Effects of Osmotic Drought Stress Induced by a Combination of NaCl and Polyethylene Glycol on Leaf Water Status,Photosynthetic Gas Exchange,and Water Use Efficiency of Pistacia khinjuk and P. mutica

Leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential, chlorophyll a and b contents, stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, and water use efficiency were determined in two pistachio species (Pistacia khinjuk L. and P. mutica L.) grown under osmotic drought stress induced by a combination of NaCl and polyethylene glycol 6000. A decrease in values for all mentioned variables was observed as the osmotic potential of the nutrient solution (_s) decreased. The osmotic adjustment () of the species increased by decreasing _s. Thus P. khinjuk had a higher osmotic drought stress tolerance than P. mutica.     

Water relations of Capsicum genotypes under water stress

Pepper species and cultivars, Capsicum annuum cv. Bell Boy, C. annuum cv. Kulai and C. frutescens cv. Padi, differing in drought tolerance were investigated for their water relations, stomatal responses and abscisic acid (ABA) content during water stress. C. frutescens cv. Padi exhibited a greater osmotic adjustment than C. annuum cultivars. Stomatal conductance of cv. Bell Boy was more sensitive to water stress than that of cvs. Kulai and Padi. In all pepper genotypes, stomatal closure was triggered in the absence of a large decrease in leaf water status. ABA content in xylem sap and leaf was higher in C. annum cultivars compared to C. frutescens cv. Padi. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of Potassium Nutrition on Gas Exchange Characteristics and Water Relations in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The effects of potassium nutrition [0, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00 g(K) m^–2 of K₂SO₄ or KCl] on gas exchange characteristics and water relations in four cultivars (CIM-448, CIM-1100, Karishma, S-12) of cotton were assessed under an arid environment. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and transpiration rate (E) increased with increased K supply. The leaf pressure potential (_p) increased significantly by the addition of 25.00 g(K) m^–2 compared to zero K level. The water use efficiency (P _N/E) was improved by 24.6 % under the highest K dose compared to zero K. There were positive correlations (0.99^**, 0.98^**, 0.95^**, 0.97^**) between K-doses and P _N, E, _p, and P _N/E, respectively.     

Osmotic Adjustment in Leaves of VA Mycorrhizal and Nonmycorrhizal Rose Plants in Response to Drought Stress

Osmotic adjustment in Rosa hybrida L. cv Samantha was characterized by the pressure-volume approach in drought-acclimated and unacclimated plants brought to the same level of drought strain, as assayed by stomatal closure. Plants were colonized by either of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus deserticola Trappe, Bloss and Menge or G. intraradices Schenck and Smith, or were nonmycorrhizal. Both the acclimation and the mycorrhizal treatments decreased the osmotic potential (Ψ_π) of leaves at full turgor and at the turgor loss point, with a corresponding increase in pressure potential at full turgor. Mycorrhizae enabled plants to maintain leaf turgor and conductance at greater tissue water deficits, and lower leaf and soil water potentials, when compared with nonmycorrhizal plants. As indicated by the Ψ_π at the turgor loss point, the active Ψ_π depression which attended mycorrhizal colonization alone was 0.4 to 0.6 megapascals, and mycorrhizal colonization and acclimation in concert 0.6 to 0.9 megapascals, relative to unacclimated controls without mycorrhizae. Colonization levels and sporulation were higher in plants subjected to acclimation. In unacclimated hosts, leaf water potential, water saturation deficit, and soil water potential at a particular level of drought strain were affected most by G. intraradices. G. deserticola had the greater effect after drought preconditioning.     

Growth and Water Relations of Lotus Creticus Creticus Plants as Affected by Salinity

Young plants of Lotus creticus creticus growing in a hydroponic culture were submitted to 0, 70 and 140 mM NaCl treatments for 28 d and the growth and ecophysiological characteristics of these plants have been studied. The growth of Lotus plants was not affected by salinity when applied for a short period (about 15 d); however, 140 mM NaCl induced a decrease in shoot RGR at the end of the treatment. The root growth was not decreased, even it was stimulated by 140 mM NaCl. The osmotic adjustment of Lotus plants at 70 and 140 mM NaCl maintained constant pressure potential, avoiding the visual wilting. For a similar leaf water potential, cuticular transpiration of salinized plants was lower than in control plants due to the salinity effect on the cuticle. Moreover, the presence of hairy leaves (60 and 160 trichomes per mm² in young and adult leaves, respectively) allows keeping almost 81 % of sprayed water and absorbing the 9 % of the water retained, decreased the epidermal conductance to water vapour diffusion.     

水分胁迫下高粱叶片的渗透调节与延伸生长的关系

高粱抗旱品种3197B比不抗旱品种三尺三在水分胁迫条件下ψ_S下降低。在相同ψ_S时,3197B相对含水量高于三尺三。水分胁迫期间,3197B能始终维持比三尺三较高的ψ_P。在中度和严重水分胁迫时,3197B几种渗透物质积累均高于三尺三,其中可溶性糖和K~ 对渗透调节贡献最大。水分胁迫下,3197B正展开叶渗透调节能力较强,ψ_P维持较高,临界膨压低,叶片扩张性能小、故生长速率随ψ_W下降较慢。     

Effects of Drought Stress Induced by Polyethylene Glycol on Pigment Content and Photosynthetic Gas Exchange of Pistacia Khinjuk and P. Mutica

The effects of drought stress induced by polyethylene glycol, PEG (molecular mass 6000) on some ecophysiological characteristics of two wild pistachio species, Mastic and Khinjuk (P. mutica and P. khinjuk) selected as root stocks for production of edible pistachio trees (P. vera) in Iran and Turkey, were studied. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, leaf water potential (Ψ₁), leaf osmotic potential (Ψ_π), leaf osmotic adjustment (ΔΨ_π), and Chl a and b were measured. All parameters were influenced by increase in concentra-tion of PEG in the nutrient solutions. P _N, g _s, and Chl a were significantly higher in P. mutica than in P. khinjuk but, compared to the control treatment, P. khinjuk showed a higher resistance to drought stress than P. mutica. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gas Exchange Characteristics and Water Relations in Some Elite Okra Cultivars Under Water Deficit

Thirty-days-old plants of two cultivars of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.), Sabzpari and Chinese-red, were subjected for 30 d to two water regimes (100 and 60 % field capacity). Leaf water potential and osmotic potential of both lines decreased significantly with the imposition of drought. Both the leaf pressure potential and osmotic adjustment were much lower in Chinese-red than those in Sabzpari. Chlorophyll (Chl) b content increased, whereas Chl a content remained unchanged and thus Chl a/b ratios were reduced in both lines. Drought stress also caused a significant reduction in net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g _s), and water use efficiency (WUE) especially in cv. Sabzpari. The lines did not differ in intrinsic WUE (P _Ng_s) or intercellular/ambient CO₂ ratio. Overall, the growth of two okra cultivars was positively correlated with P _N, but not with g _s or P _N/E, and negatively correlated with osmotic adjustment.     

High-Temperature Preconditioning and Thermal Shock Imposition Affects Water Relations,Gas Exchange and Root Hydraulic Conductivity in Tomato

Potted tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Amalia) were submitted to three different treatments: control (C) plants were maintained at day/night temperature of 25/18 °C; preconditioned plants (PS) were submitted to two consecutive periods of 4 d each, of 30/23 and 35/28 °C before being exposed to a heat stress (40/33 °C lasting 4 d) and non-preconditioned (S) plants were maintained in the same conditions as the C plants and exposed to the heat stress. The inhibition of plant growth was observed only in PS plants. Heat stress decreased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in both PS and S plants. However, PS plants showed good osmotic adjustment, which enabled them to maintain leaf pressure potential higher than in S plants. Furthermore, at the end of the recovery period PS plants had higher pressure potential and stomatal conductance than in S plants. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Long Term Exposure to High CO2 Concentrations on Photosynthetic Characteristics of Prunus Avium L. Plants

The effect of two elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, 700 µmol(CO₂) mol^–1 (C700) and 1 400 µmol(CO₂) mol^–1 (C1400), on photosynthetic performances of 1-year-old Prunus avium L. plant was studied. Plants grown at C700 were characterised by increased net photosynthetic rate (P _N) as compared to those grown at C1400. Plant photosynthetic adjustment to C1400 resulted in 27 % higher P _N than in control at atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C _a) at the beginning of the experiment (3–4 weeks) with a consequent decline to the end of the experiment. Thus, 1 400 µmol(CO₂) mol^–1 had short-term stimulatory effect on plant P _N. Both chlorophyll (Chl) a and b concentrations dramatically decreased during exposure to C1400. Compensation irradiance was increased by 57 % in C700 and by 87 % in C1400. Photochemical efficiency () was affected by balloon environment, however, a clear stimulatory effect of C700 was detected. Opposite influence of both elevated CO₂ concentrations on P _Nmax was established: slight increase by C700 (2.7 % at C_a), but considerable decrease by C1400 (63 % at C_a). Exposure to C700 enhanced compensation irradiance by 42 %, while C1400 by only 21 %. Either C700 or C1400 did not reduce stomatal conductance (g _s). Leaf area per plant (LAR) was more stimulated by C700 than by C1400. High unit area leaf mass, specific leaf area, and dry matter accumulation in roots without affecting tissue density characterised plants grown in C1400. However, when considering the root : shoot ratio, these plants allocated less carbon to the roots than plants from other treatments.     

Water Relations and Leaf Anatomy of the Tropical Species,Jatropha gossypifolia and Alternanthera crucis,Grown Under an Elevated CO2 Concentration

In order to address the question of how elevated CO₂ concentration (EC) will affect the water relations and leaf anatomy of tropical species, plants of Jatropha gossypifolia L. and Alternanthera crucis (Moq.) Bondingh were grown in five EC open top chambers (677 mol mol^–1) and five ambient CO₂ concentration (AC) open top chambers (454 mol mol^–1) with seasonal drought. No effect of EC was found on morning xylem water potential, leaf osmotic potential, and pressure potential of plants of J. gossypifolia. In A. crucis EC caused a significant increase in morning xylem water potential of watered plants, a decrease in osmotic potential, and an increase of 24–79 % in pressure potential of moderately droughted plants. This ameliorated the effects of drought. Stomatal characteristics of both leaf surfaces of J. gossypifolia and A. crucis showed time-dependent, but not [CO₂]-dependent changes. In J. gossypifolia the thickness of whole leaf, palisade parenchyma, and spongy parenchyma, and the proportion of whole leaf thickness contributed by these parenchymata decreased significantly in response to EC. In A. crucis EC caused an increase in thickness of whole leaf, bundle sheath, and mesophyll, while the proportion of leaf cross-section comprised by the parenchymata remained unchanged. These effects disappeared with time under treatment, suggesting that acclimation of the leaf anatomy to the chambers and to EC took place in the successive flushes of leaves produced during the experiment.     

Moderate water stress affects tomato leaf water relations in dependence on the nitrogen supply

The responses of water relations, stomatal conductance (g_s) and growth parameters of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Royesta) plants to nitrogen fertilisation and drought were studied. The plants were subjected to a long-term, moderate and progressive water stress by adding 80 % of the water evapotranspirated by the plant the preceding day. Well-watered plants received 100 % of the water evapotranspirated. Two weeks before starting the drought period, the plants were fertilised with Hoagland’s solution with 14, 60 and 110 mM NO₃ ⁻ (N14, N60 and N110, respectively). Plants of the N110 treatment had the highest leaf area. However, g_s was higher for N60 plants and lower for N110 plants. At the end of the drought period, N60 plants showed the lowest values of water potential (Ψ_w) and osmotic potential (Ψ_s), and the highest values of pressure potential (Ψ_p). N60 plants showed the highest Ψ_s at maximum Ψ_p and the highest bulk modulus of elasticity.     

Growth and Gas Exchange of Three Sorghum Cultivars Under Drought Stress

A field study was conducted to evaluate the drought tolerance of three sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars, Gadambalia, Arous elRimal and Tabat, and quantify the physiological bases for differences in their drought tolerance. Water stress reduced shoot dry mass of Gadambalia, Arous elRimal and Tabat by 43, 46 and 58 %, respectively. The respective reduction in leaf area of the three cultivars was 28, 54 and 63 %. The reduction in net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate due to water stress was lowest in Gadambalia and highest in Tabat. The leaf water potentials and relative water contents of Gadambalia under wet and dry treatments were similar, while those of Tabat were significantly reduced by water stress. The lowest and highest liquid water flow conductance was displayed by Tabat and Gadambalia, respectively. Drought tolerance in Gadambalia is associated with its smaller leaf area, higher liquid water flow conductance, and ability to maintain high leaf water potential, relative water content, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic rate under drought stress. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Flooding on Susceptibility of Taxodium distichum L. Seedlings to Drought

Responses of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) seedlings to soil moisture were studied to test the hypothesis that flooding may lead to seedling's higher susceptibility to drought. Treatments included a well-watered but drained control (C), continuously flooded (CF), control followed by drought (CD), and flooded followed by drought (FD). Gas exchange values revealed no significant effects on net photosynthetic rate (P_N) in response to flooding. In contrast, after the onset of drought, P_N was significantly reduced in CD and FD plants. Significant growth reductions under mild drought conditions indicated that baldcypress seedlings were drought sensitive. However, comparison of gas exchange rates and growth responses between CD and FD plants indicated that prior flooding had no detectable effect on subsequent sensitivity of baldcypress to drought. These findings explain baldcypress persistence in wetland habitats characterized by periodic flooding and mild drought.     

Effects of Elevated CO2 and Moisture Stress on Brassica Juncea

The interactive effect of elevated CO2 (EC) and moisture stress (MS) on Brassica juncea cv. Pusa Bold was studied using open-top chambers. The EC markedly increased net photosynthetic rate and internal CO2 concentration and reduced variable and maximal chlorophyll fluorescence. Under MS, EC increased water potential and relative water content, and reduced transpiration rate. The greater allocation of biomass to the roots, which serve as a strong sink for assimilated carbon under EC, helped in better root growth.     

Photosynthetic characteristics in Brassica carinata hybrids and their parents as influenced by moisture stress

The response of Brassica carinata hybrids and their parents to moisture stress at different growth stages was studied. B. carinata 226 was found to be susceptible to stress at pre-flowering and post-flowering stages while B. carinata 241 at flowering stage. Neither the changes in stomatal conductance nor in chlorophyll content could fully explain the reduction in net photosynthetic rate (P_N) induced by stress. B. carinata 241 had higher leaf water potential (ψ_w) although, it had lower P_N compared to B. carinata 226. Both the parents had lower P_N as well as leaf ψ_w. The stress response of PN in hybrids followed that in their respective female parents. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Effects of Drought Stress and Leaf Ageing on Leaf Photosynthesis and Electron Transport in Photosystem 2 in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) Cultivars

Of the four tested sweet potato cultivars having different features in growth and yield, cv. Koganesengan (KOG) was sustainable in photosynthetic activity through young to aged leaves under drought. One of the causes for this phenomenon may be stomatal conductance (g _s) of this cultivar that was relatively high in both aged and drought-imposed leaves. In these leaves the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was low and the quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Φ_e) was high, compared to those of the other cultivars. This helps to prevent excessive accumulation of chemical energy in leaves and a decrease in photoinhibition damage to the photosynthetic function, by which KOG sustains a relatively high photosynthetic activity under the drought and alleviates functional deterioration caused by leaf age. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diurnal changes in needle gas exchange in alpine Pinus pumila during snow-melting and summer seasons

Pinus pumila (Pallas) Regel. is a dominant dwarf tree in alpine regions of Japan. The possible factors limiting the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of the needles of P. pumila were examined in the snow-melting (May) and the summer (August) seasons. In August, in situ maximum P_n was 20 mol kg^–1 needle s^–1 in the current-year needles and 25 mol kg^–1 needle s^–1 in the 1-year-old needles. Diurnal trends of P_n in August were positively related to fluctuations in photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and no midday depression of P_n was found, indicating that a decrease in PPFD rather than an increase in needle-to-air vapor pressure deficit (W) might cause the reduction of P_n. Both stomatal conductance (g_s) and P_n were lower in May than in August. In May, P_n and g_s were almost zero in the morning, but gradually increased with decreasing W, reaching maximum P_n values (4 mol kg^–1 needle s^–1) and g_s (60 mmol kg^–1 needle s^–1) at 16.00 hours. The daytime P_n in May was positively related to g_s. Relative water content in the exposed needles above the snow in May was 83%, which was far above the lethal level. This indicates that the water flow from stems or soils to needles was enough to compensate for a small amount of water loss due to the low g_s in May, although the water supplied to needles would be impeded by the low temperatures. Thus, the reduced g_s in May would be important for avoiding needle desiccation, and would result in a reduced P_n.     

Leaf Gas Exchange and Water Relations in Polylepis tarapacana at Extreme Altitudes in the Bolivian Andes

Stress-induced restrictions to carbon balance, growth, and reproduction are the causes of tree-line formation at a global scale. We studied gas exchange and water relations of Polylepis tarapacana in the field, considering the possible effects of water stress limitations imposed on net photosynthetic rate (P_N). Daily courses of microclimatic variables, gas exchange, and leaf water potential were measured in both dry-cold and wet-warm seasons at an altitude of 4 300 m. Marked differences in environmental conditions between seasons resulted in differences for the dry-cold and wet-warm seasons in mean leaf water potentials (–1.67 and –1.02 MPa, respectively) and mean leaf conductances (33.5 and 58.9 mmol m^–2 s^–1, respectively), while differences in mean P_N (2.5 and 2.8 mol m^–2 s^–1, respectively) were not as evident. This may be related to limitations imposed by water deficit and lower photon flux densities during dry and wet seasons, respectively. Hence P. tarapacana has coupled its gas exchange characteristics to the extreme daily and seasonal variations in temperature and water availability of high elevations.     

Growth and photosynthetic and biochemical responses of tea cultivars to blister blight infection

Growth characteristics such as leaf area, fresh and dry mass, and shoot length, and physiological parameters such as photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency were reduced by blister blight significantly more in a susceptible tea clone TES-34 than in a tolerant clone SA-6. Also the contents of total sugars, nitrogen, amino acids, proteins, polyphenols, and catechin were reduced more in diseased plant leaves. However, the reduction was more prominent in susceptible than in tolerant clone. Among the different hybrids of tea, Assam hybrid UPASI-3 was highly susceptible to blister blight followed by Cambod UPASI-27 and China UPASI-9. Similarly, tea seedling cv. Caline was highly susceptible to blister blight when compared to tea clone UPASI-3. Susceptibility of tea cultivars to blister blight infection is connected with many physical barriers including leaf area, shoot length, moisture contents, and other physiological and biochemical parameters.