濒危植物疏花水柏枝对模拟夏季水淹的生理生化响应

模拟水淹实验,分析濒危植物疏花水柏枝(Myricaria laxiflora)的一些重要生理生化指标对夏季水淹的响应.结果表明,疏花水柏枝植株在夏季无论水淹与否均处于休眠状态.水淹时植株溶性总糖、蔗糖的含量以及过氧化物酶的活性都显著增加,但与对照的差异不显著.水淹过后,植株迅速恢复生长,其可溶性总糖、蔗糖含量以及过氧化物酶和多酚氧化酶的活性逐渐下降,恢复到正常水平,但恢复阶段植株的生化指标与水淹和对照无显著差异.水淹植株的光合作用强度与蒸腾强度显著高于对照.疏花水柏枝在水淹期间的休眠以及相关的生理生化变化是对水淹的主动适应.     

三峡库区消涨带特有植物疏花水柏枝(Myricaria laxiflora)的自然分布及迁地保护研究

疏花水柏枝为三峡库区消涨带特有植物,三峡工程的兴建将导致其野生居群全部灭绝。作者对该植物的地理分布、自然生境和群落结构进行了系统调查,发现疏花水柏枝分布于三峡库区重庆市巴南区至湖北省宜昌县间12个县级单位的长江干流消涨带,共31个居群9万余株,比原已知的分布区增加了7个县级区域18个居群8万余株。调查中发现该物种具有喜温湿、耐水淹和生长反季的生长习性,具有种子多、易扦插的繁殖优势和自然居群中物种少、水淹前后物种组成有差异的群落结构特点。同时,较系统地回顾了目前关于疏花水柏枝迁地保护的研究进展,探讨了其特殊的生态适应策略、起源进化和传播的可能途径以及濒危机制,并对下一步的保育研究提出了建议。     

水淹对狗牙根营养繁殖植株的生理生态学效应

通过控制实验,测定了经过水淹处理的狗牙根营养繁殖体在恢复阶段的光合作用及其相关的生理生化指标的变化。结果显示,水淹时间对恢复阶段营养繁殖体的蒸腾作用和叶片温度的影响达到显著水平,水淹深度对该时期营养繁殖体的光合作用、气孔导度、胞间二氧化碳浓度和叶片温度有显著影响。水淹还导致了恢复期间植株叶片光合色素含量的显著变化。经过水淹的植株的各类光合色素含量以及色素总含量都显著高于对照植株,其中全淹处理的植株显著高于半淹处理的植株,叶绿素a与叶绿素b的比例也是全淹处理的植株显著高于半淹处理的植株。结果表明狗牙根营养繁殖体具有较强的恢复生长和生理活动的能力,是一种适宜于水电工程库区消落带生态恢复的物种。     

三峡库区特有植物疏花水柏枝的调查研究

疏花水柏枝是三峡大坝建成后唯一１种痊全部被淹没的库区特有植物物种。在实地系统调查的基础上,阐述了疏花水柏枝的形态特征,分布现状,生长环境和群落结构等特点;从生物学,生态学角度分析了它在长江沿岸消涨带内汛期被洪水淹没的生长特性。     

三峡濒危植物疏花水柏枝的回归引种和种群重建

疏花水柏枝分布于三峡库区原海拔70～155m的消落带,三峡工程修建后它将丧失其全部生境而成为濒危植物。实验结果显示其种子在土壤含水量大于10%以上时开始萌发,以土壤含水量达到饱和状况时萌发最好。种子萌发与定居阶段对土壤水分条件的严格要求使得疏花水柏枝分布区十分狭小。回归引种和种群重建是拯救该物种的主要手段。三峡工程修建后库区内新的消落带将形成夏旱冬淹的水节律,完全不同于库区原有消落带所具有的冬旱夏淹的水节律,不适于作为疏花水柏枝种群的迁移地。相比之下库区淹没区以上各支流消落带的生态环境与疏花水柏枝原有生境较为接近,适于作其新的生境。种群遗传多样性、年龄结构、分布格局、繁殖与扩展等生物学特性是种群持续发展的基础,文章以此为依据,对疏花水柏枝种群重建与管理中的相关问题进行了分析讨论。认为疏花水柏枝种群恢复与重建中目前所面临的主要问题是如何增强被隔离的种群间的基因交流、促进种群的种子扩散与萌发、协调新建种群与当地物种的关系、营造有利于新建种群定居与生长的生态环境。重建种群的管理应结合疏花水柏枝的生长发育节律和移栽地的生态环境条件来开展,要有效地监控种群的生长发育动态,合理地在隔离种群间相互引种,适时地进行水分管理,并对周围植被适度控制。     

中国水柏枝属植物的地理分布、濒危状况及其保育策略

水柏枝属(MyricariaDesv.)植物主要分布于中国青藏高原及其邻近地区,为欧亚温带高山植物类群,多为河岸带植物,是分布区湿地生态系统和荒漠生态系统的重要组分。为评价这些特殊生态系统关键植物的分布及受威胁现状,对中国水柏枝属植物的地理分布和濒危状况进行了调查。调查发现,该属中国分布的11个分类群均受到生存胁迫,其中疏花水柏枝即将成为野外灭绝种,宽叶水柏枝已属极危种,心叶水柏枝为濒危种,秀丽水柏枝、泽当水柏枝、小花水柏枝、卧生水柏枝和匍匐水柏枝为渐危种,具鳞水柏枝、三春水柏枝和宽苞水柏枝为受胁种。结果表明,以水利建设为主的人为干扰和土地沙化、气温升高带来的环境改变是导致该属植物生存胁迫的主要原因。最后探讨了水柏枝属这类河岸带湿地和荒漠生境植物的保育策略。     

根部水淹和土壤养分提升对三峡库区消落带水蓼生长和繁殖特性的影响

水淹和土壤养分是影响三峡库区消落带植物生长的主要环境因子。消落带不同高程的植物长期经历不同的淹水强度和土壤养分条件。该研究假设同一物种来自于消落带不同高程的植株可能产生性状分化, 从而对根部淹水和土壤养分变化具有不同的生长和繁殖响应策略。为了验证以上假设, 选取在三峡库区消落带高低高程均广泛分布的物种水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)为研究对象, 采集自然种群的种子。在温室同质园条件下, 研究了根部水淹和土壤养分提升对高低高程水蓼植株生长和繁殖特性的影响。研究结果表明根部水淹显著或趋于显著降低了水蓼植株功能叶的叶长、叶宽、总分枝数、叶生物量、花生物量和总生物量; 低养分处理显著或趋于显著降低了水蓼植株的总节数、总分枝数、根生物量、花生物量和总生物量, 表明根部水淹和低土壤养分对水蓼的生长和繁殖能力具有抑制作用。同时, 根部水淹和土壤养分的交互作用显著影响植株的根生物量, 表明根部水淹条件下高土壤养分更有利于植株根生物量的积累。高高程植株的根生物量和叶生物量显著或趋于显著高于低高程植株, 而低高程植株的始花时间早于高高程植株, 且繁殖分配也显著高于高高程植株, 表明高低高程水蓼植株对资源的分配策略不同。该研究结果表明水蓼的生长和繁殖特性受根部水淹和土壤养分共同限制, 但对根部水淹条件下高土壤养分生境具有较好的适应性; 同时, 低高程植株可以通过调整其生长和繁殖特性以提高对所处生境胁迫的适应性。     

密度对濒危物种疏花水柏枝幼苗存活与生长的影响

疏花水柏枝(Myricarialaxiflora)原产于三峡库区长江干流的河滩,三峡水库的蓄水淹没了其所有的野生种群,使之濒临绝灭。通过一系列的密度处理实验,我们研究了不同密度下疏花水柏枝幼苗的存活率、幼苗总生物量、地下生物量、地上生物量、一级枝数、二级枝数、一级枝长度的变化,揭示了密度对一年生幼苗存活与生长的影响。结果显示,随着密度的增加,疏花水柏枝种群内部的竞争加剧,幼苗的死亡率增加,特别是当密度大于250ind./m2时,死亡率显著上升,上述体现植株生长状况的各指标值也随密度的增加而显著减小。表明疏花水柏枝一年生幼苗的存活与生长受到密度的影响。文中还建立了密度影响下疏花水柏枝各构件部分生长发育的回归模型,解释了密度对它们的调节作用。最后对疏花水柏枝种群重建中的相关问题进行了分析讨论,以求为回归引种实践提供参考。     

不同时期毛乌素沙区主要植物种光合作用和蒸腾作用的变化

 采用LI—6000便携式光合分析系统对毛乌素沙区主要植物种油蒿、中间锦鸡儿、旱柳进行了不同时期光合作用,蒸腾作用日进程的测定,并同步测定有效光辐射、空气相对湿度、叶温、气温、胞间CO2浓度、气孔阻力、叶片水势及土壤水势等因子;结果表明：不同时期、不同植物种其光合、蒸腾特征各异;植物的光合、蒸腾与环境因子和植物内部因子之间有密切关系,其中有效光辐射是影响光合作用、蒸腾作用诸因子中的主导因子,而气孔阻力变化则在调节光合和蒸腾中起着重要作用;不同植物种间气孔对环境条件变化的响应程度不同,以中间锦鸡儿最为灵敏;3种植物的水分利用效率表明,中间锦鸡儿的水分利用效率较油蒿、旱柳为高。     

Effects of waterlogging and increased soil nutrients on growth and reproduction of Polygonum hydropiper in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

水淹和土壤养分是影响三峡库区消落带植物生长的主要环境因子。消落带不同高程的植物长期经历不同的淹水强度和土壤养分条件。该研究假设同一物种来自于消落带不同高程的植株可能产生性状分化, 从而对根部淹水和土壤养分变化具有不同的生长和繁殖响应策略。为了验证以上假设, 选取在三峡库区消落带高低高程均广泛分布的物种水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)为研究对象, 采集自然种群的种子。在温室同质园条件下, 研究了根部水淹和土壤养分提升对高低高程水蓼植株生长和繁殖特性的影响。研究结果表明根部水淹显著或趋于显著降低了水蓼植株功能叶的叶长、叶宽、总分枝数、叶生物量、花生物量和总生物量; 低养分处理显著或趋于显著降低了水蓼植株的总节数、总分枝数、根生物量、花生物量和总生物量, 表明根部水淹和低土壤养分对水蓼的生长和繁殖能力具有抑制作用。同时, 根部水淹和土壤养分的交互作用显著影响植株的根生物量, 表明根部水淹条件下高土壤养分更有利于植株根生物量的积累。高高程植株的根生物量和叶生物量显著或趋于显著高于低高程植株, 而低高程植株的始花时间早于高高程植株, 且繁殖分配也显著高于高高程植株, 表明高低高程水蓼植株对资源的分配策略不同。该研究结果表明水蓼的生长和繁殖特性受根部水淹和土壤养分共同限制, 但对根部水淹条件下高土壤养分生境具有较好的适应性; 同时, 低高程植株可以通过调整其生长和繁殖特性以提高对所处生境胁迫的适应性。     

暖温带森林生态系统主要树种若干水分参数的季节变化

本文通过PV技术对暖温带落叶阔叶林主要树种辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)、棘桦(Betula dahurica)、五角枫(Acer mono)、大叶白蜡(Fraxinus rhychophylla)及其林下灌木六道木(Abelia biflora)、山地针叶林的主要树种油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)以及次生灌丛主要树种山杏(Prunus armeniaca var.ansu)、山桃(Prunus davidiana)、大果榆(Ulmus macrocarpa)、北京丁香(Syringa pekinensis)的日最低叶水势Ψmin、饱和含水量时的最大渗透势Ψs sat、初始质壁分离时渗透势Ψs tlp、初始质壁分离的渗透水的相对含量(ROWCtlp)、相对含水量(RWCtlp)、质外体水的相对含量(AWC)6种水分生理指标的季节变化进行了研究。结果表明：1)所研究的10种树种叶水势Ψw min的季节进程基本与土壤湿度的变化一致。乔木Ψw min季节均值由低到高的顺序为油松<辽东栎<大叶白蜡<棘皮桦<五角枫。次生灌丛4种树种Ψw min季节均值由低到高依次为：山杏<山桃<北京丁香<大果榆。在生长季的不同时期,同为灌木、生长于落叶阔叶林下的六道木Ψw min均高于灌丛样地4类树种的同期值,且季节变幅较小。2)各树种饱和含水量时的最大渗透势Ψs sat和初始质壁分离时渗透势Ψs tlp,表现出随季节进程而不断降低的趋势;Ψs tlp和Ψs sat的季节变化并未表现出与土壤水分状况变化的一致关系,而与树木自身生长发育的物候节律有关。从Ψs tlp和Ψs sat指标所反映的树木耐旱能力的季节变化来看,表现为随季节进程不断上升的趋势。一般在展叶和随后的生长旺盛期,上述树种的耐旱能力较弱。3)初始质壁分离的渗透水的相对含量(ROWCtlp)和相对含水量 (RWCtlp)的季节变化在各树种间呈现大体相同的趋势,5月下旬的生长高峰期,达到生长季中的最高值。而后随林木当年生叶的成熟和嫩枝的木质化,ROWCtlp和RWCtlp呈下降趋势。4)各树种质外体水的相对含量(AWC)表现为随季节进程而上升的趋势。     

长叶红砂主要水分参数随季节和生境的变化

运用压力容积(PV)技术,研究了4种盐分生境下长叶红砂饱和含水量时最大渗透势(Ψ_s^sat) 、初始质壁分离时的渗透势(Ψ_s^tlp)、初始质壁分离时渗透水相对含量(ROWC^tlp)、初始质壁分离时的相对含水量(RWC^tlp)、质外体水的相对含量(AWC) 、束缚水与自由水的比值(V_a/V_o) ,以及饱和含水量时最大渗透势与初始质壁分离时的渗透势之差(ΔP)的季节变化.结果表明：长叶红砂的主要水分参数Ψ_s^sat、Ψ_s^tlp值为5月＞7月＞9月,AWC、V_a/V_o 和ΔP值表现为5月＜7月＜9月.说明长叶红砂在季节变化中历经了逆境锻炼,其耐水分亏缺能力随5、7、9月逐渐递增,这与植物的生长发育节律相吻合;与其他荒漠旱生植物相比,长叶红砂的Ψ_s^sat和Ψ_s^tlp值非常低,具有很强的忍耐高渗压和维持低水势的能力.以3个月份4种不同生境所测水分参数值为基础,运用模糊数学隶属函数法对不同生境长叶红砂耐水分亏缺能力进行综合评价,得出重盐土＞非盐渍土＞盐渍土.     

濒危种四合木与其近缘种霸王水分关系参数和光合特性的比较

运用压力室-容积技术(P-V技术)对西鄂尔多斯地区特有的濒危植物四合木(Tetraena mongolica Maxim.)和生长于同一生境的近缘种霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylon (Bunge) Maxim.)的7个水分关系参数饱和含水量时最大渗透势(Ψ_s^sat) 、初始质壁分离时的渗透势(Ψ_s^tlp) 、初始质壁分离时渗透水相对含量(ROWC^tlp) 、初始质壁分离时的相对含水量(RWC^tlp) 、质外体水的相对含量(AWC) 、束缚水与自由水的比值(V_a / V₀),以及细胞最大弹性模量(ε^max)进行了测定,同时利用Li-6400光合作用测定系统测定了二者叶片气体交换参数的日变化,从生理生态学角度探讨了二者生存力、适应力的差异。结果表明:1)四合木的ε^max、ROWC^tlp值和RWC^tlp值均显著低于霸王,而Ψ_s^sat值Ψ_s^tlp值、AWC和V_a / V₀高于霸王。二者保持膨压的能力和方式不同,四合木表现为较小的细胞体积和较强的持水能力,主要以高的组织弹性来保持膨压,而霸王主要以增加细胞质浓度的渗透调节来维持膨压,弹性调节较弱。且四合木保持最大膨压的能力和维持最低膨压的极限渗透势低于霸王,耐旱性弱于霸王。2)自然条件下,四合木和霸王叶片的光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)日进程均呈"双峰"曲线,主峰出现在11:00时,次峰出现在15:00时左右,光合作用的午间降低是由气孔导度(Gs)降低造成的。二者相比,四合木光合速率和水分利用效率(WUE)低于霸王,光合能力和对干旱环境适应能力弱于霸王。研究表明四合木在生理生态学方面的生存力、适应力弱于霸王。     

Leaf recovery responses during rehydration after water deficit in two bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars

Abstract

Our hypothesis was that recovery responses (RI and RII) upon rehydration, after 1 and 8 d of moderate (WDI) and severe water deficit (WDII), are evidence of tolerance in two commercial bean cultivars, Tacarigua (T cv) and VUL-73-40 (V cv). Recovery of leaf water (Ψw) and osmotic potentials (Ψs), and relative water content (LRWC), showed strong dependence on soil water potential (sΨw) followed by protein content; recovery connection between stomatal conductance and soil Ψw is showed. Chlorophyll (a + b), Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, dry biomass (DM), and leaf area (LA) recovery were sensitive to WD intensity. Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf density (D) recovery were less dependent on WD intensity and in time-dependent manner; V cv recovery was slower, showed faster recovery of Rubisco activity and DM due to slower recovery in SLA and D, which promoted it. Rubisco activity presented correlations with LRWC and Ψw at moderate and severe WD in both cultivars, and significant correlation with Ψs was observed in V cv. We conclude that recovery after rehydration reveals intrinsic tolerance to WD, due to an integration of metabolic and structural interactions, in responses to leaf water status components.     

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia: III. biophysical constraints on leaf expansion under long-term water stress

In this article, we measured the relative growth rate (RGR) of leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under well-watered and water-stressed conditions (mid-day Ψ(w) = leaf water potential estimated with a pressure bomb of -0.48 and -0.98 MPa, respectively). Pressure-volume (PV) curves were done on growing leaves at 25, 50 and 95% of the mature size (growth stage) in order to compute solute potential (Ψ) and turgor pressure (Ψ(P) ) as a function of Ψ(w) . The PV curves and diurnal measurements of Ψ(w) and RGR allowed us to evaluate the parameters (cell wall extensibility m and growth turgor threshold Y) of the Lockhart equation, RGR = m(Ψ(P)-Y), at each growth stage. Our data showed that m and Y did change with leaf age, but the changes were slow enough to evaluate m and Y on any given day. We believe this is the first study to provide evidence that the Lockhart equation adequately quantifies leaf growth of trees over a range of time domains. The value of m linearly declined and Y linearly increased with growth stage. Also, mild drought stress caused a decline in m and increase in Y relative to controls. Although water stress caused an osmotic adjustment which, in turn, increased Ψ(P) in stressed plants relative to controls, the RGR and final leaf sizes were reduced in water-stressed plants because of the impact of water stress on decreased m and increased Y.     

Water potential in soil and Atriplex nummularia (phytoremediator halophyte) under drought and salt stresses

Atriplex nummularia is a halophyte widely employed to recover saline soils and was used as a model to evaluate the water potentials in the soil-plant system under drought and salt stresses. Potted plants grown under 70 and 37% of field capacity irrigated with solutions of NaCl and of a mixture of NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ reproducing six electrical conductivity (EC): 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 dS m^?1. After 100 days, total water (Ψ_{w, plant}) and osmotic (Ψ_{o, plant}) potentials at predawn and midday and Ψ_{o, soil}, matric potential (Ψ_{m, soil}) and Ψ_{w, soil} were determined. The type of ion in the irrigation water did not influence the soil potential, but was altered by EC. The soil Ψ_o component was the largest contributor to Ψ_{w, soil}. Atriplex is surviving ECs close to 40 dS m^?1 due to the decrease in the Ψ_w. The plants reached a Ψ_w of approximately ?8 MPa. The water potentials determined for different moisture levels, EC levels and salt types showed huge importance for the management of this species in semiarid regions and can be used to recover salt affected soils.     

Effects of elevated CO2, drought and temperature on the water relations and gas exchange of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) stands grown in controlled environment glasshouses

Stands of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Kadiri‐3) were grown in controlled environment glasshouses at mean atmospheric CO₂ concentrations of 375 or 700 μmol mol^?1 and daily mean air temperatures of 28 or 32°C on irrigated or drying soil profiles. Leaf water (Ψ_l) and solute potential (Ψ_s), relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (g_l) and net photosynthesis (P_n) were measured at midday for the youngest mature leaf throughout the growing season. Elevated CO₂ and temperature had no detectable effect on the water relations of irrigated plants, but higher values of RWC, Ψ_l and Ψ_s were maintained for longer under elevated CO₂ during progressive drought. Turgor potential (Ψ_p) reached zero when Ψ_l declined to ?1.6 to ?1.8 MPa in all treatments; turgor was lost sooner when droughted plants were grown under ambient CO₂. A 4°C increase in mean air temperature had no effect on Ψ_s in droughted plants, but elicited a small increase in Ψ_l; midday g_l values were lower under elevated than under ambient CO₂, and Ψ_l and g_l declined below ?1.5 MPa and 0.25 cm s^?1, respectively, as the soil dried. Despite the low g_l values recorded for droughted plants late in the season, P_n was maintained under elevated CO₂, but declined to zero 3 weeks before final harvest under ambient CO₂. Concurrent reductions in g_l and increases in water use efficiency under elevated CO₂ prolonged photosynthetic activity during drought and increased pod yields relative to plants grown under ambient CO₂. The implications of future increases in atmospheric CO₂ for the productivity of indeterminate C₃ crops grown in rainfed subsistence agricultural systems in the semi‐arid tropics are discussed.     

Salt leaching leads to drier soils in disturbed semiarid woodlands of central Argentina

Disturbances in semiarid environments have revealed a strong connection between water, salt and vegetation dynamics highlighting how the alteration of water fluxes can drive salt redistribution process and long-term environmental degradation. Here, we explore to what extent the reciprocal effect, that of salt redistribution on water fluxes, may play a role in dictating environmental changes following disturbance in dry woodlands. We assessed salt and water dynamics comparing soil-solution electrical conductivity, chloride concentration, soil water content (SWC) and soil matric and osmotic water potential (Ψ_m, Ψ_os) between disturbed and undisturbed areas. A large pool of salts and chlorides present in undisturbed areas was absent in disturbed plots, suggesting deep leaching. Unexpectedly, this was associated with slight but consistently lower SWC in disturbed versus undisturbed situations during two growing seasons. The apparent paradox of increased leaching but diminishing SWC after disturbance can be explained by the effect of native salt lowering Ψ_os enough to prevent full soil drying. Under disturbed conditions, the onset of deep drainage and salt leaching would raise Ψ_os allowing a decline of Ψ_m and SWC. Soil water storage seems to be modulated by the presence (under natural conditions) and partial leaching (following selective shrub disturbance) of large salt pools. This counterintuitive effect of disturbances may be important in semiarid regions where deep soil salt accumulation is a common feature. Our results highlight the importance of water–salt–vegetation coupling for the understanding and management of these systems.     

Effect of drought on sorbitol and sucrose metabolism in sinks and sources of peach

In peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch.), sorbitol and sucrose are the two main forms of photosynthetic and translocated carbon and may have different functions depending on the organ of utilization and its developmental stage. The role and interaction of sorbitol and sucrose metabolism was studied in mature leaves (source) and shoot tips (sinks) of ‘Nemaguard’ peach under drought stress. Plants were irrigated daily at rates of 100, 67, and 33% of evapotranspiration (ET). The relative elongation rate (RER) of growing shoots was measured daily. In mature leaves, water potential (Ψ_w), osmotic potential (Ψ_s), sorbitol‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (S6PDH, EC 1.1.1.200), and sucrose‐phosphate synthase (SPS, EC 2.4.1.14) activities were measured weekly. Measurements of Ψ_s, sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH, 1.1.1.14), sucrose synthase (SS, EC 2.4.1.13), acid invertase (AI, EC 3.2.1.26), and neutral invertase (NI, EC 3.2.1.27) activities were taken weekly in shoot tips. Drought stress reduced RER and Ψ_w of plants in proportion to water supply. Osmotic adjustment was detected by the second week of treatment in mature leaves and by the third week in shoot tips. Both SDH and S6PDH activities were reduced by drought stress within 4 days of treatment and positively correlated with overall Ψ_w levels. However, only SDH activity was correlated with Ψ_s. Among the sucrose enzymes, only SS was affected by drought, being reduced after 3 weeks. Sorbitol accumulation in both mature leaves and shoot tips of stressed plants was observed starting from the second week of treatment and reached up to 80% of total solutes involved in osmotic adjustment. Sucrose content was up to 8‐fold lower than sorbitol content and accumulated only occasionally. We conclude that a loss of SDH activity in sinks leads to osmotic adjustment via sorbitol accumulation in peach. We propose an adaptive role of sorbitol metabolism versus a maintenance role of sucrose metabolism in peach under drought stress.     

Elevated CO2 alleviates the impact of drought on barley improving water status by lowering stomatal conductance and delaying its effects on photosynthesis

We analysed the impact of elevated CO₂ on water relations, water use efficiency and photosynthetic gas exchange in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under wet and drying soil conditions. Soil moisture was less depleted under elevated compared to ambient [CO₂]. Elevated CO₂ had no significant effect on the water relations of irrigated plants, except on whole plant hydraulic conductance, which was markedly decreased at elevated compared to ambient CO₂ concentrations. The values of relative water content, water potential and osmotic potential were higher under elevated CO₂ during the entire drought period. The better water status of water-limited plants grown at elevated CO₂ was the result of stomatal control rather than of osmotic adjustment. Despite the low stomatal conductance produced by elevated CO₂, net photosynthesis was higher under elevated than ambient CO₂ concentrations. With water shortage, photosynthesis was maintained for longer at higher rates under elevated CO₂. The reduction of stomatal conductance and therefore transpiration, and the enhancement of carbon assimilation by elevated CO₂, increased instantaneous and whole plant water use efficiency in both irrigated and droughted plants. Thus, the metabolism of barley plants grown under elevated CO₂ and moderate or mild water deficit conditions is benefited by increased photosynthesis and lower transpiration. The reduction in plant water use results in a marked increase in soil water content which delays the onset and severity of water deficit.