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.     

Effects of Exposure in Space on Tomato Seeds: Photosynthesis,Biomass, and Water Relations of Well-Watered and Drought-Stressed Plants

Tomato seeds exposed to space conditions for nearly six years on board the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite were subsequently germinated and the resultant seedlings grown on earth under controlled conditions for analysis. Photosynthesis, biomass, and water relations were compared between mature plants grown from earth-based control seeds and space-exposed seeds under both well-watered and drought-stressed conditions. No consistent significant differences in photosynthesis and water relations were observed in the two sets of plants at any level of drought stress. Fruit production, however, though limited and variable, was significantly greater in plants grown from space-exposed seeds than in plants grown from earth-based seeds. Overall, exposure of seeds to space had only minor effects on the physiology and growth of plants grown from such seed.     

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.     

An Impasse in Plant Water Relations?

Balling and Zimmermann [Planta 182 (1990), 325–338] used a pressure probe to measure directly negative pressures in the xylem of transpiring plants. They obtained data that challenge the standard framework that plant physiologists use when thinking about plant water relations, and, most notably, found a substantial discrepancy between their measurements of xylem pressure and of leaf water potential measured with a Scholander pressure bomb. Their data are critically examined and it is shown that most of them can be accommodated within the established principles of plant water relations. In particular, there are several reasons, consistent with the established principles, why leaf water potential and xylem pressure may differ.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Water relations and leaf gas exchange properties in some elite canola (Brassica napus) lines under salt stress

In order to examine whether growth of eight genetically diverse canola (Brassica napus) lines under salt stress is positively associated with their rate of photosynthesis and other gas exchange related attributes, 20‐day old plants of all eight lines were subjected to salinised soil containing 2.4 dS m^?1 NaCl (control), 4 dS m^?1 NaCl, 8 dS m^?1 NaCl or 12 dS m‐¹ NaCl. The lines DGL (non canola) and Dunkeld were found to be salt tolerant and Rainbow and Cyclon salt sensitive with regard to shoot dry matter production and seed yield under saline conditions. In most of the lines there was a negative relationship between growth and net CO₂ assimilation rate. For example, the salt sensitive line Cyclon was the lowest and Con‐III the highest, and the salt tolerant line Dunkeld intermediate in net CO₂ assimilation rate under salt stress. Stomatal conductance was found to be lower in the salt sensitive line Cyclon, followed by the salt tolerant line Dunkeld along with Oscar. Water use efficiency estimated as Pn/E was moderate in the salt sensitive line Cyclon and the salt tolerant line Dunkeld. In conclusion, high salt tolerance of Dunkeld and DGL (non‐canola) was not positively associated with net CO₂ assimilation rate or Pn/E.     

Photosynthetic Response to Soil Water Contents of an Annual Pioneer C4 Grass (Agriophyllum squarrosum) in Hunshandak Sandland,China

Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g _s), and leaf water potential (Ψ_l) of an annual pioneer C₄ grass (Agriophyllum squarrosum) were compared under different simulated precipitation events in a field of Hunshandak Sandland, China. The increase of soil water content (SWC) had significant effect on these physiological traits (p<0.001). In the vegetative stage, the values of P _N, E, and g _s went up sharply when SWC increased at the beginning, while they went down with continuous increase of SWC. P _N, E, and g _s increased 1.4, 1.7, and 1.7 fold, respectively, with SWC range from 6.7 to 11.6 %. In the reproductive stage, similar trends were found, except for the climate with a higher SWC. This indicated that A. squarrosum was very sensitive to the small increment of SWC which might have a large photosynthetic potential. Ψ_l increased by about 8 % as the SWC changed from 6.7 to 8.8 %, and then maintained a steady level when the SWC was higher than 8.8 %, while the values of P _N, E, and g _s kept increasing even after this SWC. This might indicate that the adjustment of Ψ_l response to the changes of SWC lagged that of the photosynthetic parameters. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

The stomatal response to evaporative demand persists at night in Ricinus communis plants with high nocturnal conductance

Evidence is building that stomatal conductance to water vapour (g(s)) can be quite high in the dark in some species. However, it is unclear whether nocturnal opening reflects a mechanistic limitation (i.e. an inability to close at night) or an adaptive response (i.e. promoting water loss for reasons unrelated to carbon gain). Further, it is unclear if stomatal responses to leaf-air vapour pressure difference (D) persist in the dark. We investigated nocturnal stomatal behaviour in castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) by measuring gas exchange and stomatal responses to D in the light and in the dark. Results were compared among eight growth environments [two levels for each of three treatment variables: air saturation deficit (D(a)), light and water availability]. In most plants, stomata remained open and sensitive to D at night. g(s) was typically lower at night than in the day, whereas leaf osmotic pressure (Pi) was higher at night. In well-watered plants grown at low D(a), stomata were less sensitive to D in the dark than in the light, but the reverse was found for plants grown at high D(a). Stomata of droughted plants were less sensitive to D in the dark than in the light regardless of growth D(a). Drought also reduced g(s) and elevated Pi in both the light and the dark, but had variable effects on stomatal sensitivity to D. These results are interpreted with the aid of models of stomatal conductance.