Comparison of Osmotic Adjustment Responses to Water and Temperature Stresses in Spring Wheat and Sudangrass

This study explores the mechanisms of osmotic adjustment bycomparing the growth of spring wheat and sudangrass, which exhibitdifferent degrees of osmotic adjustment, under soil water andtemperature stresses. Leaf water potential ( ₁), osmotic potential(), and rate of leaf area growth of spring wheat and sudangrassseedlings were measured at combinations of five soil water potentials,from -0·03 to -0·25 MPa, and six root temperatures,from 14 to 36°C. Spring wheat exhibit little osmotic adjustment.The leaf osmotic potential was not affected by either soil wateror root temperature stress. Osmotic potential of sudangrassdecreased in parallel with the decreasing leaf water potentialas a result of osmotic adjustment. As soil water potential decreasedfrom -0·03 to -0·25 MPa, the rates of growth andphotosynthesis of spring wheat both decreased by about 30%.For sudangrass with the same range of soil water potential,the photosynthesis rate decreased by only 10% while the leafarea growth rate decreased by 49%. We introduce a dimensionlessindex (R) to quantify the degree to which environmental stressesalter the balance between production of photosynthates and theiruse for growth. The index, R, is equal to 1 when stress reducesgrowth and photosynthesis by the same degree, i.e. the balancebetween production and consumption of photosynthate is not disturbed.R is smaller than 1 when growth is reduced more than photosynthesis.R was equal to 1 for spring wheat where there was no osmoticadjustment. For sudangrass, R decreased from 1 to 0·25as osmotic potential decreased from -1·10 to -1·63MPa. These findings lead to the hypothesis that osmotic adjustmentcould result from an imbalance between production, consumptionand translocation of photosynthates under stressed conditions.Copyright1993, 1999 Academic Press Osmotic adjustment, water stress, root temperature     

Influence of Xylem Water Potential on Leaf Elongation and Osmotic Adjustment of Wheat and Lupin

The leaf elongation rate and osmotic pressure at full turgorof wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and lupin (Lupinus cosentiniiGuss.) were measured in well watered plants, in plants thatwere allowed to dry the soil slowly over 7 d, and in plantsin which the water potential of the leaf xylem was maintainedhigh by applying pressure to the roots during the drying cycle.Maintenance of high xylem water potentials failed to preventa reduction in the rate of leaf elongation as the soil dried,while the osmotic pressure at full turgor and the degree ofosmotic adjustment increased as the soil water content decreased.The rate of leaf elongation was reduced more and the degreeof osmotic adjustment was higher in leaves with high xylem waterpotentials than in those in which leaf xylem potentials wereallowed to decrease as soil water content decreased. Osmoticadjustment was linearly correlated with the reduction in leafelongation rate in both wheat and lupin. Key words: Osmotic adjustment, leaf elongation, turgor regulation     

Does turgor limit growth in tall trees?

The gravitational component of water potential contributes a standing 0.01 MPa m^?1 to the xylem tension gradient in plants. In tall trees, this contribution can significantly reduce the water potential near the tree tops. The turgor of cells in buds and leaves is expected to decrease in direct proportion with leaf water potential along a height gradient unless osmotic adjustment occurs. The pressure–volume technique was used to characterize height‐dependent variation in leaf tissue water relations and shoot growth characteristics in young and old Douglas‐fir trees to determine the extent to which growth limitation with increasing height may be linked to the influence of the gravitational water potential gradient on leaf turgor. Values of leaf water potential (Ψ_l), bulk osmotic potential at full and zero turgor, and other key tissue water relations characteristics were estimated on foliage obtained at 13.5 m near the tops of young (approximately 25‐year‐old) trees and at 34.7, 44.2 and 55.6 m in the crowns of old‐growth (approximately 450‐year‐old) trees during portions of three consecutive growing seasons. The sampling periods coincided with bud swelling, expansion and maturation of new foliage. Vertical gradients of Ψ_l and pressure–volume analyses indicated that turgor decreased with increasing height, particularly during the late spring when vegetative buds began to swell. Vertical trends in branch elongation, leaf dimensions and leaf mass per area were consistent with increasing turgor limitation on shoot growth with increasing height. During the late spring (May), no osmotic adjustment to compensate for the gravitational gradient of Ψ_l was observed. By July, osmotic adjustment had occurred, but it was not sufficient to fully compensate for the vertical gradient of Ψ_l. In tall trees, the gravitational component of Ψ_l is superimposed on phenologically driven changes in leaf water relations characteristics, imposing potential constraints on turgor that may be indistinguishable from those associated with soil water deficits.     

Effect of Soil Water Stress on Osmotic Adjustment and Elongation Growth of Wheat Leaves

The results of the experiment showed that leaf elongation rate in two wheat cultivars decreased under soil water stress. Rewatering after water stress, growth restoration.of “Changle No.5” was faster than that of “Lumai No.5”. The osmotic adjustment ability of leaves in these two wheat cultivars increased to 0.41MPa for “Changle No.5” and 0.33MPa for “Lumai No.5” as water potential decreased. At the same leaf elongation rate water potential and osmotic potential of “Changle No5” decreased more than that of “Lumai No.5” Leaf elongation rate fell to zero as water potential and osmotic potential were –1.50MPa and –1.70MPa for “Changle No.5” and –1.20MPa and –1.30MPa for “Lumai No.5” The threshold turgor pressure of elongation growth in leaf cell was different being 0.22MPa for “Changle No.5’ and 0.15MPa for “Lumai No.5”. The difference in the gross extensible coefficient of growing leaf was very small.     

The Arrhenius Equation as a Model for Explaining Plant Responses to Temperature and Water Stresses

The Arrhenius equation describes the response of biologicalprocesses to temperature. This study was conducted to examinethe applicability of the Arrhenius equation to whole plant processesand to explore the application of the Arrhenius equation asa basis for characterizing plant responses to water stress.Rates of growth of leaf area and shoot dry mass of spring wheatseedlings were measured at combinations of five soil water potentials(–0.03, –0.06, –0.10, –0.17 and –0.25MPa) and seven root temperatures (12, 14, 17, 22, 27, 29 and32 C). A non-linear least square procedure was used to fitthe modified Arrhenius equation to experimental observations.Adequate distribution of experimental observations with respectto temperature reduces the uncertainties in parameter evaluations.The standard error of the estimate of optimum temperature forleaf area growth increased from 1.4 C to 6.3 C when one ofthe data points was omitted. The optimum temperature and theenthalpy of denaturalization of enzyme systems were independentof soil water potential. A linear relation was found betweenthe rate constant and the activation energy: The Arrhenius equation was modified using this linear relation,leaving the activation energy as the only parameter affectedby water stress. The activation energy increased linearly assoil water potential decreased, with slopes of –27.18 10₃ and –28.09 10₂ K MPa^–1 for the rates ofgrowth of leaf area and shoot dry mass, respectively. Theseslopes could be used as indicators of the sensitivity of plantprocesses to water stress. Temperature, water, plants, Arrhenius equation     

Associations between plant production and some physiological components of drought resistance in wheat

Abstract. Drought resistance in terms of plant production under conditions of drought stress was previously defined for several spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. Four varieties, differing in their drought resistance by this definition, were compared in their physiological responses to water stress, as induced by polyethylene glycol 6000 in the growth medium.
Drought resistance was associated with osmotic adjustment, total root mass production under stress, maintenance of some stomatal permeability under stress, and maintenance of turgor at a given level of drought stress, by either osmotic adjustment or elevated plant water potential.
Drought resistance was not associated, in this experiment, with plant top growth under stress or non-stress conditions, maximum leaf area per plant, plant transpiration, and total root mass production under non-stress conditions.     

Relationship between transpiration and water potential in grafted scions of Picea

Total water and osmotic potential, turgor pressure and transpiration rate were measured on scions of Picea pungens (Englemann) during union development. In controlled environments, declines in water potential were correlated with lower transpiration rates to about −2.0 MPa. Water potentials below −2.0 MPa resulted in graft failure and were associated with sharply increased transpiration rates. Bulk turgor pressures remained high in the needles during this period of declining water potential and increasing transpiration. Transpiration rates of successful and unsuccessful greenhouse grafts were not significantly different during union development. Transpiration rates of these grafts were highest around dawn, then declined throughout the day only to increase again after sunset. High bulk needle turgor values (1.3 MPa), maintained by osmotic adjustment, may prevent stomatal closure of Picea scions at water potentials below −2.0 MPa.     

Roles of leaf water potential and soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance in water use by understorey woody plants

Diurnal changes of leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were measured for 12 deciduous shrubs and tree saplings in the understorey of a temperate forest. Sunflecks raised the leaf temperature by 4°C, and vapor pressure deficit to 2 kPa. Although the duration of the sunflecks was only 17% of daytime, the photon flux density (PFD) of sunflecks was 52% of total PFD on a sunny summer day. Leaf osmotic potential at full turgor decreased in summer, except in some species that have low osmotic potential in the spring. Plants that endured low leaf water potential had rigid cell walls and low osmotic potential at full turgor. These plants did not have lower relative water content and turgor potential than plants with higher leaf water potential. There were three different responses to an increase in transpiration rate: (i) plants had low leaf water potential and slightly increased soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance; (ii) plants decreased leaf water potential and increased the hydraulic conductance; and (iii) plants had high leaf water potential and largely increased the hydraulic conductance.     

Symplast Volume, Turgor, Stomatal Conductance and Growth in Relation to Osmotic and Elastic Adjustment in Droughted Sugarcane1

Leaf water relations, stomatal conductance (g) and shoot growthrate (SGR) were monitored during a soil drying cycle in threesugarcane cultivars growing in pots in a greenhouse. The pressure-volumetechnique was used to evaluate diurnal and droughtinduced variationin leaf water relations characteristics. Leaf solute contentand bulk elasticity varied diurnally in both irrigated and droughtedplants and were highest at midday. Solute accumulation and increasedelasticity were also observed as leaf water deficits developedmore slowly during soil drying. This osmotic and elastic adjustmentmaintained symplast volume essentially constant both diurnallyand during soil drying, whereas turgor was only partially maintained.The extent of osmotic adjustment associated with drought wasnot reflected in the leaf osmotic potential at full turgor becausethe concurrent increase in tissue elasticity resulted in a largersymplast volume at full turgor. Cultivar responses over therange of leaf water deficits imposed did not provide conclusiveevidence for genotypic variation in osmotic and elastic adjustment.It appeared that behavioural differences in rates of water usemay have determined the magnitude of osmotic and elastic adjustmentin response to drought. In the early stages of soil drying,reductions in SGR and g were not accompanied by significantreductions in bulk leaf water status. This suggested that otherfactors, presumably signals originating from the roots, mayhave regulated SGR and g.     

Influences of microclimatic conditions and water relations on seasonal leaf dimorphism of Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana in the Sonoran Desert,California

Summary Seasonal measurements of microclimatic conditions were compared to seasonal indices of leaf structural components and plant water relations in Prosopis glandulosa var. torryana. P. glandulosa had two short periods of leaf production which resulted in two distinct even aged cohorts of leaves. The two leaf cohorts (summer, winter) were concurrent in the summer and fall, contrasting to previous studies on other species in which one leaf form replaces a previous leaf type. The structural characteristics of these two cohorts differed significantly in two replicate year cycles. The leaves of the spring cohort were larger in weight and area but similar to the summer cohort in specific leaf weight and leaflet number. The second growth period leaves constituted only a small proportion of the total plant leaf area. The dimorphism between the two cohorts was best associated with plant water relations and not energy load. Second growth period leaves maintained turgor to greater water deficits but lost turgor at higher leaf water potentials. Seasonal osmotic adjustment occurred for first growth period leaves but not second growth period leaves. The small leaves produced during the hot climate were most likely the result of low turgor potential during development rather than an adaptation to tolerate stressful environments.     

Salinity Stress Inhibits Bean Leaf Expansion by Reducing Turgor, Not Wall Extensibility

Treatment of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings with low levels of salinity (50 or 100 millimolar NaCl) decreased the rate of light-induced leaf cell expansion in the primary leaves over a 3 day period. This decrease could be due to a reduction in one or both of the primary cellular growth parameters: wall extensibility and cell turgor. Wall extensibility was assessed by the Instron technique. Salinity did not decrease extensibility and caused small increases relative to the controls after 72 hours. On the other hand, 50 millimolar NaCl caused a significant reduction in leaf bulk turgor at 24 hours; adaptive decreases in leaf osmotic potential (osmotic adjustment) were more than compensated by parallel decreases in the xylem tension potential and the leaf apoplastic solute potential, resulting in a decreased leaf water potential. It is concluded that in bean seedlings, mild salinity initially affects leaf growth rate by a decrease in turgor rather than by a reduction in wall extensibility. Moreover, longterm salinization (10 days) resulted in an apparent mechanical adjustment, i.e. an increase in wall extensibility, which may help counteract reductions in turgor and maintain leaf growth rates.     

Leaf expansion of four sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars in relation to water deficits. II. Diurnal patterns during stress and recovery

Abstract. Leaf expansion of four sunflower cultivars ( Helianthus annuus L. cvs. Hysun 31, Havasupai, Hopi and Seneca) was monitored continuously in a growth cabinet through the final stages of a drying cycle and then throughout the first 2 days after rewatering in order to study the responses of leaf expansion to water deficits. Comparable plants were also measured throughout a diurnal cycle in a glasshouse.
In the cabinet, leaf extension was faster in the dark than in the light, but an extended dark period suppressed leaf extension. At similar leaf water potentials, the rate of leaf extension was greater in the light than in the dark, but as the osmotic potential was lower in the light than in the dark, the relationship between turgor pressure and leaf extension rate was similar in both environments. Throughout the drying and recovery cycles turgor and leaf extension rate was positively correlated: no significant differences among cultivars were observed.
In the plants grown and measured in the glasshouse, leaf expansion occurred at lower leaf water potentials in stressed than in unstressed plants, but the relationship between leaf expansion and turgor was similar in both stressed and unstressed plants as a result of a lowering of the osmotic potential in the former. Diurnal turgor maintenance resulting from osmotic adjustment was almost half that occurring during a complete drying cycle. During the day, the leaf expansion rate increased linearly with turgor pressure in all cultivars: the expansion rate per unit turgor pressure was greater in the glasshouse than in the growth cabinet. Nocturnal leaf expansion in the stressed and unstressed plants was not, however, correlated with turgor pressure.     

Water relations and osmotic adjustment in Lycopersicon esculentum and L. pennellii during short-term salt exposure and recovery

Cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. cv. P-73 and its wild salt-tolerant relative L. pennellii (Correll) D'Arcy accession PE-47 growing on silica sand in a growth chamber were exposed to 0, 70, 140 and 210 m M NaCl nutrient solutions 35 days after sowing. The saline treatments were imposed for 4 days, after which the plants were rinsed with distilled water. Salinity in L. esculentum reduced leaf area and leaf and shoot dry weights. The reductions were more pronounced when sodium chloride was removed from the root medium. Reduction in leaf area and weight in L. pennellii was only observed after the recovery period. In both genotypes salinity induced a progressive reduction in leaf water potential and leaf conductance. During the recovery period leaf water potential (ψ₁) and leaf conductance (g₁) reached levels similar to those of control plants in wild and cultivated species, respectively. Leaf osmotic potential at full turgor (ψ_os) decreased in the salt treated plants of both genotypes, whereas the bulk modulus of elasticity was not affected by salinity. Leaf water potential at turgor loss point (ψ_tlp) and relative water content at turgor loss point (RWC_tlp) appeared to be controlled by leaf osmotic potential at full turgor (ψ_os) and by bulk modulus of elasticity, respectively. At lowest salinity, the wild species carried out the osmotic adjustment based almost exclusively on Cl⁻ and Na⁺, with a marked energy savings. Under highest salinity, this species accommodate the stress through a higher expenditure of energy due to the contribution of organic solutes to the osmotic adjustment. The domesticated species carried out the osmotic adjustment based always on an important contribution of organic solutes.     

Osmotic adjustment in leaves of sorghum in response to water deficits

The relationships among the total water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential, and relative water content were determined for leaves of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench cvs. `RS 610' and `Shallu') with three different histories of water stress. Plants were adequately watered (control), or the soil was allowed to dry slowly until the predawn leaf water potential reached either −0.4 megapascal (MPa) (treatment A) or −1.6 MPa (treatment B). Severe soil and plant water deficits developed sooner after cessation of watering in `Shallu' than in `RS 610', but no significant differences in osmotic adjustment or tissue water relations were observed between the two cultivars. In both cultivars, the stress treatments altered the relationship between leaf water potential and relative water content, resulting in the previously stressed plants maintaining higher tissue water contents than control plants at the same leaf water potential. The osmotic potential at full turgor in the control sorghum was −0.7 MPa: stress pretreatment significantly lowered the osmotic potential to −1.1 and −1.6 MPa in stress treatments A and B, respectively. As a result of this osmotic adjustment, leaf turgor potentials at a given value of leaf water potential exceeded those of the control plants by 0.15 to 0.30 MPa in treatment A and by 0.5 to 0.65 MPa in treatment B. However, zero turgor potential occurred at approximately the same value of relative water content (94%) irrespective of previous stress history. From the relationship between turgor potential and relative water content there was an approximate doubling of the volumetric elastic modulus, i.e. a halving of tissue elasticity, as a result of stress preconditioning. The influence of stress preconditioning on the moisture release curve is discussed.     

Combined effects of drought and high temperature on water relations of wheat and sorghum

Drought and high temperature are major factors limiting crop production. The two stresses occur together in many regions, but they usually are investigated separately. This study tested the hypothesis that high temperature interacts with drought to affect water relations, and the effect is greater in heat-sensitive wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) than in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Wheat and sorghum were grown in soil that was well watered or not watered in controlled chambers at 15/10, 25/20, 35/30 and 40/35 °C day/night. Soil water content (SWC), leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential (), leaf osmotic potential (), leaf turgor potential (P) and osmotic adjustment (OA) were determined at 2-d intervals. All values held nearly constant at all temperatures when soil was well watered but were affected strongly by high temperature when water was withheld. The combined stresses reduced SWC, RWC, Psi and , and unevenly raised P over time, particularly in sorghum. Sorghum also exhibited marked OA at high temperature, which was usually lethal to wheat. High temperature appeared to interact with drought to affect water relations by altering SWC and not by influencing OA. The results demonstrated that crops maintain nearly stable water relations regardless of temperature when moisture is ample, but high temperature strongly affects water relations when water is limiting. Increasing the thermotolerance of wheat might improve its potential to acclimate to both high temperature and drought.     

Water relations, gas exchange characteristics, and the level of some metabolites in two cultivars of spring wheat under different N regimes

Twenty eight-day old plants of two spring wheat cultivars differing in salinity tolerance were subjected to varying levels of nitrogen (56, 112, and 224 mg N·kg⁻¹ soil) for 42 days. Both cultivars performed differently under varying soil N levels in terms of growth, and grain yield and yield components. Nitrogen levels, 112 and 224 mg·kg⁻¹ soil, caused maximal growth in Sarsabz and Barani-83, respectively. Cv Sarsabz maintained higher leaf water and turgor potentials, but lower leaf osmotic potential than those of Barani-83 at all external N regimes. Sarsabz had higher Chl a, Chl b and carotenoids contents in leaves than those in Barani-83 at 56 and 112 mg N·kg⁻¹ soil. Sarsabz had higher contents of leaf soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and free amino acids than those in Barani-83 at all external N levels. In Barani-83 net CO₂ assimilation rate remained almost unchanged, whereas in Sarsabz it decreased consistently with increase in external N level. The better growth performance of Sarsabaz as compared to Barani-83 under varying soil N levels except 224 mg N·kg⁻¹ soil was associated with maintenance of high leaf turgor potential but not with net CO₂ assimilation rate.     

Effects of manipulation of water and nitrogen regime on the water relations of the desert shrub Larrea tridentata

Summary Water and nitrogen regimes of Larrea tridentata shrubs growing in the field were manipulated during an annual cycle. Patterns of leaf water status, leaf water relations characteristics, and stomatal behavior were followed concurrently. Large variations in leaf water status in both irrigated and nonirrigated individuals were observed. Predawn and midday leaf water potentials of nonirrigated shrubs were lowest except when measurements had been preceded by significant rainfall. Despite the large seasonal variation in leaf water status, reasonably constant, high levels of turgor were maintained. Pressure-volume curve analysis suggested that changes in the bulk leaf osmotic potential at full turgor were small and that nearly all of the turgor adjustment was due to tissue elastic adjustment. The increase in tissue elasticity with increasing water deficit manifested itself as a decrease in the relative water content at zero turgor and as a decrease in the tissue bulk elastic modulus. Because of large hydration-induced displacement in the osmotic potential and relative water content at zero turgor, it was necessary to use shoots in their natural state of hydration for pressure-volume curve determinations. Large diurnal and seasonal differences in maximum stomatal conductance were observed, but could not easily be attributed to variations in leaf water potential or leaf water relations characteristics such as the turgor loss point. The single factor which seemed to account for most of the diurnal and seasonal differences in maximum stomatal conductance between individual shrubs was an index of soil/root/ shoot hydraulic resistance. Daily maximum stomatal conductance was found to decrease with increasing soil/root/ shoot hydraulic resistance. This pattern was most consistent if the hydraulic resistance calculation was based on an estimate of total canopy transpiration rather than the more commonly used transpiration per unit leaf area. The reasons for this are discussed. It is suggested that while stomatal aperture necessarily represents a major physical resistance controlling transpiration, plant hydraulic resistance may represent the functional resistance through its effects on stomatal aperture.     

Osmotic Adjustment and Stomatal Response to Water Deficits in Maize

A pot experiment was carried out using five maize {Zea maysL.) cultivars under three soil moisture levels (MPa 0 to –0.05,–0.3 to –0.9 and –1.2 to –1.5) to investigatethe effects of water deficits on osmotic adjustment and stomatalconductance. The degree of leaf rolling and the sugar and nutrientconcentrations in leaf cell sap were measured. Leaf water potential and osmotic potential decreased and stomatalconductance decreased with increasing water deficits. Stomatalconductance correlated positively with leaf water potentialand osmotic potential. Degree of leaf rolling was lower in cultivarswhich maintained higher turgor. Osmotic adjustment of 0.08 to0.43 MPa was found under the lowest soil moisture level in fivecultivars used. Sugar and K were the major osmotic substancesin the maize plant. Sugar, K and Mg concentrations increasedunder water deficit, and correlated negatively with a decreasein osmotic potential. Key words: Zea mays L., leaf water relations, leaf rolling, osmotic adjustment, stomatal conductance, water deficit     

Effects of water stress on internal water relations of apple leaves

The capacity of apple ( Malus pumila Mill. cv. James Grieve and Golden Delicious) pot- and orchard-grown trees to adjust osmotically in response to drought was investigated. Stressed leaves exhibited alterations in the moisture release curves when compared to well hydrated control leaves. Results suggest that osmotic adjustment occurred in both field- and pot-grown trees. Water potential for zero turgor was lowered by 0.5 MPa in leaves of potted trees and by 1.1 MPa in leaves of field-grown trees as a result of stress treatments. A decrease in the osmotic potential was responsible for that adjustment allowing the leaf to maintain turgor at lower water potentials and relative water contents. The extent of adjustment was similar for both potted and orchard trees despite the difference in the rate of stress imposition and its intensity. Changes in the concentration of sugars apparently contributed to this adjustment.     

Acclimation of leaf growth to low water potentials in sunflower

Abstract Leaf growth is one of the most sensitive of plant processes to water deficits and is frequently inhibited in field crops. Plants were acclimated for 2 weeks under a moderate soil water deficit to determine whether the sensitivity of leaf growth could be altered by sustained exposure to low water potentials. Leaf growth under these conditions was less than in the controls because expansion occurred more slowly and for less of the day than in control leaves. However, acclimated leaves were able to grow at leaf water potentials (Ψ₁) low enough to inhibit growth completely in control plants. This ability was associated with osmotic adjustment and maintenance of turgor in the acclimated leaves. Upon rewatering, the growth of acclimated leaves increased but was less than the growth of controls, despite higher concentrations of cell solute and greater turgor in the acclimated leaves than in controls. Therefore, factors other than turgor and osmotic adjustment limited the growth of acclimated leaves at high ψ₁ Four potentially controlling factors were investigated and the results showed that acclimated leaves were less extensible and required more turgor to initiate growth than control leaves. The slow growth of acclimated leaves was not due to a decrease in the water potential gradient for water uptake, although changes in the apparent hydraulic conductivity for water transport could have occurred. It was concluded that leaf growth acclimated to low ψ₁, by adjusting osmotically, and the concomitant maintenance of turgor permitted growth where none otherwise would occur. However, changes in the extensibility of the tissue and the turgor necessary to initiate growth caused generally slow growth in the acclimated leaves.