Effects of a 4 °C increase in temperature on partitioning of leaf area and dry mass, root respiration and carbohydrates

1. Plants of Bellis perennis, Dactylis glomerata and Poa annua were grown from seed in controlled-environment cabinets at either 16 or 20 °C; at the higher temperature all three species had increased total dry mass and leaf area when assessed on the basis of chronological time. On the basis of thermal time (summation of degree-days above 0 °C; days °C) temperature decreased the dry mass in P. annua.
2. Partitioning was assessed as a change in the allometric coefficients relating shoot and root dry mass, leaf and plant mass, leaf area and plant mass, and leaf area and leaf mass. Of the 12 relationships examined only three were affected by temperature: there was increased partitioning towards the shoot relative to the root in D. glomerata and increased partitioning towards leaf area rather than leaf mass in D. glomerata and B.perennis .
3. Root respiration was unaffected by temperature of growth in D. glomerata and P.annua but was lower in B. perennis grown at elevated temperature.
4. Root respiration acclimated to temperature in P. annua and B. perennis (i.e. when measured at the same temperature, respiration was higher in plants grown at 16 °C).
5. Root soluble carbohydrate concentration was unaffected by temperature of growth in any of the species. Feeding sucrose to the roots for a short period had no effect on the rate of respiration of B. perennis or D. glomerata but increased root respiration of P. annua .     

Energy metabolism of Plantago lanceolata, as affected by change in root temperature

The long and short term metabolic effects of a shift in root temperature was investigated in Plantago lanceolata L. with special reference to the role of the cyanide resistant alternative pathway in root respiration. After a 10-day period of growth at a 13°C root temperature, a decrease in root as well as shoot growth was observed, compared to control plants grown continuously at 21°C. Apart from an increase in shoot soluble and insoluble sugar level, no changes in metabolism were found, neither in root respiration, shoot photosynthesis, nor in root sugar and plant protein level.
Decreasing the root temperature from 21 to 13°C gave several clear short term changes in metabolism. Within one hour a decrease in cytochrome chain activity of the roots was found together with an increase in activity of the alternative chain. After 24 h a recovery to the initial level of both chains was observed. An increase in root temperature from 13 to 21°C gave an immediate increase in activity of both respiratory chains that was still present 24 h after the switch.
It is concluded that the activity of the alternative respiratory pathway in the root is strongly affected by a sudden temperature change in the root environment. This pathway acts in a way which is described by 'the energy overflow model'. The presence of the alternative electron transport pathway should be taken into account in determinations of the respiratory Q₁₀. Moreover, the length of time between the temperature change and respiration measurements is an important factor.     

Respiration and Alternative Oxidase in Corn Seedling Tissues during Germination at Different Temperatures

Respiration rates of Zea mays L. seedling tissues grown at 30 and 14°C were measured at 25°C at different stages of seedling growth. Accumulation of heat units was used to define the developmental stages to compare respiration between the two temperatures. At both temperatures, respiration rates of most tissues were highest at the youngest stages, then declined with age. Respiration rates of mesocotyl tissue were the most responsive to temperature, being nearly twofold higher when grown at 14 compared to 30°C. Alternative pathway respiration increased concomitantly with respiration and was higher in mesocotyls grown in the cold. When seedlings were started at 30 then transferred to 14°C, the increase in alternative pathway respiration due to cold was not observed unless the seedlings were transferred before 2 days of growth. Seedlings transferred to 14°C after growth at 30°C for 2 days had the same alternative oxidase capacity as seedlings grown at 30°C. Seedlings grown at 14°C for 10 to 12 days, then transferred to 30°C, lost alternative pathway respiratory capacity over a period of 2 to 3 days. Western blots of mitochondrial proteins indicated that this loss of capacity was due to a loss of the alternative oxidase protein. Some in vitro characteristics of mitochondria were determined. The temperature optimum for measurement of alternative oxidase capacity was 15 to 20°C. At 41°C, very little alternative oxidase was measured, i.e., the mitochondrial oxygen uptake was almost completely sensitive to cyanide. This inactivation at 41°C was reversible. After incubation at 41°C, the alternative oxidase capacity measured at 25°C was the similar to when it was measured at that temperature directly. Isolated mitochondria lost alternative oxidase capacity at the same rate when incubated at 41°C as they did when incubated at 25°C. Increasing the supply of electrons to isolated mitochondria increased the degree of engagement of the alternative pathway, whereas lower temperature decreased the degree of engagement. Lower temperatures did not increase the degree of engagement of the pathway in intact tissues. We interpret these observations to indicate that the greater capacity of alternative oxidase in cold-grown seedlings is a consequence of development at these low temperatures which results in elevated respiration rates. Low temperature itself does not cause greater capacity or engagement of the alternative oxidase in mitochondria that have developed under warm temperatures. Our hypothesis would be that the low growth temperatures require the seedlings to have a higher respiration rate for some reason, e.g., to prevent the accumulation of a toxic metabolite, and that the alternative pathway functions in that respiration.     

The Effect of Growth and Measurement Temperature on the Activity of the Alternative Respiratory Pathway

A postulated role of the CN-resistant alternative respiratory pathway in plants is the maintenance of mitochondrial electron transport at low temperatures that would otherwise inhibit the main phosphorylating pathway and prevent the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species. This role is supported by the observation that alternative oxidase protein levels often increase when plants are subjected to growth at low temperatures. We used oxygen isotope fractionation to measure the distribution of electrons between the main and alternative pathways in mung bean (Vigna radiata) and soybean (Glycine max) following growth at low temperature. The amount of alternative oxidase protein in mung bean grown at 19°C increased over 2-fold in both hypocotyls and leaves compared with plants grown at 28°C but was unchanged in soybean cotyledons grown at 14°C compared with plants grown at 28°C. When the short-term response of tissue respiration was measured over the temperature range of 35°C to 9°C, decreases in the activities of both main and alternative pathway respiration were observed regardless of the growth temperature, and the relative partitioning of electrons to the alternative pathway generally decreased as the temperature was lowered. However, cold-grown mung bean plants that up-regulated the level of alternative oxidase protein maintained a greater electron partitioning to the alternative oxidase when measured at temperatures below 19°C supporting a role for the alternative pathway in response to low temperatures in mung bean. This response was not observed in soybean cotyledons, in which high levels of alternative pathway activity were seen at both high and low temperatures.     

Cytochrome and alternative pathway activity in roots of thermal and non-thermal Agrostis species in response to high soil temperature

Partitioning of respiration between the cytochrome pathway (CP) and the alternative pathway (AP) may play an important role in plant adaptation to extreme environments. We examined changes in partitioning between CP and AP, and viability of roots associated with plant exposure to high soil temperature for two Agrostis species: Agrostis scabra Willd., a species adapted to high-temperature soils in geothermal areas in Yellowstone National Park, and Agrostis stolonifera L. (cv. Penncross) a heat-sensitive grass widely used in cool-climate regions. Roots of A. scabra and A. stolonifera were exposed to soil temperature of 37 or 20°C, while shoots were exposed to 20°C for 28 days. Root viability decreased, and total root respiration increased for both species at 37°C. The decline in root viability and the increase in respiration rates were less pronounced for A. scabra than for A. stolonifera . A larger proportion of total root respiration was attributed to the AP in A. scabra compared with that in A. stolonifera when both species were exposed to 37°C. At 7 and 14 days at 37°C, the relative proportion of respiration passing through AP increased by 12 and 10%, respectively, in A. scabra , whereas in A. stolonifera , AP increased by 4 and 1%, respectively. Our results suggest that maintaining a higher proportion of AP at a high soil temperature may contribute to root thermo-tolerance in A. scabra in comparison with A. stolonifera , and alternative respiration may play an important role in plant adaptation to high soil temperature.     

Alternative pathway respiration in vivo of potato tuber callus grown at various temperatures

During incubation of potato tuber discs ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje) on a callus-inducing medium at 28°C, a high capacity of in vivo alternative pathway respiration develops (75% of uninhibited respiration is azide-resistant). When callus induction takes place at 8°C, only 45% of respiration is resistant to azide. In the lag phase of growth the activity of alternative pathway is low. during the exponential growth phase the activity reaches its maximal rate. This in vivo activity is of the same size at both culture temperatures. As a consequence a greater part of alternative pathway capacity is operating in uninhibited respiration during growth at low temperatures.     

Participation of the cyanide-resistant pathway in respiration of winter rape leaves as affected by plant cold acclimation

Leaf slices sampled from winter rape plants ( Brassica napus L., var. oleifera L., cv. GórczaánAski), grown in cold (5°C), showed an increase in the dark respiration rate (measured at 25°C) as compared to slices cut from control plants (grown at 20/15°C). The effect of low temperature was most pronounced after 4 days of plant growth in the cold. Oxygen uptake by control slices was 60% inhibited by 1 m M KCN and was insensitive to 2.5 m M salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). On the contrary, respiration of leaf slices from cold-pretreated plants was more resistant to cyanide (35% inhibition after 4 days of cold treatment) and was 30% inhibited by SHAM. The patterns of cold-induced changes in total respiratory activity and in the estimated activity of alternative pathway were similar. It seems that in leaf slices from plants grown in the cold, the cyanide-resistant, alternative pathway participates in oxygen uptake. Cold treatment of plants also brought about a 4-fold increase in the level of soluble sugars, which reached a maximum on day 4 of exposure to cold. Addition of sucrose to the incubation medium resulted in an immediate increase in oxygen uptake by slices with low endogenous sugar level. The respiration stimulated by sucrose addition was more resistant to cyanide than the basal respiration and it was inhibited by SHAM. It is concluded that the operation of the alternative pathway is responsible for the increased oxygen uptake by the cold-grown winter rape leaves and it may be induced by an increased sugar supply for respiratory processes.     

Effect of growth at low temperature on the alternative pathway respiration in Acanthamoeba castellanii mitochondria

Mitochondria of amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii in addition to the conventional cytochrome pathway possess, like plant mitochondria, a cyanide-resistant alternative quinol oxidase. In mitochondria isolated from amoeba batch culture grown temporarily at low temperature (6 degrees C), higher respiration was accompanied by lower coupling parameters as compared to control culture (grown at 28 degrees C). In the presence of benzohydroxamate, respiratory rates and coupling parameters were similar in both types of mitochondria indicating that growth in cold conditions did not disturb the cytochrome pathway. Increased contribution of alternative oxidase in total mitochondrial respiration in low-temperature-grown amoeba cells was confirmed by calculation of its contribution using ADP/O measurements. Furthermore, in mitochondria from low-temperature- grown cells the content of the alternative oxidase was increased and correlated with the increase in the unstimulated and GMP-stimulated cyanide-resistant respiratory activity. A possible physiological role of higher activity of alternative oxidase as response to growth at a low temperature in unicellular organisms, such as amoeba, is discussed.     

Interactive effects of soil temperature and moisture on Concord grape root respiration

Root respiration has important implications for understanding plant growth as well as terrestrial carbon flux with a changing climate. Although soil temperature and soil moisture often interact, rarely have these interactions on root respiration been studied. This report is on the individual and combined effects of soil moisture and temperature on respiratory responses of single branch roots of 1-year-old Concord grape (Vitis labruscana Bailey) vines grown in a greenhouse. Under moist soil conditions, root respiration increased exponentially to short-term (1 h) increases in temperature between 10 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Negligible increases in root respiration occurred between 33 degrees C and 38 degrees C. By contrast to a slowly decreasing Q10 from short-term temperature increases, when roots were exposed to constant temperatures for 3 d, the respiratory Q10 between 10 degrees C and 30 degrees C diminished steeply with an increase in temperature. Above 30 degrees C, respiration declined with an increase in temperature. Membrane leakage was 89-98% higher and nitrogen concentration was about 18% lower for roots exposed to 35 degrees C for 3 d than for those exposed to 25 degrees C and 15 degrees C. There was a strong interaction of respiration with a combination of elevated temperature and soil drying. At low soil temperatures (10 degrees C), respiration was little influenced by soil drying, while at moderate to high temperatures (20 degrees C and 30 degrees C), respiration exhibited rapid declines with decreases in soil moisture. Roots exposed to drying soil also exhibited increased membrane leakage and reduced N. These findings of acclimation of root respiration are important to modelling respiration under different moisture and temperature regimes.     

Suboptimal temperature favors reserve formation in biennial carrot (Daucus carota) plants

In response to suboptimal temperatures, temperate annual plants often increase root:shoot ratios, build-up carbohydrates and display typical morphological and anatomical changes. We know less about the responses of biennials such as carrot. As a model plant, carrot has the additional feature of two functionally and morphologically distinct root parts: the taproot, which stores carbohydrate and other compounds, and the fibrous root system involved in acquisition of water and nutrients. Here, we analyze the effects of temperature (12 vs 25°C) on growth, carbohydrate accumulation and whole-plant morphology in two carrot cultivars. Our working hypothesis is that suboptimal temperature favors active formation of reserve structures, rather than passive accumulation of storage carbohydrates. In comparison with plants grown at 25°C, plants grown at 12°C had: (1) higher fibrous root:shoot ratio (13%) , (2) thicker (10–15%) and smaller (up to two- to three-fold) leaves, (3) lower leaf cuticular permeance (two- to four-fold), (4) higher taproot:shoot ratio (two-fold), (5) higher phloem:xylem ratios in taproot (two- to six-fold), (6) unchanged percentage dry matter content (%DMC) in leaves, petioles or fibrous roots and (7) higher %DMC in taproot (20%). However, %DMC of individual taproot tissues (phloem and xylem) was unaffected by temperatures and was consistently higher in the phloem (up to 30%). Therefore, the higher %DMC of whole taproots at 12°C was attributed solely to the increased development of phloem tissue. Carrot, therefore, shares many of the most conspicuous elements of temperate plant responses to low temperatures. Consistently with our hypothesis, however, carrots grown at suboptimal temperature promoted reserve structures, rather than the increase in carbohydrate concentration typical of most temperate annual species and woody perennials.     

Respiratory Q10 of marigold (Tagetes patula) in response to long-term temperature differences and its relationship to growth and maintenance respiration

Acclimation of respiration to temperature is not well understood. To determine whether whole plant respiration responses to long-term temperature treatments can be described using the Q₁₀ concept, the CO₂ exchange rate of marigolds ( Tagetes patula L. 'Queen Sophia'), grown at 20°C or 30°C, was measured for 62 days. When plants of the same age were compared, plants grown at 20°C consistently had a higher specific respiration (R_spc) than plants grown at 30°C (long-term Q₁₀= 0.71–0.97). This was due to a combination of greater dry mass at 30°C and a decrease in R_spc with increasing mass. When plants of the same dry mass were compared, the long-term Q₁₀ was 1.35–1.55; i.e. R_spc was higher at 30°C than at 20°C. Whole plant respiration could be accurately described by dividing respiration into growth and maintenance components. The maintenance respiration coefficient was higher at 30°C than at 20°C, while the growth respiration coefficient was lower at 30°C, partly because of temperature-dependent changes in plant composition. These results suggest difficulties with interpreting temperature effects on whole plant respiration, because conclusions depend greatly on whether plants of the same age or mass are compared. These difficulties can be minimized by describing whole plant respiration on the basis of growth and maintenance components.     

Maintenance of growth rate at low temperature in rice and wheat cultivars with a high degree of respiratory homeostasis is associated with a high efficiency of respiratory ATP production

Some plants have the ability to maintain similar respiratory rates (measured at the growth temperature) when grown at different temperatures. This phenomenon is referred to as respiratory homeostasis. Using wheat and rice cultivars with different degrees of respiratory homeostasis (H), we previously demonstrated that high-H cultivars maintained shoot and root growth at low temperature [Kurimoto et al. (2004) Plant Cell Environ., 27: 853]. Here, we assess the relationship between respiratory homeostasis and the efficiency of respiratory ATP production, by measuring the levels of alternative oxidase (AOX) and uncoupling protein (UCP), which have the potential to decrease respiratory ATP production per unit of oxygen consumed. We also measured SHAM- and CN-resistant respiration of intact roots, and the capacity of the cytochrome pathway (CP) and AOX in isolated mitochondria. Irrespective of H, SHAM-resistant respiration of intact roots and CP capacity of isolated root mitochondria were larger when plants were grown at low temperature, and the maximal activity and relative amounts of cytochrome c oxidase showed a similar trend. In contrast, CN-resistant respiration of intact roots and relative amounts of AOX protein in mitochondria isolated from those roots, were lower in high-H plants grown at low temperature. In the roots of low-H cultivars, relative amounts of AOX protein were higher at low growth temperature. Relative amounts of UCP protein showed similar trends to AOX. We conclude that maintenance of growth rate in high-H plants grown at low temperature is associated with both respiratory homeostasis and a high efficiency of respiratory ATP production.     

Maintenance and growth respiration in shoots and roots of sunflower plants grown at different root temperatures

Continuous measurements of CO₂-evolution and dry matter accumulation were carried out on shoots and roots separately of intact Helianthus annuus L. cv. Autumn Beauty plants grown in nutrient solution at different root temperatures. The data were used to distinguish between growth and maintenance components of respiration. The maintenance and growth coefficients were higher in the root system than in the shoots. The overall efficiency of assimilate utilization was within the range reported in the literature. An increase in root temperature increased the maintenance part of root respiration and, to a lesser degree, also shoot maintenance respiration. Neither root nor shoot growth respiration coefficients were affected by root temperature. It is concluded that the study of whole-plant respiration masks differences in energy utilization between shoots and roots.     

Root respiration in citrus acclimates to temperature and slows during drought

Citrus seedlings were grown in soil columns in which the root system was hydraulically separated into two equal layers; this enabled us to maintain roots in the upper layer without water for 110 d. The columns were placed into waterbaths modified so that soil temperatures in the top layer could be maintained at 25°C or at 35°C, while temperature in the bottom layer was maintained at 25°C. We hypothesized that, if citrus plants were grown in dry soil for an extended period, root mortality would increase if the cost of maintaining the roots was increased by elevating the soil temperature. However, during the drought period we did not observe any root mortality, even at the higher soil temperature. Moreover, we did not find that root respiration was increased by prolonged exposure to drought and higher soil temperature. We did find that root respiration rates slowed in dry soil. Furthermore, when the soil columns were switched from one temperature treatment to another, root respiration rates in wet soil rapidly increased when moved to a higher temperature or rapidly decreased when moved to a lower temperature. But after only 4 d, respiration rates returned to their original level; root respiration in dry soil was not affected by either short-or long-term shifts in soil temperature. Root respiration in citrus appears to acclimate rapidly to changes in soil temperature.     

The effect of photoperiod and temperature on growth and frost resistance of winter rye root systems

Root growth, development and frost resistance were examined in winter rye ( Secale cereale L. cv. Puma) plants grown under 6 combinations of temperature and photoperiod (20/16°C or 5/3°C, day/night; 8, 16- or 24-h days). Overall root system growth is influenced by the interaction of temperature and photoperiod. Maximum shoot growth occurs at a 24-h photoperiod in 20°C plants and at a 16-h photoperiod in 5°C plants, and is correlated in both treatments with a high root:shoot ratio. Frost resistance of rye roots is affected by short photoperiods in 2 ways. First, short photoperiod and low temperature delay production of new adventitious roots so that newly developing roots are not exposed to freezing temperatures. Second, short photoperiod alone can induce several degrees of frost tolerance in existing roots during the lag phase of growth. Low temperature alone does not decrease the rate of dry weight accumulation in rye root systems, but cold temperature does retard developmental processes within the roots. Rye roots grown at 5°C develop first order lateral roots, differentiate metaxylem vessels and suberize endodermal cell walls more slowly than roots grown at 20°C.     

Growth and accumulation of N, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in barley exposed to various nutrient regimes and root/shoot temperatures

Six cultivars of spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cvs Salve, Nümberg II, Bomi, Risø 1508, Mona and Sv 73 608) were grown in water culture for three weeks with various combinations of mineral supply and differential roots/shoot temperatures during the growth period. Most important for growth and accumulation of N, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ was the mineral supply, followed by the root temperature and the choice of cultivar. Treatments with low mineral supply or low root temperature induced a uniform reduction in growth and accumulation of the ions studied. The effects of low mineral supply and low root temperature on growth and N accumulation was additive, which indicates that these factors exert their influence independently of each other.
Roots grown at 10°C were smaller and Rb⁺(⁸⁶Rb) influx was higher than in roots grown at 20°C. It is suggested that the control of Rb⁺(⁸⁶Rb) influx is affected by the root temperature and the age of the plants. The higher ⁸⁶Rb⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) influx into the low temperature roots could not compensate for the smaller root size. However, the lower total mineral accumulation made up for the needs of the smaller plants and cannot explain the reduction in growth.     

Comparison of temperature effects on soil respiration and bacterial and fungal growth rates

Temperature is an important factor regulating microbial activity and shaping the soil microbial community. Little is known, however, on how temperature affects the most important groups of the soil microorganisms, the bacteria and the fungi, in situ. We have therefore measured the instantaneous total activity (respiration rate), bacterial activity (growth rate as thymidine incorporation rate) and fungal activity (growth rate as acetate-in-ergosterol incorporation rate) in soil at different temperatures (0-45 degrees C). Two soils were compared: one was an agricultural soil low in organic matter and with high pH, and the other was a forest humus soil with high organic matter content and low pH. Fungal and bacterial growth rates had optimum temperatures around 25-30 degrees C, while at higher temperatures lower values were found. This decrease was more drastic for fungi than for bacteria, resulting in an increase in the ratio of bacterial to fungal growth rate at higher temperatures. A tendency towards the opposite effect was observed at low temperatures, indicating that fungi were more adapted to low-temperature conditions than bacteria. The temperature dependence of all three activities was well modelled by the square root (Ratkowsky) model below the optimum temperature for fungal and bacterial growth. The respiration rate increased over almost the whole temperature range, showing the highest value at around 45 degrees C. Thus, at temperatures above 30 degrees C there was an uncoupling between the instantaneous respiration rate and bacterial and fungal activity. At these high temperatures, the respiration rate closely followed the Arrhenius temperature relationship.     

The effect of temperature and ageing on root apical meristems during seedling growth of Triticum aestivum L.: a specific effect on nucleoli

Abstract. Growth and cytology of root apical meristems of Chinese Spring wheat were studied in relation to temperature. The maximum rate of growth increased with temperature, a marked rise occurring between 10°C and 12°C. At all temperatures studied nucleolar volume increased to a maximum and then declined. The maximum nucleolar size achieved showed particular temperature sensitivity, higher volumes being attained at lower temperatures. The peak at 5°C was 70% higher than at 20°C. However, in comparison, cell and nuclear volumes were only 38% and 47% larger, respectively. Ultrastructural analysis of the nucleoli revealed a temperature-dependent relationship between the proportion of granular component and dense fibrillar component. The results are discussed in relation to the regulation of ribosome synthesis and function during growth and development at different temperatures.     

Balancing photosynthetic light-harvesting and light-utilization capacities in potato leaf tissue during acclimation to different growth temperatures

We investigated the effect of temperature during growth and development on the relationship between light-harvesting capacity, indicated by chlorophyll concentration, and light-utilization potential, indicated by light- and bicarbonate-saturated photosynthetic oxygen evolution, in Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Norland. Conal plantles were transplanted and grown at 20°C for 2 weeks before transfer to 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28°C for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks of the temperature treatments, leaf tissue fresh weights per area were one-third higher in plants grown at 12°C vs those grown at 28°C. Conversely, chlorophyll content per area in tissue grown at 12°C was less than one-half of that of tissue grown at 28°C at 4 weeks. Photosynthetic capacity measured at a common temperature of 20°C and expressed on a chlorophyll basis was inversely proportional to growth temperature. Leaf tissue from plants grown at 12°C for 4 weeks had photosynthetic rates that were 3-fold higher on a chlorophyll basis than comparable tissue from plants grown at 28°C. These results suggest that the relationship between light-harvesting capacity and light-utilization potential varies 3-fold in response to the growth temperatures examined. The role of this response in avoidance of photoinhibition is discussed.     

Mode of high temperature injury to wheat. II. Comparisons of wheat and rice with and without inflorescences

High temperature injury to wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) during grain development is manifested as acceleration of senescence. Experiments were conducted to elucidate the mode of senescence and site of high temperature responses. Wheat (cv. Chris) and rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Newbonnet), which have C₃ photosynthesis but different temperature responses, were grown with and without inflorescences under three temperature regimes after anthesis. Plant growth and constituents associated with senescence were measured weekly until physiological maturity. Increasing temperatures from 25°C/15°C to 35°C/25°C day/night after anthesis decreased growth, leaf viability, chlorophyll and protein concentrations, and RuBP carboxylase activity and increased protease and RNase activities in wheat. Inflorescence removal increased vegetative weights and slowed most senescence processes more in wheat than in rice, but did not alter the course of high temperature responses. Results are interpreted as indicating that diversion of nutrients from roots by inflorescence sinks at normal temperatures and by increased respiration at high temperatures caused similar responses. Source and sink activities appeared to be regulated jointly, probably by cytokinins from roots, during senescence at normal and elevated temperatures.