventilation

Summary The effect of ventilation during the multiplication stage on the development of propagules from different clones of jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] was investigated. Variation in the response to ventilation was due to genotype, the extent of ventilation, and to the period of exposure (transfer number). With intermediate ventilation treatments, propagules elongated to a greater extent and produced more dry biomass than propagules grown without ventilation. In the highest ventilation treatment, however, growth parameters were negatively affected. More importantly, propagules grown with moderate ventilation produced more plant material suitable for further multiplication and for the elongation stage than those grown in sealed tubes—the vessels used in our original micropropagation system. In five of the seven clones studied, growth and multiplication rate were decreased by the highest ventilation treatment. Propagules from the second and third multiplication transfers into ventilated vessels became more sensitive to high ventilation. Ambient water loss was slower in propagules produced under ventilation, probably due to smaller stomatal apertures. As a result of improved growth and decreased hyperhydricity by ventilation, the micropropagation protocol should be modified to include Magenta boxes equipped with vented lids as the preferred growing vessels.     

Leaf morphology and water status changes in Triticum durum under water stress

Water relations, leaf morphology and the chemical composition of cell walls in irrigated and unirrigated plants of three durum wheat eultivars were measured at two growth stages (booting and flowering). Plant response to water stress differed at the two stages: cell wall elasticity increased at booting and osmotic potential values decreased at flowering; this may be due to the changes in stress history, leaf development and plant growth stage between the two harvests. Leaf tissue characteristics were modified by water stress only at flowering: accumulation of fibrous constituents and hemicellulose in the cell walls, reduction of acid detergent fiber (ADF) per unit of leaf area, increase in specific leaf weight (SLW), decrease in turgid weight/dry weight ratio (TW/DW) and alteration in mesophyll cell morphology (cell area / ceil perimeter ratio) were observed.
Generally, cv. Valforte (the less drought-resistant cultivar) had the greatest mesophyll cell area and perimeter and it had greater values of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) at the booting stage than cv. Appulo. Reactivity to water stress differed in the eultivars: Valforte showed the greatest increase in hemicellulose content and decrease in cell dimensions under drought at flowering.
No significant relationships between osmotic potential and mesophyll cell characters were observed; there were no correlations among cell wall elasticity, cell morphology and the chemical components of leaf tissue. The total fiber content and the hemicellulose per unit of leaf area were correlated with the TW/DW ratio at flowering. This parameter decreased more in plants subjected to water stress owing to accumulation of hemicellulose. Correlations between leaf structural constituents and $$ suggest that the absorptive capacity of the cell wall may significally affect the osmotic volume of the cell.     

不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育及其对干旱胁迫的响应

为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征,探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制,在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验,研究抗旱型品种“花育22号”、“唐科8号”和干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”3个不同抗旱性花生品种根系形态发育特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明:抗旱型品种根系较发达,具有较大的根系生物量、总根长、总根系表面积.干旱胁迫使抗旱型品种根系总表面积和体积增加,而干旱敏感型品种则相反.干旱胁迫显著增加抗旱型品种“花育22号”20 cm以下土层内根长密度分布比例及根系表面积和体积,但“唐科8号”相应根系性状仅在20-40 cm土层内增加;干旱胁迫使干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”40 cm以下土层内各根系性状升高,但未达显著水平且其深层土壤内各根系性状增加幅度小于“花育22号”.花生根系总长、总表面积及0-20 cm土层内根系性状与产量间呈显著或极显著正相关.土壤水分亏缺条件下,花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性,优化空间分布构型,以调节植株对水分的利用.     

冀中北小麦品种抗旱性筛选研究

干旱是华北地区小麦生产的重要限制因素,从推广小麦品种中鉴定和筛选抗旱品种,对稳定小麦产量、降低区域水分消耗具有重要意义。本研究以近年来在河北省中北部审定、推广的13个小麦品种为材料,设置冬后浇2水(D2处理)、浇1水(D1处理)和不浇水(D0处理)3种处理方式,进行了大田条件下的抗旱品种筛选试验。结果表明,在D0处理时,各供试品种的株高、千粒重、穗粒数、亩穗数等农艺性状以及叶绿素含量、叶片离体失水速率等生理性状均显著下降,籽粒产量也极显著下降。在D1处理时,各小麦品种的农艺、生理和产量性状也发生不同程度下降。当分别以抗旱指数、加权抗旱指数和抗旱性综合度量值等指标度量品种抗旱性时,品种之间的抗旱性排序虽有差异,但仍能看出中麦1062、河农825等品种抗旱性较好。以节水指数对品种进行节水性评价时,发现河农130等3个品种节水性较好。在所测定的农艺、生理性状中,叶绿素含量、小穗数、株高、叶片离体失水速率、旗叶长和穗粒数等与抗旱性存在较高程度的相关性,本研究初步认为叶绿素含量、小穗数可作为抗旱性评价指标。     

Stomatal factors and vulnerability of stem xylem to cavitation in poplars

The relationships between the vulnerability of stem xylem to cavitation, stomatal conductance, stomatal density, and leaf and stem water potential were examined in six hybrid poplar (P38P38, Walker, Okanese, Northwest, Assiniboine and Berlin) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) clones. Stem xylem cavitation resistance was examined with the Cavitron technique in well-watered plants grown in the greenhouse. To investigate stomatal responses to drought, plants were subjected to drought stress by withholding watering for 5 (mild drought) and 7 (severe drought) days and to stress recovery by rewatering severely stressed plants for 30 min and 2 days. The clones varied in stomatal sensitivity to drought and vulnerability to stem xylem cavitation. P38P38 reduced stomatal conductance in response to mild stress while the balsam poplar clone maintained high leaf stomatal conductance under more severe drought stress conditions. Differences between the severely stressed clones were also observed in leaf water potentials with no or relatively small decreases in Assiniboine, P38P38, Okanese and Walker. Vulnerability to drought-induced stem xylem embolism revealed that balsam poplar and Northwest clones reached loss of conductivity at lower stem water potentials compared with the remaining clones. There was a strong link between stem xylem resistance to cavitation and stomatal responsiveness to drought stress in balsam poplar and P38P38. However, the differences in stomatal responsiveness to mild drought suggest that other drought-resistant strategies may also play a key role in some clones of poplars exposed to drought stress.     

盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗根系生长和水分利用的影响

采用营养液水培法,研究了NaCl胁迫对两个耐盐性不同的黄瓜品种幼苗根系生长、活力、质膜透性和叶片生长、蒸腾速率（T_r）、相对含水量（RWC）及水分利用率（WUE）的影响.结果表明,盐胁迫下黄瓜植株根系吸收面积下降,质膜透性升高,叶片数减少,叶片T_r和RWC在盐胁迫2 d后明显下降,根系活力和叶片WUE均先升后降,50、75和100 mmol·L^-1NaCl胁迫9 d时,耐盐性较弱的津春2号根系活力降低幅度分别比耐盐性较强的长春密刺高18.01%、12.17%和10.95%,胁迫8 d时WUE下降幅度分别比长春密刺高2.74%、5.27%和0.23%.短期盐胁迫下,黄瓜植株通过提高根系吸收能力来补偿根系吸收面积的下降,通过降低叶片T_r和提高WUE来减少水分散失,在一定程度上有利于缓解水分失衡,提高植株耐盐性;盐胁迫5 d后,根系活力和WUE的下降导致水分失衡加剧,表明根系吸收能力的下降是导致水分失衡的重要原因,叶片WUE的下降是水分失衡的反应,两者均与品种的耐盐性关系密切.     

水肥胁迫对尾叶桉无性系生长及叶片变异的影响研究

为选择尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)优良无性系,以20个尾叶桉无性系为材料,采用2因素(水分、养分)3水平完全随机区组设计,对水肥胁迫半年后尾叶桉苗木生长和叶片性状变异进行分析和评估。结果表明,尾叶桉的叶尖角、叶长、叶宽、叶周长和叶面积在不同水肥处理下差异显著,表明水分和养分会影响叶片的大小。苗木生长和叶片性状间大多数呈显著或极显著正相关,少数呈显著负相关或一定的负相关性。13种性状可综合为4个主成分,其累计贡献率达98%,说明这些性状具有极强的代表性。除地径的水分×养分互作不显著外,生长性状在水分、养分及水分×养分互作上达显著和极显著的水平。无性系在树高、地径和冠幅上的方差分量为2.19~149.59,重复力为0.16~0.45。以20%入选率,采用基因型值筛选出4个优良无性系:LDUA10、ZQUA9、ZQUA8和LDUA24,他们的树高、地径和冠幅比对照分别高出5.0%、12.8%和14.5%,为后续骨干亲本选择及优良无性系推广提供依据。     

Effect of drought stress on lipid metabolism in the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cell membranes are major targets of environmental stresses. Lipids are important membrane components, and changes in their composition may help to maintain membrane integrity and preserve cell compartmentation under water stress conditions. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of water stress on membrane lipid composition and other aspects of lipid metabolism in the leaves of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. METHODS: Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia) plants were submitted to progressive drought stress by withholding irrigation. Studies were carried out in plants with hydration levels ranging from slight to very severe water deficit. Enzymatic activities hydrolysing MGDG, DGDG and PC were measured. Expression of several genes essential to lipid metabolism, such as genes coding for enzymes involved in lipid biosynthesis (MGDG synthase, DGDG synthase) and degradation (phospholipases D, lipoxygenase, patatin-like lipolytic-acylhydrolase), was studied. KEY RESULTS: In response to drought, total leaf lipid contents decreased progressively. However, for leaf relative water content as low as 47.5 %, total fatty acids still represented 61 % of control contents. Lipid content of extremely dehydrated leaves rapidly increased after rehydration. The time-course of the decrease in leaf lipid contents correlated well with the increase in lipolytic activities of leaf extracts and with the expression of genes involved in lipid degradation. Despite a decrease in total lipid content, lipid class distribution remained relatively stable until the stress became very severe. CONCLUSIONS: Arabidopsis leaf membranes appeared to be very resistant to water deficit, as shown by their capacity to maintain their polar lipid contents and the stability of their lipid composition under severe water loss conditions. Moreover, arabidopsis displayed several characteristics indicative of a so far unknown adaptation capacity to drought-stress at the cellular level, such as an increase in the DGDG : MGDG ratio and fatty acid unsaturation.     

Correlated variation of floral and leaf traits along a moisture availability gradient

Variation in flower size is an important aspect of a plant’s life history, yet few studies have shown how flower size varies with environmental conditions and to what extent foliar responses to the environment are correlated with flower size. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a theoretical framework for linking flower size and leaf size to their costs and benefits, as assessed using foliar stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) under varying degrees of water limitation, and then (2) examine how variation in flower size within and among species growing along a naturally occurring moisture availability gradient correlates with variation in δ¹³C and leaf size. Five plant species were examined at three sites in Oregon. Intra- and inter-specific patterns of flower size in relation to moisture availability were the same: the ratios of the area of flower display to total leaf area and of individual flower area to leaf area were greater at sites with more soil moisture compared to those sites with less soil moisture. The increase in flower area per unit increase in leaf area was greater at sites with more soil moisture than at sites where water deficit can occur. Values of δ¹³C, an index of water-use efficiency, were greater for plants with larger floral size. The patterns we observed generalize across species, irrespective of overall plant morphology or pollination system. These correlations between flower size, moisture availability, and δ¹³C suggest that water loss from flowers can influence leaf responses to the environment, which in turn may indirectly mediate an effect on flower size. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Genotypic variation in drought response of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth): leaf and root morphology and carbon partitioning

This study investigates the drought response of four genotypes of Betula pendula with a focus on leaf and root morphological traits, leaf phenology and carbon partitioning between shoot and root. Potted one-year-old clonal plants of four genotypes from regions with low to high annual rainfall (550–1270 mm year⁻¹) were subjected to drought periods of 12–14 weeks in two subsequent years. Well-watered control plants of the four genotypes differed significantly with respect to total leaf area per plant (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA), whereas differences in total fine root surface area (RA), root specific area (SRA), and the fine root:leaf mass ratio (FR:LM) were not significant. Highest LA and SLA were found in the clone originating from the driest environment. In complementary physiological investigations this clone was found to have the highest water use as well which was interpreted as competitive superiority in terms of water consumption. Drought resulted in an increase in SLA in all genotypes, and a decrease in LA. Leaf area reduction was more pronounced in the genotypes from high than in those from low rainfall origin. The ratio of total root to leaf surfaces remained more or less constant after drought application despite an increase in FR:LM. This is explained by a decrease in SRA resulting from a reduced abundance of very small fine rootlets (diameter <0.2 mm) in the drought-treated plants. The loss in total root surface area due to a reduction in finest root mass was compensated for by a relative increase in total root dry mass per plant. Comparison of results from the first and second drought period indicated a marked influence of timing of drought, root system size, and putative root limitation on plant drought response. We conclude that leaf and root morphology, the total leaf and root surfaces, and the morphological response to drought in birch are to a large extent under genetic control.