植物根系和叶片生长对水分亏缺的原始反应

细胞扩张生长是植物受水分亏缺影响最敏感的生理过程之一,主要在对细胞水分导性、细胞壁特性和延伸组织中溶质传输结果分析的基础上,从细胞、组织和器官水平上对细胞扩展生长进行了探讨。根系和叶片细胞主要通过以下2个过程来补偿水分胁迫的作用。调节扩展生长需要的细胞临界膨压;溶质在延伸组织中的运移,此外,还探讨了植物根系和叶片生长对水分亏缺的生理适应机制。     

土壤水分状况对长白山阔叶红松林主要树种叶片生理生态特性的影响

现在水资源缺乏已成为全球性问题 ,对植物产生极大的影响 ,水分亏缺影响植物的整个生长过程 ,不论是外部形态还是内部结构以及各种代谢过程均受到影响。一般认为 ,植物的不同程度水分亏缺都对其生长不利 ,但也有的研究表明 ,适度的水分亏缺能促进植物的生长[13 ,15] ,这主要是由于不同植物在不同程度水分亏缺条件下碳同化与水分利用机制间存在差异的结果[6,7,14 ] 。本研究以温带典型森林类型阔叶红松林主要树种为研究对象 ,通过观察不同树种光合能力、水分利用率等生理生态特性对不同土壤水分条件响应程度和耐干旱程度 ,为进一步分析未来气…     

水分亏缺下植物细胞延伸生长受抑的原初机制

本文综述了植物细胞延伸生长的几个生物物理参数在水分亏缺下的变化及与细胞延伸生长的关系,阐述了水分亏缺下细胞延伸生长受抑的原初机制,并对一些问题的可能原因进行了讨论。     

水分亏缺对植物细胞壁的影响及其与细胞延伸生长的关系

综述了水分亏缺下,植物细胞壁的伸展特性及其组成变化与细胞延伸生长受抑的关系,阐述了植物细胞壁在细胞延伸生长受抑过程中的作用机制,并对其中的一些可能原因进行了讨论。     

节水农业及其生理生态基础

提高自然降水和灌溉水利用效率是节水农业要解决的中心问题。近年实践证明,通过提高水分利用率的途径增加农田生产力存在很大潜力,节水和增产的目标可能同时实现。为实现这一目标,需要研究确定植物水分亏缺的允许程度。植物各个生理过程对水分亏缺的敏感性不同,综合文献报道和作者研究结果,水分亏缺对与作物产量密切相关生理过程影响的先后顺序为:生长—蒸腾—光合—运输。在一定条件下,有限水分亏缺不会对作物最终经济产量造成影响,但却能显著提高水分利用效率。     

水分亏缺下细胞延伸生长与细胞膨压和细胞壁特性的关系

在简要介绍植物细胞延伸生长的生物物理模型的基础上,综述了水分亏缺下植物细胞延伸生长与细胞膨压、细胞壁伸展性和细胞壁塑变阈值的关系,阐述了植物细胞壁调节在作物抗旱性中的作用。     

水分亏缺下紫花苜蓿和高粱根系水力学导度 与水分利用效率的关系

利用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟水分亏缺条件(胁迫水势-0.2MPa,胁迫48h),研究了变水条件下紫花苜蓿(品种:阿尔冈金和陇东)和高粱(品种:抗四)根系水力学导度(Lp_r)、根系活力、根叶相对含水量、水分利用效率等参数的动态变化,以期进一步明确植物水分吸收及散失过程调控的生理生态学基础。结果表明:水分亏缺限制了紫花苜蓿和高粱根系吸水,表现在Lp_r的下降和根系活力的降低;继而调控了其地上部反应,引起气孔导度、光合速率、叶片相对含水量和蒸腾速率等的下降,但限制性的提高了其水分利用效率,尤其在胁迫初期。恢复到正常供水条件后,Lp_r、根系活性、气孔导度等水分利用参数逐渐部分或完全恢复到了胁迫前水平,但恢复程度存在种间和品种间差异,并且根系吸水能力的恢复对于是植株地上部生长状态的恢复至关重要,尤其是水分恢复初期。紫花苜蓿根系中检测到水通道蛋白(AQPs)的存在,水分亏缺对紫花苜蓿Lp_r的影响认为主要是通过影响AQPs的活性实现的。比较紫花苜蓿和高粱水分吸收与利用状况在变水条件下的动态变化,认为紫花苜蓿幼苗对干旱逆境的适应能力相对弱于高粱,品种间陇东适应能力更强。     

植物根系吸水机理的研究进展

近年来,植物根系吸水机理在细胞、组织和整体水平上的研究进展非常迅速,对阐明植物抗旱机制及其高效利用有限水资源途径的探讨具有重要意义。本文主要对植物根的复合结构和根系在土壤中的分布、根系中水流性质等方面的最新研究状况进行了概述,特别详细地论述了水通道蛋白的表达及功能与根系中水分运动的关系、以及根系输水的调节和根系吸水过程中的信号传导方面的研究动态,并且评价了根的复合运输模型和根系吸水的数学模型等,最后就其可能生理意义及其应用前景作了评述。     

植物根系吸水机理的研究进展

近年来,植物根系吸水机理在细胞、组织和整体水平上的研究进展非常迅速,对阐明植物抗旱机制及其高效利用有限水资源途径的探讨具有重要意义.本文主要对植物根的复合结构和根系在土壤中的分布、根系中水流性质等方面的最新研究状况进行了概述,特别详细地论述了水通道蛋白的表达及功能与根系中水分运动的关系、以及根系输水的调节和根系吸水过程中的信号传导方面的研究动态,并且评价了根的复合运输模型和根系吸水的数学模型等,最后就其可能生理意义及其应用前景作了评述.     

组织透明法观察葡萄叶片生长过程中气孔与叶脉形态结构特征变化

本文以‘摩尔多瓦’葡萄叶片为试验材料,采用组织透明法观察了葡萄叶片生长过程中叶片表皮细胞、气孔和叶脉形态结构的变化,测定与气孔和叶脉功能相关的生理指标变化,比较了组织透明法、指甲油法和撕取法在观察葡萄叶片气孔上的实验效果。结果表明:组织透明法能够清晰观察到葡萄叶片生长过程中叶片表皮细胞、气孔和叶脉形态结构的变化。相对于指甲油法、撕取法,组织透明法操作简单,且能保持组织完整性,提升观察叶片细胞结构的实验效果。从叶片生长过程中气孔形态结构变化规律来看,葡萄嫩叶齿尖存在大量的大气孔,而叶片中部只观察到中央大气孔和正在发育的气孔保卫细胞母细胞。随着叶片生长,叶片气孔保卫细胞母细胞逐渐发育形成成熟气孔,叶片末端叶脉也是随叶片生长而生长,叶脉密度逐渐增加,提高了树体往叶片供水的效率。从与气孔和叶脉功能相关的各项生理指标变化来看,气孔导度随着气孔逐渐形成和成熟而逐渐升高,但叶片含水量和水势下降,有利于拉升水分和养分从根系往地上树体各器官运输,满足整个植株生长发育的需要。     

Primary responses of root and leaf elongation to water deficits in the atmosphere and soil solution

Plants experience drought by a limitation of water supply andby enhanced transpiration. Both processes tend to decrease theplant's water potential, but affect growth responses in theroot and leaf differently. The evaluation of the underlyingmechanisms leads to a discussion of recent studies on biophysicalaspects of cell expansion at a cellular, tissue and organ level.Two processes enable roots to compensate rapidly effects ofwater deficits originating in the medium: (i) adjustment ofthe minimum pressure in cells required for expansion (yieldthreshold), and (ii) solute transport within the elongationzone. Limitations of root growth are discussed with respectto hydraulic, mechanical, and solute relations in the root elongationzone. It is argued that the variable nature of both the yieldthreshold and solute transport challenges the applicabilityof the Lockhart concept to determine growth-related parametersfrom steady conditions of turgor and growth. On a whole organlevel, the attenuation of xylem pressure along the root is importantfor the differential response of root and leaf growth. Experimentalevidence is presented for the hydraulic separation of the elongationzones, which is closely related to root development and functioning.The data obtained over the past few years have been used toextend mathematical models of growth and water transport inroots. Key words: Extension growth, hydraulic conductivity, root development (xylem, endodermis), transport (water and solute), turgor pressure, water stress, xylem pressure, Zea mays     

Rapid Response of the Yield Threshold and Turgor Regulation during Adjustment of Root Growth to Water Stress in Zea mays

Responses of cortical cell turgor (P) following rapid changes in osmotic pressure ([pi]m) were measured throughout the elongation zone of maize (Zea mays L.) roots using a cell pressure probe and compared with simultaneously measured root elongation to evaluate: yield threshold (Y) (minimum P for growth), wall extensibility, growth-zone radial hydraulic conductivity (K), and turgor recovery rate. Small increases in [pi]m (0.1 MPa) temporarily decreased P and growth, which recovered fully in 5 to 10 min. Under stronger [pi]m (up to 0.6 MPa), elongation stopped for up to 30 min and then resumed at lower rates. Recoveries in P through solute accumulation and lowering of Y enabled growth under water stress. P recovery was as much as 0.3 MPa at [pi]m = 0.6 MPa, but recovery rate declined as water stress increased, suggesting turgor-sensitive solute transport into the growth zone. Under strong [pi]m, P did not recover in the basal part of the growth zone, in conjunction with a 30% shortening of the growth zone. Time courses showed Y beginning to decrease within several minutes after stress imposition, from about 0.65 MPa to a minimum of about 0.3 MPa in about 15 min. The data concerning Y were not confounded significantly by elastic shrinkage. K was high (1.3 x 10-10 m2 s-1 MPa-1), suggesting very small growth-induced water potential gradients.     

Sensitivity of growth of roots versus leaves to water stress: biophysical analysis and relation to water transport

Water transport is an integral part of the process of growth by cell expansion and accounts for most of the increase in cell volume characterizing growth. Under water deficiency, growth is readily inhibited and growth of roots is favoured over that of leaves. The mechanisms underlying this differential response are examined in terms of Lockhart's equations and water transport. For roots, when water potential (psi) is suddenly reduced, osmotic adjustment occurs rapidly to allow partial turgor recovery and re-establishment of psi gradient for water uptake, and the loosening ability of the cell wall increases as indicated by a rapid decline in yield-threshold turgor. These adjustments permit roots to resume growth under low psi. In contrast, in leaves under reductions in psi of similar magnitude, osmotic adjustment occurs slowly and wall loosening ability either does not increase substantially or actually decreases, leading to marked growth inhibition. The growth region of both roots and leaves are hydraulically isolated from the vascular system. This isolation protects the root from low psi in the mature xylem and facilitates the continued growth into new moist soil volume. Simulations with a leaky cable model that includes a sink term for growth water uptake show that growth zone psi is barely affected by soil water removal through transpiration. On the other hand, hydraulic isolation dictates that psi of the leaf growth region would be low and subjected to further reduction by high evaporative demand. Thus, a combination of transport and changes in growth parameters is proposed as the mechanism co-ordinating the growth of the two organs under conditions of soil moisture depletion. The model simulation also showed that roots behave as reversibly leaky cable in water uptake. Some field data on root water extraction and vertical profiles of psi in shoots are viewed as manifestations of these basic phenomena. Also discussed is the trade-off between high xylem conductance and strong osmotic adjustment.     

Maize lateral root developmental plasticity induced by mild water stress. II: Genotype-specific spatio-temporal effects on determinate development

Maize lateral roots exhibit determinate growth, whereby the meristem is genetically programmed to stop producing new cells. To explore whether lateral root determinacy is modified under water deficits, we studied two maize genotypes (B73 and FR697) with divergent responses of lateral root growth to mild water stress using an experimental system that provided near-stable water potential environments throughout lateral root development. First-order laterals of the primary root system of FR697 exhibited delayed determinacy when grown at a water potential of −0.28 MPa, resulting in longer and wider roots than in well-watered (WW) controls. In B73, in contrast, neither the length nor width of lateral roots was affected by water deficit. In water-stressed FR697, root elongation continued at or above the maximum rate in WW roots for 3 days longer, and was still 45% of maximum when WW roots approached their determinate length. Maintenance of root elongation was associated with sustained rates of cell production. In addition, kinematic analyses showed that reductions in tissue expansion rates with aging were delayed in the longitudinal, radial and tangential planes throughout the root growth zone. Thus, this study reveals large genotypic differences in the interaction of water stress with developmental determinacy of maize lateral roots.     

Acid-induced wall loosening is confined to the accelerating region of the root growing zone

The aims of this study were to quantify developmental differences in acid growth along the root axis and to determine whether these differences were due to alterations in cell turgor or cell wall properties. The apoplast pH of maize roots growing in hydroponics was altered from pH 7.0 to pH 3.4 using 2 mol m^-3 citrate-phosphate buffer or unbuffered solutions. Whole root elongation rate rapidly increased and measurement of the local growth profile indicated that this increase in growth occurred in young cells in the accelerating zone (apical 0-4 mm) while more proximal growing cells were unaffected. Unbuffered solutions of identical pH produced qualitatively similar results. Single cell turgor pressures were unchanged between pH treatments both longitudinally and radially in the root tip. This suggests that the rapid acid-induced changes in growth rate were due to an increase in cell wall loosening. Single cell osmotic pressure and water potential were not significantly different between pH treatments. Acid pH caused net solute import at the root tip to increase 3- to 4-fold, which, coupled with the maintenance of turgor and osmotic pressure, indicated that solute import was not limiting expansion. Thus, acidic solutions cause an increase in growth in accelerating but not decelerating regions. It has been shown for the first time that acid growth in intact, growing roots is not due to differences in turgor, assigning these changes to cell wall properties. Possible cell wall biochemical alterations are discussed.     

Biophysical limitation of cell elongation in cereal leaves

Grass leaves grow from the base. Unlike those of dicotyledonous plants, cells of grass leaves expand enclosed by sheaths of older leaves, where there is little or no transpiration, and go through developmental stages in a strictly linear arrangement. The environmental or developmental factor that limits leaf cell expansion must do so through biophysical means at the cellular level: wall-yielding, water uptake and solute supply are all candidates. This Botanical Briefing looks at the possibility that tissue hydraulic conductance limits cell expansion and leaf growth. A model is presented that relates pathways of water movement in the elongation zone of grass leaves to driving forces for water movement and to anatomical features. The bundle sheath is considered as a crucial control point. The relative importance of these pathways for the regulation of leaf growth and for the partitioning of water between expansion and transpiration is discussed.     

Short-term aluminium-induced changes in barley root tips

The short-term exposure of barley roots to low Al concentration caused significant root growth inhibition and radial swelling of roots. During Al treatment, the radial expansion of root cells occurred in root tissues representing elongation zone and meristem. Both low pH and Al treatments caused significant disruption of cell membranes in swollen roots. In contrast to Evans blue uptake callose formation was observed only at higher Al concentrations and was detected in both swollen and adjacent root areas. Similarly to Al, exogenous short-term application of indole-3-acetic acid, polar transport inhibitor triiodobenzoic acid, ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid or H₂O₂ evoked root growth inhibition and radial cell expansion in barley root tip too.     

Gravity signal transduction in primary roots

AIMS: The molecular mechanisms that correlate with gravity perception and signal transduction in the tip of angiosperm primary roots are discussed. SCOPE: Gravity provides a cue for downward orientation of plant roots, allowing anchorage of the plant and uptake of the water and nutrients needed for growth and development. Root gravitropism involves a succession of physiological steps: gravity perception and signal transduction (mainly mediated by the columella cells of the root cap); signal transmission to the elongation zone; and curvature response. Interesting new insights into gravity perception and signal transduction within the root tip have accumulated recently by use of a wide range of experimental approaches in physiology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, proteomics and cell biology. The data suggest a network of signal transduction pathways leading to a lateral redistribution of auxin across the root cap and a possible involvement of cytokinin in initial phases of gravicurvature. CONCLUSION: These new discoveries illustrate the complexity of a highly redundant gravity-signalling process in roots, and help to elucidate the global mechanisms that govern auxin transport and morphogenetic regulation in roots.