Apparent responses of stomata to transpiration and humidity in a hybrid poplar canopy

It has been proposed that the stomatal response to humidity relies on sensing of the transpiration rate itself rather than relative humidity or the saturation deficit per se. We used independent measurements of stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E), and leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference (V) in a hybrid poplar canopy to evaluate relationships between g_s and E and between g_s and V. Relationships between E, V and total vapour phase conductance or crown conductance (g_c) were also assessed. Conductance measurements were made on exposed and partially shaded branches over a wide range of incident solar radiation. In exposed branches, g_s appeared to decline linearly with increasing E and increasing V at both high and low irradiance. However, in a partially shaded branch, a bimodal relationship between g_s and E was observed in which g_s continued to decrease after E had reached a maximum value and begun to decrease. The relationship between g_s and V for this branch was linear. Plots of g_c against E always yielded bimodal or somewhat variable relationships, whereas plots of g_c against V were invariably linear. It was not possible to derive a unique relationship between conductance and E or V because prevailing radiation partially determined the operating range for conductance. Normalization of data by radiation served to linearize responses observed within the same day or type of day, but even after normalization, data collected on partly cloudy days could not be used to predict stomatal behaviour on clear days and vice versa. An additional unidentified factor was thus also involved in determining operating ranges of conductance on days with different overall radiation regimes. We suggest that the simplest mechanism to account for the observed humidity responses is stomatal sensing of the epidermal or cuticular transpiration rate rather than the bulk leaf or stomatal transpiration rate.     

Survey and synthesis of intra- and interspecific variation in stomatal sensitivity to vapour pressure deficit

Responses of stomatal conductance (g_s) to increasing vapour pressure deficit (D) generally follow an exponential decrease described equally well by several empirical functions. However, the magnitude of the decrease – the stomatal sensitivity – varies considerably both within and between species. Here we analysed data from a variety of sources employing both porometric and sap flux estimates of g_s to evaluate the hypothesis that stomatal sensitivity is proportional to the magnitude of g_s at low D ( ≤ 1 kPa). To test this relationship we used the function g_s = g_sref–m· lnD where m is the stomatal sensitivity and g_sref = g_s at D = 1 kPa. Regardless of species or methodology, m was highly correlated with g_sref (average r² = 0·75) with a slope of approximately 0·6. We demonstrate that this empirical slope is consistent with the theoretical slope derived from a simple hydraulic model that assumes stomatal regulation of leaf water potential. The theoretical slope is robust to deviations from underlying assumptions and variation in model parameters. The relationships within and among species are close to theoretical predictions, regardless of whether the analysis is based on porometric measurements of g_s in relation to leaf-surface D (D_s), or on sap flux-based stomatal conductance of whole trees (G_Si), or stand-level stomatal conductance (G_S) in relation to D. Thus, individuals, species, and stands with high stomatal conductance at low D show a greater sensitivity to D, as required by the role of stomata in regulating leaf water potential.     

Leaf morphological plasticity and stomatal conductance in three Populus alba L. genotypes subjected to salt stress

The effect of salt stress on leaf morphology and functionality was studied in three Populus alba genotypes differing in tolerance to salinity: 6K3 (sensitive), 2AS11 (moderately tolerant), and 14P11 (tolerant). Plants were subjected to an intense and progressive salt stress from 50 to 250 mM NaCl by 50 mM steps at 10-day intervals. The micromorphological results highlighted phenotypic variation among the three genotypes already in control plants, with the genotype 14P11 having significantly smaller epidermal cells and higher stomatal density. Salt-treated plants modulated differently the expansion of stomata compared with epidermal cells. Regression analysis showed significant correlations between decrease of stomatal area and stomatal conductance (g_s) in genotypes 14P11 and 6K3. So, the common reduction of stomatal area could be an early mechanism to save water in this species. However, only genotype 14P11 showed further significant decrease of this trait under the highest salinity level, combined with a significant reduction in leaf length. In addition, this genotype showed the lowest leaf abscission rate at the end of salt stress period. The genotype 6K3 was severely affected by leaf necrosis and showed the highest leaf abscission rate in salt stress conditions. In the moderately tolerant genotype 2AS11, an intermediate plastic behaviour in both leaf morphology and physiology was observed during the experiment. The phenotypic variation among the three genotypes in terms of micromorphology and stomatal conductance is discussed in relation to plant functionality in salt stress conditions. Overall results suggest that leaf morphological habit contributes to salt tolerance in P. alba.     

Control of transpiration in an irrigated Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantation

Stomatal conductance and transpiration were measured concurrently in an irrigated Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantation. Canopy stomatal conductance, canopy boundary layer conductance and the dimensionless decoupling coefficient (Ω) were calculated (a) summing the conductance of three canopy layers (g_c) and (b) weighting the contribution of foliage according to the amount of radiation received (g_c′). Canopy transpiration was then calculated from g_c and g_c′ for Ω = 1 (E_eq), Ω = 0 (E_imp) and by weighting E_eq and E_imp using Ω (E_Ω). E_eq, E_imp and E_Ω were compared to transpiration estimated from measurements of heat pulse velocity. The mean value of Ω was 0·63. Transpiration calculated using g_c and assuming perfect coupling (12·5 ± 0·9 mmol m^?2 s^?1) significantly overestimated measured values (8·7 ± 0·8 mmol m^?2 s^?1). Good estimates of canopy transpiration were obtained either (a) calculating E_Ω separately for the individual canopy layers or (b) treating the canopy as a single layer and using g_c′ in a calculation of E_imp (Ω = 0). The latter approach only required measurement of stomatal conductance at a single canopy position but would be unsuitable for use in combined models of canopy transpiration and assimilation. It should however, be suitable for estimating transpiration in forests regardless of the degree of coupling.     

Estimating transpiration from 6-year-old Eucalyptus grandis trees: development of a canopy conductance model and comparison with independent sap flux measurements

Daily patterns of stomatal conductance (g_s), xylem pressure potential (P) and canopy microclimatic variables were recorded on 11 sample days as part of a one-year study of the water use of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden in the eastern Transvaal, South Africa. Measured g_s was found to be largely controlled by quantum flux density (Q) and ambient vapour pressure deficit (D). Canopy conductance (g_c) was determined for hourly intervals using g_s measurements and leaf areas in four different canopy levels. A simple model was constructed to allow the prediction of g_c and transpiration from Q, D and season of year. The model was used to estimate transpiration rates from 10 trees in a later study of similarly-aged E. grandis trees, in which sap flow in each tree was measured using the heat pulse velocity (HPV) technique. Five of the trees were monitored on a summer day and five on a winter day. Correspondence between HPV sap flow and modelled transpiration was good for the summertime comparisons, but measured winter-time sap flow rates were underestimated by the model, especially under conditions of high sap flow. The discrepancy is believed to result from having insufficient data from the conductance study to describe the response of g_s to relatively high D in winter. Marked variation in transpiration per unit leaf area indicates that a relatively large number of trees must be sampled for the HPV technique to be used to obtain a mean rate for an entire stand in winter.     

Identification and characterization of QTL underlying whole-plant physiology in Arabidopsis thaliana: δ13C, stomatal conductance and transpiration efficiency

Water limitation is one of the most important factors limiting crop productivity world-wide and has likely been an important selective regime influencing the evolution of plant physiology. Understanding the genetic and physiological basis of drought adaptation is therefore important for improving crops as well as for understanding the evolution of wild species. Here, results are presented from quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of flowering time (a drought escape mechanism) and carbon stable isotope ratio (δ¹³C) (a drought-avoidance mechanism) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Whole-genome scans were performed using multiple-QTL models for both additive and epistatic QTL effects. We mapped five QTL affecting flowering time and five QTL affecting δ¹³C, but two genomic regions contained QTL with effects on both traits, suggesting a potential pleiotropic relationship. In addition, we observed QTL–QTL interaction for both traits. Two δ¹³C QTL were captured in near-isogenic lines to further characterize their physiological basis. These experiments revealed allelic effects on δ¹³C through the upstream trait of stomatal conductance with subsequent consequences for whole plant transpiration efficiency and water loss. Our findings document considerable natural genetic variation in whole-plant, drought resistance physiology of Arabidopsis and highlight the value of quantitative genetic approaches for exploring functional relationships regulating physiology.     

Gas exchange response of barley and pea cultivars to altitude variation in Himalaya

Leaf stomatal density (SD), net photosynthetic rates (P _N), and stomatal conductance (g _s) of Hordeum vulgare and Pisum sativum cultivars in Himalaya increased with altitude. Higher P _N and leaf temperature under low CO₂ partial pressure at high altitudes could evoke a higher g _s and SD to allow sufficient influx of CO₂ as well as more efficient leaf cooling through transpiration.     

Physiological determinants of genotypic differences in carbon isotope discrimination in potato grown in well-watered conditions

Carbon isotope discrimination (A), leaf conductance (g_s), photosynthetic capacity, and plant growth were measured in well-watered, glasshouse-grown potato plants of clones from a cross made between diploid Solanum tuberosum and Solanum vernei. Clones showed significant differences (P < 0.001) in g_s, Δ, stomatal density, root growth, and total dry matter production. Carbon isotope discrimination of genotypes was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with g_s. There was no correlation between g_s and stomatal density indicating that differences in g_s reflected differences in stomatal aperture. Differences in rooting characteristics or in root/shoot ratio did not contribute to differences in g_s or A. Genotypic differences in photosynthetic capacity were not statistically significant, and there was no correlation between A and photosynthetic capacity. Total dry matter production and A were positively correlated (P < 0.001) when differences in the time of plant emergence were included in the regression model. It is concluded that differences in A among potato genotypes is largely determined by g_s, but confounding of g_s and photosynthetic capacity reduces genotypic variation in A compared with that in g_s. Total dry matter production is largely determined by processes other than carbon assimilation rate per unit area in individual leaves. Effective use of A as a character for selection in plant breeding depends on elucidating the effects that differences in stomatal characteristics have on crop production both in well-watered and in water-limited crops.     

The effect of chromium and aluminum on growth,root morphology,photosynthetic parameters and transpiration of the two barley cultivars

The effect of aluminum and chromium on two barley genotypes differing in Al tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Al stress decreased plant growth, biomass production, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency determined as variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (F_v/F_m), net photosynthetic rate (P_N), intercellular CO₂ concentration (c_i), stomatal conductance (g_s) and transpiration rate (E) less in an Al-tolerant genotype Gebeina than in an Al-sensitive genotype Shang 70–119. Cr stress also caused marked reduction in growth and photosynthetic traits in barley plants. Higher reduction was observed at pH 4.0 as compared to pH 6.5. Combined stress of Cr and Al, caused further reduction in growth and photosynthetic parameters.     

Environmental and physiological regulation of transpiration in tropical forest gap species: the influence of boundary layer and hydraulic properties

Environmental and physiological regulation of transpiration were examined in several gap-colonizing shrub and tree species during two consecutive dry seasons in a moist, lowland tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Whole plant transpiration, stomatal and total vapor phase (stomatal + boundary layer) conductance, plant water potential and environmental variables were measured concurrently. This allowed control of transpiration (E) to be partitioned quantitatively between stomatal (g _s) and boundary layer (g _b) conductance and permitted the impact of invividual environmental and physiological variables on stomatal behavior and E to be assessed. Wind speed in treefall gap sites was often below the 0.25 m s^–1 stalling speed of the anemometer used and was rarely above 0.5 m s^–1, resulting in uniformly low g _b (c. 200–300 mmol m^–2 s^–1) among all species studied regardless of leaf size. Stomatal conductance was typically equal to or somewhat greater than g _b. This strongly decoupled E from control by stomata, so that in Miconia argentea a 10% change in g _s when g _s was near its mean value was predicted to yield only a 2.5% change in E. Porometric estimates of E, obtained as the product of g _s and the leaf-bulk air vapor pressure difference (VPD) without taking g _b into account, were up to 300% higher than actual E determined from sap flow measurements. Porometry was thus inadequate as a means of assessing the physiological consequences of stomatal behavior in different gap colonizing species. Stomatal responses to humidity strongly limited the increase in E with increasing evaporative demand. Stomata of all species studied appeared to respond to increasing evaporative demand in the same manner when the leaf surface was selected as the reference point for determination of external vapor pressure and when simultaneous variation of light and leaf-air VPD was taken into account. This result suggests that contrasting stomatal responses to similar leaf-bulk air VPD may be governed as much by the external boundary layer as by intrinsic physiological differences among species. Both E and g _s initially increased sharply with increasing leaf area-specific total hydraulic conductance of the soil/root/leaf pathway (G _t), becoming asymptotic at higher values of G _t. For both E and g _s a unique relationship appeared to describe the response of all species to variations in G _t. The relatively weak correlation observed between g _s and midday leaf water potential suggested that stomatal adjustment to variations in water availability coordinated E with water transport efficiency rather than bulk leaf water status.     

The response of stomatal conductance to seasonal drought in tropical forests

Stomata regulate CO₂ uptake for photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration. The approaches used to represent stomatal conductance (g_s) in models vary. In particular, current understanding of drivers of the variation in a key parameter in those models, the slope parameter (i.e. a measure of intrinsic plant water‐use‐efficiency), is still limited, particularly in the tropics. Here we collected diurnal measurements of leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf), and a suite of plant traits from the upper canopy of 15 tropical trees in two contrasting Panamanian forests throughout the dry season of the 2016 El Niño. The plant traits included wood density, leaf‐mass‐per‐area (LMA), leaf carboxylation capacity (V_c,max), leaf water content, the degree of isohydry, and predawn Ψ_leaf. We first investigated how the choice of four commonly used leaf‐level g_s models with and without the inclusion of Ψ_leaf as an additional predictor variable influence the ability to predict g_s, and then explored the abiotic (i.e. month, site‐month interaction) and biotic (i.e. tree‐species‐specific characteristics) drivers of slope parameter variation. Our results show that the inclusion of Ψ_leaf did not improve model performance and that the models that represent the response of g_s to vapor pressure deficit performed better than corresponding models that respond to relative humidity. Within each g_s model, we found large variation in the slope parameter, and this variation was attributable to the biotic driver, rather than abiotic drivers. We further investigated potential relationships between the slope parameter and the six available plant traits mentioned above, and found that only one trait, LMA, had a significant correlation with the slope parameter (R² = 0.66, n = 15), highlighting a potential path towards improved model parameterization. This study advances understanding of g_s dynamics over seasonal drought, and identifies a practical, trait‐based approach to improve modeling of carbon and water exchange in tropical forests.     

Water relations and hydraulic control of stomatal behaviour in bell pepper plant in partial soil drying

Two experiments, a split-root experiment and a root pressurizing experiment, were performed to test whether hydraulic signalling of soil drying plays a dominant role in controlling stomatal closure in herbaceous bell pepper plants. In the split-root experiment, when both root parts were dried, synchronous decreases in stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf water potential (LWP) and stem sap flow (SF_stem) were observed. The value of g_s was found to be closely related to soil water potential (SWP) in both compartments. Tight relationships were observed between g_s and stem sap flow under all conditions of water stress, indicating a complete stomatal adjustment of transpiration. When the half-root system has been dried to the extent that its water uptake dropped to almost zero, declines in g_s of less than 20% were observed without obvious changes in LWP. The reduced plant hydraulic conductance resulting from decreased sap flow and unchanged LWP may be a hydraulic signal controlling stomatal closure; the results of root pressurizing supported this hypothesis. Both LWP and g_s in water-stressed plants recovered completely within 25 min of the application of root pressurizing, and decreased significantly within 40 min after pressure release, indicating the hydraulic control of stomatal closure. Our results are in contrast to those of other studies on other herbaceous species, which suggested that chemical messengers from the roots bring about stomatal closure when plants are in water stress.     

Control of transpiration from the upper canopy of a tropical forest: the role of stomatal, boundary layer and hydraulic architecture components

Concurrent, independent measurements of stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E) and microenvironmental variables were used to characterize control of crown transpiration in four tree species growing in a moist, lowland tropical forest. Access to the upper forest canopy was provided by a construction crane equipped with a gondola. Estimates of boundary layer conductance (g_b) obtained with two independent methods permitted control of E to be partitioned quantitatively between g_s and g_b using a dimensionless decoupling coefficient (Ω) ranging from zero to 1. A combination of high g_s (c. 300–600 mmol m^?2 s^?1) and low wind speed, and therefore relatively low g_b (c. 100–800 mmol m^?2 s^?1), strongly decoupled E from control by stomata in all four species (Ω= 0.7–0.9). Photosynthetic water-use efficiency was predicted to increase rather than decrease with increasing g_s because g_b was relatively low and internal conductance to CO₂ transfer was relatively high. Responses of g_s to humidity were apparent only when the leaf surface, and not the bulk air, was used as the reference point for determination of external vapour pressure. However, independent measurements of crown conductance (g_c), a total vapour phase conductance that included stomatal and boundary layer components, revealed a clear decline in g_c with increasing leaf-to-bulk air vapour pressure difference (V_a because the external reference points for determination of g_c and V_a were compatible. The relationships between g_c and V_c and between g_s and V_s appeared to be distinct for each species. However, when g_s and g_c were normalized by the branch-specific ratio of leaf area to sapwood area (LA/SA), a morphological index of potential transpirational demand relative to water transport capacity, a common relationship between conductance and evaporative demand for all four species emerged. Taken together, these results implied that, at a given combination of LA/SA and evaporative demand scaled to the appropriate reference point, the vapour phase conductance and therefore transpiration rates on a leaf area basis were identical in all four contrasting species studied.     

Direct and indirect effects of elevated CO2 on transpiration from Quercus myrtifolia in a scrub-oak ecosystem

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (C_a) usually reduces stomatal conductance, but the effects on plant transpiration in the field are not well understood. Using constant‐power sap flow gauges, we measured transpiration from Quercus myrtifolia Willd., the dominant species of the Florida scrub‐oak ecosystem, which had been exposed in situ to elevated C_a (350 µmol mol ^{? 1} above ambient) in open‐top chambers since May 1996. Elevated C_a reduced average transpiration per unit leaf area by 37%, 48% and 49% in March, May and October 2000, respectively. Temporarily reversing the C_a treatments showed that at least part of the reduction in transpiration was an immediate, reversible response to elevated C_a. However, there was also an apparent indirect effect of C_a on transpiration: when transpiration in all plants was measured under common C_a, transpiration in elevated C_a‐grown plants was lower than that in plants grown in normal ambient C_a. Results from measurements of stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf area index (LAI), canopy light interception and correlation between light and g_s indicated that the direct, reversible C_a effect on transpiration was due to changes in g_s caused by C_a, and the indirect effect was caused mainly by greater self‐shading resulting from enhanced LAI, not from stomatal acclimation. By reducing light penetration through the canopy, the enhanced self‐shading at elevated C_a decreased stomatal conductance and transpiration of leaves at the middle and bottom of canopy. This self‐shading mechanism is likely to be important in ecosystems where LAI increases in response to elevated C_a.     

三种经验模型模拟荒漠河岸柽柳叶片气孔导度

植物叶片气孔是控制水分和CO_2出入的通道,是植物水分蒸腾和气体交换的门户。植物叶片气孔导度地准确模拟,对于植物蒸腾作用地有效模拟以及植物与大气间能量和质量平衡的研究至关重要。基于黑河下游阿拉善群落水热平衡综合观测场实际观测数据,采用LI-COR 6400光合作用测定系统,对荒漠河岸柽柳叶片气孔导度进行观测,分析晴朗天气条件下气孔导度日变化特征,同时,结合微气象及植物生理相关数据,运用学术界3种最常用的(半)经验模型对柽柳叶片气孔导度进行模拟,结果表明:(1)柽柳叶片气孔导度日变化大致呈先升高后降低的趋势。上午随着太阳辐射逐渐增强,气温逐渐升高,气孔导度值逐渐升高,蒸腾速率也逐渐增大,在10:00—12:00时间段内达到最大值。绝大部分观测日内12:00前后气孔导度呈现出一定的波动,原因在于温度过高致使叶片气孔关闭。随后,太阳辐射减弱,气温逐渐降低,空气中相对湿度增加,柽柳叶片内外水汽压差减小,气孔导度减小导致蒸腾速率下降。(2)通过3种最常用的(半)经验模型(Jarvis、Ball-Woodrow-Berry(BWB)和Ball-Berry-Leuning(BBL))模拟气孔导度的结果可以看出,Jarvis模型的修正效率系数(0.775、0.891)、修正一致系数(0.887、0.945)和决定系数(0.590、0.645)在3个模型中均是最高或次最高的,说明其模拟精度最高。(3)BWB模型与BBL模型的模拟精度相近,说明水汽压差、大气湿度与气孔导度的密切程度相近,没有明显的区别。     

Will intra‐specific differences in transpiration efficiency in wheat be maintained in a high CO2 world? A FACE study

This study evaluates whether the target breeding trait of superior leaf level transpiration efficiency is still appropriate under increasing carbon dioxide levels of a future climate using a semi‐arid cropping system as a model. Specifically, we investigated whether physiological traits governing leaf level transpiration efficiency, such as net assimilation rates (A_net), stomatal conductance (g_s) or stomatal sensitivity were affected differently between two Triticum aestivum L. cultivars differing in transpiration efficiency (cv. Drysdale, superior; cv. Hartog, low). Plants were grown under Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE, approximately 550 µmol mol^?1 or ambient CO₂ concentrations (approximately 390 µmol mol^?1). Mean A_net (approximately 15% increase) and g_s (approximately 25% decrease) were less affected by elevated [CO₂] than previously found in FACE‐grown wheat (approximately 25% increase and approximately 32% decrease, respectively), potentially reflecting growth in a dry‐land cropping system. In contrast to previous FACE studies, analyses of the Ball et al. model revealed an elevated [CO₂] effect on the slope of the linear regression by 12% indicating a decrease in stomatal sensitivity to the combination of [CO₂], photosynthesis rate and humidity. Differences between cultivars indicated greater transpiration efficiency for Drysdale with growth under elevated [CO₂] potentially increasing the response of this trait. This knowledge adds valuable information for crop germplasm improvement for future climates.     

Genetic variation in stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in the annual plant, Polygonum arenastrum

 Terrestrial plant photosynthesis may be limited both by stomatal behavior and leaf biochemical capacity. While inferences have been made about the importance of stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in a variety of species in a range of environments, genetic variation in these limitations has never been documented in wild plant populations. Genetic variation provides the raw material for adaptive evolution in rates of carbon assimilation. We examined genetic variation in gas exchange physiology and in stomatal and biochemical traits in 16 genetic lines of the annual plant, Polygonum arenastrum. The photosynthesis against leaf internal CO₂ (A−ci) response curve was measured on three greenhouse-grown individuals per line. We measured the photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (g), and calculated the internal CO₂ concentration (ci) at ambient CO₂ levels. In addition, the following stomatal and biochemical characteristics were obtained from the A−ci curve on each individual: the degree of stomatal limitation to photosynthesis (L_s), the maximum ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) activity (Vc_max) and electron transport capacity (J_max). All physiological traits were genetically variable, with broad sense heritabilities ranging from 0.66 for L_s to 0.94 for J_max. Strong positive genetic correlations were found between Vc_max and J_max, and between g and biochemical capacity. Path analyses revealed strong causal influences of stomatal conductance and leaf biochemistry on A and ci. Path analysis also indicated that L_s confounds both stomatal and biochemical effects, and is an appropriate measure of stomatal influences on photosynthesis, only when biochemical variation is accounted for. In total, our results indicate that differences among lines in photosynthesis and ci result from simultaneous changes in biochemical and stomatal characteristics and are consistent with theoretical predictions that there should be co-limitation of photosynthesis by ribulose-1,5-biphosphate (RuBP) utilization and regeneration, and by stomatal conductance and leaf biochemistry. Gas exchange characteristics of genetic lines in the present study were generally consistent with measurements of the same lines in a previous field study. Our new results indicate that the mechanisms underlying variation in gas exchange include variation in both stomatal conductance and biochemical capacity. In addition, A, g, and ci in the present study tended also to be positively correlated with carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), and negatively correlated with time to flowering, life span, and leaf size based on earlier work. The pattern of correlation between physiology and life span among genetic lines of P. arenastrum parallels interspecific patterns of character correlations. We suggest that the range of trait constellations among lines in P. arenastrum represents a continuum between stress avoidance (rapid development, high gas exchange metabolism) and stress tolerance (slow development, low gas exchange metabolism), and that genetic variation in these character combinations may be maintained by environmental variation in stress levels in the species’ ruderal habitat. Received: 28 March 1996 / Accepted: 13 August 1996     

Leaf Gas Exchange and Water Relations of Grapevines Grown in Three Different Conditions

Diurnal and seasonal changes in the leaf water potential (), stomatal conductance (g _s), net CO₂ assimilation rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), internal CO₂ concentration (C _i), and intrinsic water use efficiency (P _N/g _s) were studied in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Touriga Nacional) growing in low, moderate, and severe summer stress at Vila Real (VR), Pinhão (PI), and Almendra (AL) experimental sites, respectively. In VR and PI site the limitation to photosynthesis was caused more by stomatal limitations, while in AL mesophyll limitations were also responsible for the summer decline in P _N.     

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.     

Late-stage canopy tree species with extremely low δ13C and high stomatal sensitivity to seasonal soil drought in the tropical rainforest of French Guiana

We assessed the daily time‐courses of CO₂ assimilation rate (A), leaf transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance for water vapour (g_s), leaf water potential ( Ψ _w) and tree transpiration in a wet and a dry season for three late‐stage canopy rainforest tree species in French Guiana differing in leaf carbon isotope composition ( δ ¹³C). The lower sunlit leaf δ ¹³C values found in Virola surinamensis ( ? 29·9‰) and in Diplotropis purpurea ( ? 30·9‰), two light‐demanding species, as compared to Eperua falcata ( ? 28·6‰), a shade‐semi‐tolerant species, were clearly associated with higher maximum g_s values of sunlit leaves in the two former species. These two species were also characterized by a high sensitivity of g_s, sap flow density (Ju) and canopy conductance (g_c) to seasonal soil drought, allowing maintenance of high midday Ψ _w values in the dry season. The data for Diplotropis provided an original picture of increasing midday Ψ _w with increasing soil drought. In Virola, stomata were extremely sensitive to seasonal soil drought, leading to a dramatic decrease in leaf and tree transpiration in the dry season, whereas midday Ψ _w remained close to ? 0·3 MPa. The mechanisms underlying such an extremely high sensitivity of stomata to soil drought remain unknown. In Eperua, g_s of sunlit leaves was non‐responsive to seasonal drought, whereas Ju and g_c were lower in the dry season. This suggests a higher stomatal sensitivity to seasonal drought in shaded leaves than in sunlit ones in this species.