Effects of drought stress and N supply on the growth, biomass partitioning and water-use efficiency of Sophora davidii seedlings

A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to understand the adaptation responses to different water and N conditions, and further explore if additional N supply could improve the water-use efficiency (WUE) and adaptability of Sophora davidii seedlings under dry conditions. Two-month-old seedlings were subjected to a completely random design with three water (80, 40 and 20% water field capacity (FC)) and three N supply (N0: 0, Nl: 92 and Nh:184 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) regimes. Drought stress dramatically decreased seedlings height, basal diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root length, and biomass production. An increase in below-ground biomass was observed indicating a higher root/shoot ratio (R/S) under drought stress conditions, and drought further decreased relative water content (RWC) and WUE. On the other hand, S. davidii seedlings exhibited strong responses to N supply, but the responses were inconsistent with the various N supply levels. Low N supply (Nl) increased seedlings height, basal diameter, leaf number, leaf area, and biomass production, but decreased root length. In contrast, high N supply (Nh) decreased or had little effect on these growth characteristics. N supply increased leaf percentages, but decreased fine root percentages. In addition, Nl rather than the other two N treatments increased leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf/fine root mass ratio (L/FR), R/S and RWC under severe drought stress (20% FC), even though these parameters could increase with the Nh treatment under well-watered condition (80% FC). Moreover, Nl also increased WUE under three water conditions, but Nh had little effect on WUE under drought stress conditions (40% FC and 20% FC). The results suggested that water and N co-limited the growth of S. davidii seedlings, and the seedlings exhibited great positive responses to Nl in this study. Appropriate or low N supply, therefore, would be recommended to stimulate growth, enhance WUE, alleviate drought stress, and consequently contribute to S. davidii seedling establishment under dry condition, but excess N supply should be avoided.     

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.     

Photosynthesis by six Portuguese maize cultivars during drought stress and recovery

Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf water parameters were measured in six Portuguese maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars during and following a period of drought stress. The leaf relative water content (RWC) responded differently among cultivars but except for cultivar PB369, recovered close to initial values after watering was restored. Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance decreased with drought but more slowly in cultivars PB269 and PB260 than in cultivars AD3R, PB64, PB304 and PB369. Water use efficiency (WUE) decreased during the water stress treatment although with cultivar PB260 the decrease was marked only when the RWC fell below 40%. Recovery of WUE was seen with all cultivars except PB369. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, the photochemical quenching coefficient, the electron transport rate in PSII and the estimated functional plastoquinone pool tended to decrease with drought, while the non-photochemical quenching coefficient increased. The parameters estimated from chlorophyll fluorescence did not recover in PB369, during re-watering. The results show that PB260 and PB269 were the most tolerant and PB369 was the least tolerant cultivars to water stress. The variation found among the cultivars tested suggests the existence of valuable genetic resources for crop improvement in relation to drought tolerance.     

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.     

4种杂交杨对土壤水分变化的生态学响应

以田间持水量的100% (T1, 对照)、70% (T2)、50% (T3)和30% (T4)为4个水分处理梯度, 比较研究了4种不同品系的杂交杨(Populus)——15-29 (P. trichocarpa × P. deltoids)、DN-2 (P. deltoids × P. nigra)、DN-14274 (P. deltoids × P. nigra)和R-270 (P. deltoids × P. nigra)在不同水分处理和不同处理阶段对水分亏缺的反应。结果表明, 4种杂交杨品系对水分亏缺较敏感, 都通过关闭气孔、降低叶面积以有效地调节水分的散失, 降低光合速率、蒸腾、水势, 增加水分利用效率, 改变生物量的分配等一系列生理适应机制以及形态策略, 来应对不同程度的水分亏缺, 只是不同品系的适应程度不同。在生物量分配上, R-270主要降低叶干重, 而其它3个品系的叶、茎和根干重全部降低; 随着水分亏缺的加重, 15-29和R-270的根冠比增加, 根部获得更多的同化物分配, 从而有利于水分的吸收, 增加其抗旱性。DN-2的碳同位素组成δ¹³与水分利用效率呈显著正相关(r= 0.631, p<0.01)。而R-270的δ¹³与水分利用效率呈负相关, 但不显著, 只有在处理T4下呈显著负相关(r= -0.732, p<0.01), 表明土壤水分影响了碳同位素的分馏, 不同品系相反的结果表明同位素分馏的遗传变异。与T3和T4相比, T1和T2处理的苗木具有较高的生物量、叶面积、光合速率、蒸腾、水势以及气孔导度, 说明4个杂交杨品系在充足或适当的灌溉条件下具有较高的生产力。在T3和T4处理下, 4个品系表现出不同的生存策略, 但生产力均较低, 因此在干旱胁迫下很难形成高生产力。与DN-2和DN-14274相比, 15-29和R-270对水分胁迫表现出更强的适应性反应, 具有较强的抗旱性, 可用作防护林品种。     

Proteome response of Elymus elongatum to severe water stress and recovery

Tall wheatgrass (Elymus elongatum Host) is a drought-tolerant, cool-season forage grass native to Iran. A proteomic approach has been applied to identify mechanisms of drought responsiveness and tolerance in plants undergoing vegetative stage drought stress and then recovery after rewatering. Uniformed clones were reproduced from a parent plant collected from Brojen (central region of Iran). Clones were grown in pots and drought was initiated by withholding water for 16 d. The leaf samples were taken in triplicate from both stressed/rewatered plants and continuously watered controls at five times: (i) 75% FC, (ii) 50% FC, (iii) 25% FC, (iv) 3 d after rewatering, and (v) 14 d after rewatering. Changes in the proteome pattern of shoots were studied using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Following the 16 d water stress, both shoot dry weight and leaf width decreased up to 67% compared with the well-watered plants, whereas proline content increased up to 20-fold. Leaf relative water contents (RWC) also declined from 85% to 24%. Out of about 600 protein spots detected on any given two-dimensional gel, 58 protein spots were reproducibly and significantly changed during drought stress and recovery. Only one protein (abscisic acid- and stress-inducible protein) showed significant changes in expression and position in response to severe drought. The fifty-eight responsive proteins were categorized in six clusters including two groups of proteins specifically up- and down-regulated in response to severe drought stress. Eighteen proteins belonging to these two groups were analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry leading to the identification of 11 of them, including the oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2, abscisic acid- and stress-inducible protein, several oxidative stress tolerance enzymes, two small heat shock proteins, and Rubisco breakdown. The results suggest that E. elongatum may tolerate severe drought stress by accumulating proline and several proteins related to drought-stress tolerance. Recovery after rewatering might be another mechanism by which plants tolerate erratic rainfall in semi-arid regions.     

Drought response of two bedding plants

Bedding plants are an important part of the urban public space and private gardens. However, they are not always properly watered and suffer from drought stress, especially when grown in containers. In this trial a response to water stress of two commonly used species, impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook) and geranium (Pelargonium hortorum L. H. Bailey) were compared. The former is highly herbaceous and prone to wilting whereas the latter has hairy leaves and is better adapted to drought. Plants were grown at three levels of soil water content (SWC): 80% (control), 60% (mild stress) and 30% (severe stress). Drought was maintained during three 10 day cycles, separated by 10 day periods of normal watering. In both species roots were significantly longer in plants grown at 30% SWC as compared to 80% SWC while plant height and flower number were reduced by drought only in impatiens. The initial relative water content (RWC) was lower in geranium and decreased less in response to drought than in impatiens. Ammonium content in leaves of both species increased significantly under stress but the ranges of increase were different in both species. There was a significant increase in the free amino acids content in leaves of impatiens as compared to geranium but this rise was more time than drought dependent. The reduction in the a + b chlorophyll concentration in leaves of impatiens was significantly time and stress dependent while no reaction in geranium was observed. The above results show that changes in leaf RWC merit further attention as a possible indicator of plant response to drought stress in ornamental plants but additional studies are needed before this or other parameters can be used to evaluate new bedding plants for introduction into urban growing conditions, or as selection criteria in breeding for adaptation to demanding growing conditions.     

土壤含水量对麻疯树幼苗生长及其生理生化特征的影响

以麻疯树(Jatropha curcas L.)1年生盆栽幼苗为材料,通过设置3个土壤水分(分别为80%、50%和30%田间持水量(FC))处理,研究土壤含水量对麻疯树幼苗生长及生理生化指标的影响,探讨麻疯树的水分适应性。结果表明:随土壤含水量的降低,麻疯树的株高、生物量等均呈下降趋势,根重比、根冠比和比叶面积无显著变化;蒸腾速率和气孔导度显著降低,净光合速率和PSII的光能转换效率无明显变化;叶片色素含量显著升高。在80%FC下,丙二醛和过氧化氢含量、可溶性糖和游离脯氨酸含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性和抗坏血酸含量均呈现最大值。在本实验条件下:麻疯树作为一种抗旱性较强的树种,30%FC没有对其造成干旱胁迫;而从生理生化代谢方面看,80%FC不能为麻疯树生长提供最适宜的条件,主要体现在体内自由基积累、膜脂过氧化程度加重以及叶绿体色素含量的降低,但体内抗氧化防御系统的积极防御和渗透调节物质含量的增加缓解了水分过多对麻疯树造成的伤害,从而没有对净光合速率造成影响。因此,在当地土壤养分状况下,以30%-50%FC的土壤含水量栽培,更有利于麻疯树的生长。     

Effects of water deficit stress on growth,water relations and osmolyte accumulation in Medicago truncatula and M. laciniata populations

The effects of water stress were investigated in two Tunisian Medicago truncatula populations collected from arid (Mt-173) and sub-humid (Mt-664) climates and two Tunisian M. laciniata populations originating from arid (Ml-173) and semi-arid (Ml-345) regions. After a pre-treatment phase (24 days after sowing, DAS) of watering at 100% of field capacity (FC), the plants were either irrigated at 100% FC or at only 33% FC. After 12 days of treatment (36 DAS), one lot of dehydrated plants was rewatered at 100% FC. A final harvest was carried out after 24 days of treatment (48 DAS). Measured parameters were total dry weight (TDW), root shoot ratio (RSR), leaf relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential (OP), photosynthetic parameters (CO₂ net assimilation A, stomatal conductance g_s and transpiration E), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and leaf contents in inorganic (Na⁺ and K⁺) and organic solutes (proline and soluble sugars). Under water deficit conditions, compared to M. laciniata, M. truncatula populations showed a higher reduction in TDW, A, g_s and RWC associated with a higher increase in MDA concentration. Thus, the relative tolerance of M. laciniata populations to water shortage would be related to their lower intrinsic growth rate and stomatal control of gas exchange. TDW, A, g_s, E and RWC were more decreased by water deficit in Ml-345 than in Ml-173. Drought tolerance of Ml-173 was found to be associated with a more pronounced decrease of OP and a lower reduction in RWC due to the accumulation of solutes such as proline, soluble sugars and K⁺. In addition, Ml-173 showed the highest water use efficiency values (WUE) and the lowest MDA concentrations under water deficit stress.     

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⁺.     

Adjustments of water use efficiency by stomatal regulation during drought and recovery in the drought-adapted Vitis hybrid Richter-110 (V. berlandieri x V. rupestris)

The hybrid Richter-110 (Vitis berlandieri x Vitis rupestris) (R-110) has the reputation of being a genotype strongly adapted to drought. A study was performed with plants of R-110 subjected to water withholding followed by re-watering. The goal was to analyze how stomatal conductance (g(s)) is regulated with respect to different physiological variables under water stress and recovery, as well as how water stress affects adjustments of water use efficiency (WUE) at the leaf level. Water stress induced a substantial stomatal closure and an increase in WUE, which persisted many days after re-watering. The g(s) during water stress was mainly related to the content of ABA in the xylem and partly related to plant hydraulic conductivity but not to leaf water potential. By contrast, low g(s) during re-watering did not correlate with ABA contents and was only related to a sustained decreased hydraulic conductivity. In addition to a complex physiological regulation of stomatal closure, g(s) and rate of transpiration (E) were strongly affected by leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in a way dependent of the treatment. Interestingly, E increased with increasing VPD in control plants, but decreased with increasing VPD in severely stressed plants. All together, the fine stomatal regulation in R-110 resulted in very high WUE at the leaf level. This genotype is revealed to be very interesting for further studies on the physiological mechanisms leading to regulation of stomatal responsiveness and WUE in response to drought.     

水氮处理对岛礁植物假茉莉生理适应性的影响

为了解假茉莉(Clerodendrum inerme)对热带珊瑚岛礁的生理适应性,采用不同浇水频率和氮素处理,对假茉莉的光合特性及抗逆生理生化特性进行了研究。结果表明,不同浇水频率对于假茉莉生理特性影响较大,而不同氮素处理间的差异不大,说明假茉莉对水分胁迫更加敏感。在低浇水频率下,假茉莉叶绿素a含量和叶绿素a/b最高,且与其他浇水频率间的差异显著,净光合速率、气孔导度、水分利用率均显著高于高浇水频率,而蒸腾速率显著低于高浇水频率,表现出较好的光合同化效率和水分利用效率;中等浇水频率的脯氨酸含量最高,为(5.04±1.21)mg/g,可降低植物体的渗透压,保证干旱胁迫下对水分的吸收。低浇水频率的相对电导率最低,为0.17±0.03,可减少干旱胁迫对细胞膜系统的损伤。因此,假茉莉对干旱、贫瘠的热带珊瑚岛礁生境具有很好的适应能力。     

Variation in embolism occurrence and repair along the stem in drought‐stressed and re‐watered seedlings of a poplar clone

Root pressure and plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) availability in the xylem have been recognized to participate in the refilling of embolized conduits, yet integration of the two mechanisms has not been reported in the same plant. In this study, 4‐month‐old seedlings of a hybrid poplar (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa) clone 84K were subjected to two contrasting soil‐water treatments, with the drought treatment involving withholding of water for 17 days to reduce the soil‐water content to 10% of the saturated field capacity, followed by a re‐watering cycle. The percentage loss of stem hydraulic conductance (PLC) sharply increased, and stomatal conductance and photosynthesis declined in response to drought stress; these processes were gradually restored following the subsequent re‐watering. Embolism was most severe in the middle portions of the stem, followed by the basal and top portions of the stems of seedlings subjected to drought stress and subsequent re‐watering. Although drought stress eliminated root pressure, re‐watering partially restored it in a short period of time. The expression of PIP genes in the xylem was activated by drought stress, and some PIP genes were further stimulated in the top portion after re‐watering. The dynamics of root pressure and differential expression of PIP genes along the stem coincided with changes in PLC, suggesting that root pressure and PIPs work together to refill the embolized vessels. On the basis of the recovery dynamics in PLC and g_smax (maximum stomatal conductance) after re‐watering, the stomatal closure and xylem cavitation exhibited fatigue due to drought stress.     

PdEPF1 regulates water‐use efficiency and drought tolerance by modulating stomatal density in poplar

Water deficiency is a critical environmental condition that is seriously reducing global plant production. Improved water‐use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance are effective strategies to address this problem. In this study, PdEPF1, a member of the EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF) family, was isolated from the fast‐growing poplar clone NE‐19 [Populus nigra × (Populus deltoides × Populus nigra)]. Significantly, higher PdEPF1 levels were detected after induction by dehydration and abscisic acid. To explore the biological functions of PdEPF1, transgenic triploid white poplars (Populus tomentosa ‘YiXianCiZhu B385’) overexpressing PdEPF1 were constructed. PdEPF1 overexpression resulted in increased water deficit tolerance and greater WUE. We confirmed that the transgenic lines with greater instantaneous WUE had approximately 30% lower transpiration but equivalent CO₂ assimilation. Lower transpiration was associated with a 28% reduction in abaxial stomatal density. PdEPF1 overexpression not only strongly enhanced WUE, but also greatly improved drought tolerance, as measured by the leaf relative water content and water potential, under limited water conditions. In addition, the growth of these oxPdEPF1 plants was less adversely affected by reduced water availability than plants with a higher stomatal density, indicating that plants with a low stomatal density may be well suited to grow in water‐scarce environments. Taken together, our data suggest that PdEPF1 improves WUE and confers drought tolerance in poplar; thus, it could be used to breed drought‐tolerant plants with increased production under conditions of water deficiency.     

Targeting sources of drought tolerance within an Avena spp. collection through multivariate approaches

In this study, we find and characterize the sources of tolerance to drought amongst an oat (Avena sativa L.) germplasm collection of 174 landraces and cultivars. We used multivariate analysis, non-supervised principal component analyses (PCA) and supervised discriminant function analyses (DFA) to suggest the key mechanism/s responsible for coping with drought stress. Following initial assessment of drought symptoms and area under the drought progress curve, a subset of 14 accessions were selected for further analysis. The collection was assessed for relative water content (RWC), cell membrane stability, stomatal conductance (g ₁), leaf temperature, water use efficiency (WUE), lipid peroxidation, lipoxygenase activity, chlorophyll levels and antioxidant capacity during a drought time course experiment. Without the use of multivariate approaches, it proved difficult to unequivocally link drought tolerance to specific physiological processes in the different resistant oat accessions. These approaches allowed the ranking of many supposed drought tolerance traits in the order of degree of importance within this crop, thereby highlighting those with a causal relationship to drought stress tolerance. Analyses of the loading vectors used to derive the PCA and DFA models indicated that two traits involved in water relations, temperature and RWC together with the area of drought curves, were important indicators of drought tolerance. However, other parameters involved in water use such as g ₁ and WUE were less able to discriminate between the accessions. These observations validate our approach which should be seen as representing a cost-effective initial screen that could be subsequently employed to target drought tolerance in segregating populations.     

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.     

Morphological and physiological responses of two coffee progenies to soil water availability

Drought is a major environmental constraint affecting growth and production of coffee. The effects of water supply on growth, biomass allocation, water relations, and gas exchange in two coffee progenies representing drought-tolerant (Siriema) and drought-sensitive (Catucaí) genotypes were compared. They were grown in 12-L pots until 4-months old, when they were submitted to two watering treatments for 60 d: plants receiving either 100% transpired water (control plants) or a fraction (about 40%) of the amount of water transpired by control plants (drought-stressed plants). Under control conditions, Siriema grew faster than Catucaí. Regardless of the watering regimes and progenies, relative growth rate (RGR) was positively correlated both with net assimilation rate (NAR) and long-term water-use efficiency (WUE), but not with differences in biomass allocation. Both progenies responded to drought stress through (i) similar decreases in both RGR and NAR with marginal, if any, changes in allocation; (ii) decreases in leaf water potential, which occurred to a greater extent in Catucaí than in Siriema, even though they have showed similar abilities to adjust osmotically and elastically; (iii) similar reductions in net photosynthesis due mainly to nonstomatal factors; and (iv) decreases in transpiration rate coupled with increased long-term WUE. However, the lower transpiration rate and the higher long-term WUE as found in Siriema relative to Catucaí under control conditions persisted under drought conditions. Overall, the major differences between these progenies were largely associated with differences in plant water use, which was likely related to the improved water status of Siriema. The possible implications of selecting coffee genotypes for high WUE are discussed.     

Leaf Water Diffusion Resistance in Clonal Tea (Camellia sinensis L.): Effects of Water Stress, Leaf Age and Clones

Leaf diffusion resistance was influenced by leaf age in well-wateredand water-stressed clonal tea plants. In well-watered plantsand in two of the three clones studied, young leaves showeda significantly lower diffusion resistance than old leaves.In water-stressed plants young leaves always exhibited a higherdiffusion resistance than old leaves. The highest diffusionresistance, irrespective of leaf age and water stress, occurredin clone DN which is known to be the most drought tolerant ofthe three clones studied, suggesting that drought tolerancein clone DN is caused, at least in part, by a stomatal regulationmechanism. Water release characteristic curves for the threeclones indicated differences in the water content-water potentialrelationship between young and old leaves as well as betweenclones. The drought tolerant clones had a higher relative watercontent for a given water potential compared with the drought-susceptibleclone. Camellia sinensis L., tea, diffussion resistance, water stress     

不同类型和强度的干旱胁迫对黑麦草实验种群物质生产与水分利用的影响

 对田间条件下不同类型和强度的干旱胁迫对黑麦草(Lolium perenne)实验种群物质生产与水分利用特征的影响进行了研究。实验结果表明：在周期性和持续性胁迫条件下,轻度与中度胁迫对草群干物质产量的影响相接近并与对照无显著差异,重度胁迫导致干物质产量的降低;渐进性胁迫条件下轻度胁迫对干物质产量的影响与对照相接近,中度和重度胁迫导致产量的降低;在每一种胁迫类型下植物地上部绿色部分的干物质含量与其干物质产量呈反向对应关系;草群干物质产量与栽植桶水分散失量之间呈极显著的直线关系;周期性胁迫条件下中度胁迫提高了草群水分利用效率,持续性和渐进性胁迫条件下草群水分利用效率对干旱胁迫强度的反应随生长季节推移而有所改变。     

不同类型和强度的干旱胁迫对黑麦草实验种群物质生产与水分利用的影响

对田间条件下不同类型和强度的干旱胁迫对黑麦草 ( L olium perenne)实验种群物质生产与水分利用特征的影响进行了研究。实验结果表明 :在周期性和持续性胁迫条件下 ,轻度与中度胁迫对草群干物质产量的影响相接近并与对照无显著差异 ,重度胁迫导致干物质产量的降低 ;渐进性胁迫条件下轻度胁迫对干物质产量的影响与对照相接近 ,中度和重度胁迫导致产量的降低 ;在每一种胁迫类型下植物地上部绿色部分的干物质含量与其干物质产量呈反向对应关系 ;草群干物质产量与栽植桶水分散失量之间呈极显著的直线关系 ;周期性胁迫条件下中度胁迫提高了草群水分利用效率 ,持续性和渐进性胁迫条件下草群水分利用效率对干旱胁迫强度的反应随生长季节推移而有所改变