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1.
Mastoparan analogues stimulate phospholipase C- and phospholipase D-activity in Chlamydomonas: a comparative study 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
van Himbergen J; ter Riet B; Meijer H; van den Ende H; Musgrave A; Munnik T 《Journal of experimental botany》1999,50(341):1735-1742
The G-protein activator mastoparan and its analogues are becoming popular
tools for studying signalling in plants. Therefore the abilities of
mastoparan, mas7, mas8, and mas17 to activate phospholipase C (PLC), PLD
and to induce the deflagellation response in Chlamydomonas
moewusii Gerloff were compared. The aim was to test whether
their relative potencies in a plant system resemble those reported for
bovine brain Go and Gi, as is generally assumed, and to determine at which
concentrations cells become permeabilized, a known effect of higher
concentrations. The concentrations at which 50% deflagellation was induced,
were 2.0 M mastoparan, 3.0 M mas8, 3.6 M mas7, and 5.8 M
mas17. Similar activities were found for the production of phosphatidic
acid, which is the result of the combined activities of PLD and PLC
(together with diacylglycerol kinase). PLD activity alone was measured
in vivo by its ability to phosphatidylate
n-butanol. Surprisingly, the concentrations that
stimulated maximum activity were about 10-fold lower (1
M) than those that stimulated maximum PLC activity (10
M). Mas17 was an exception with both maxima above 10 M.
All the compounds except mas17 permeabilized C.
moewusii cells. The concentrations at which 50% of the cells
were permeabilized to Evan's blue were 7.4 M mas8, 16.0 M
mas7 and 22.4 M mastoparan. In conclusion, only mastoparan itself
and the least active analogue mas17 induced maximum deflagellation, PLC and
PLD activities without permeabilizing the cells.Keywords:
Chlamydomonas, deflagellation, mastoparan,
phospholipases C and D, phospholipid metabolism
相似文献
2.
A reproducible system for somatic embryogenesis and plantlet formation of
sandalwood has been developed. A high frequency (100%) of somatic embryos
were induced directly from various explants in MS (Murashige and Skoog,
1962) medium with thidiazuron (1 or 2 M) or
indirectly in medium containing 2,4-D plus thidiazuron. Within 8 weeks,
white globular somatic embryos or friable embryogenic tissue developed on
cultured explants. In S. album the globular somatic
embryos were transferred to MS medium supplemented with IAA (6 M) and kinetin (1 and M) where they
developed further, multiplied and maintained friable embryogenic tissue.
After 15-30 d, mature somatic embryos (1-2 mm) with well-developed
cotyledons were separated and subcultured on to medium containing GA3 (6
M) for germination. Once germinated, elongated somatic embryos
(10-20 mm long) grew further in MS supplemented with lower GA3 (3
M). In S. spicatum, the addition of casein
hydrolysate and coconut milk was necessary for plantlet development from
somatic embryos. From histological studies, it appeared that primary
somatic embryos arose from single cells or had a multicellular origin from
the epidermis or cortical parenchyma. Secondary somatic embryos and friable
embryogenic tissue differentiated from groups of proembryogenic cells from
a superficial layer of the primary somatic embryos.Keywords:
Santalum album, Santalum spicatum, somatic
embryogenesis, histological studies.
相似文献
3.
A karyopherin (LeKAP1) cDNA was isolated from tomato
plants. The deduced LeKAP1 protein sequence of 527 amino acids
showed similarity to other plant karyopherin proteins. When
LeKAP1 was expressed in a yeast two-hybrid
system together with the gene coding for the capsid protein (CP) of the
tomato yellow curl leaf virus (TYLCV), it interacted directly with CP.
Thus, LeKAP1 may be involved in the nuclear import of TYLCV CP
and, potentially, the TYLCV genomes during viral infection of the host
tomato cells. 相似文献
4.
HENSON I. E.; ALAGARSWAMY G.; MAHALAKSHMI V.; BIDINGER F. R. 《Journal of experimental botany》1983,34(4):442-450
The water potential () at which stomata completed closure (8Lmin)was determined for pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum [L.]Leeke) at two growth stages by monitoring changes in leaf conductance(gL) and following shoot detachment. Leaf water status wasevaluated concurrently using a pressure-volume (P-V) technique. In a pot experiment with young vegetative plants, 8Lmin closelyapproximated to the estimated at zero turgor (u) both for controland for drought-conditioned plants which had osmotically adjusted.However, for penultimate leaves of field-grown flowering plants,8Lmin was found to be 0.61 (irrigated plants) and 0.87 (droughtedplants) MPa below u. In drought-stressed field-grown plants,osmotic adjustment (characterized by a decrease in solute (osmotic)potential (s ) at both full hydration and zero turgor) was insufficientto maintain a positive bulk leaf turgor potential (p) once had declined to below about -1.5 MPa. It is suggested that localizedadjustment by the stomatal complex in response to environmentaldifferences, leaf ageing and/or ontogenetic change, is responsiblefor the uncoupling of stomatal from bulk leaf water status. Key words: Stomata, Water stress, Pennisetum americanum 相似文献
5.
6.
Phytosulphokine-{alpha}, a peptidyl plant growth factor, stimulates somatic embryogenesis in carrot 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Kobayashi T; Eun C; Hanai H; Matsubayashi Y; Sakagami Y; Kamada H 《Journal of experimental botany》1999,50(336):1123-1128
Phytosulphokine- (PSK-) is the first chemically characterized peptide
that acts as a plant growth factor. It stimulates the proliferation of
asparagus and rice cells, but no information is yet available on its
effects on plant morphogenesis. The effects of PSK- on somatic
embryogenesis in carrot (Daucus carota L.) were
examined. PSK-, when added to the induction medium for somatic
embryogenesis, increased the number of somatic embryos. The chemical
analogues [2-5]PSK- and tyrosine sulphate ester (Tyr-SO3 H), which
have been used as negative controls in other systems, had no effect.
Moreover the proliferation of cells during somatic embryogenesis was also
enhanced by PSK- these results indicate that PSK-
enhanced cell division and, as a consequence, stimulated carrot somatic
embryogenesis. PSK- also stimulated the proliferation of
embryogenic cells in medium that contained 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
(2,4-D), in which somatic embryos did not form, as well as the
proliferation of non-embryogenic cells (cells that had lost the ability to
form somatic embryos) in medium without 2,4-D. These results indicate that
PSK- has a stimulatory effect on cell division generally in carrot
cell cultures.Key words: Daucus carota, plant growth
factor, somatic embryogenesis, sulphated peptide.
相似文献
7.
Changes in components of leaf water potential during soil waterdeficits influence many physiological processes. Research resultsfocusing on these changes during desiccation of peanut (Arachishypogeae L.) leaves are apparently not available. The presentstudy was conducted to examine the relationships of leaf waterl, solute s and turgor p potentials, and percent relative watercontent (RWC) of peanut leaves during desiccation of detachedleaves and also during naturally occurring soil moisture deficitsin the field. The relationship of p to l and RWC was evaluated by calculatingp from differences in l and s determined by thermocouple psychrometryand by constructing pressure-volume (P-V) curves from the land RWC measurements. Turgor potentials of Early Bunchand Florunner leaves decreased to zero at l of1.2 to 1.3 MPa and RWC of 87%. There were no cultivardifferences in the l at which p became zero. P-V curves indicatedthat the error of measuring s after freezing due to dilutionof the cellular constituents was small but resulted in artefactualnegative p values. Random measurements on two dates of l, s, and calculation ofp from well-watered and water-stressed field plots consistingof several genotypes indicated that zero p occurred at l of1.6 MPa. It was concluded that the relationships of p,l, s, and RWC of peanut leaves were similar to leaves of othercrops and that these relationships conferred no unique droughtresistance mechanism to peanut. 相似文献
8.
In a companion paper several methods of calculating the marginal unit water
cost of plant carbon gain (E/A) were tested to determine
whether stomata were behaving optimally in relation to regulating leaf gas
exchange. In this paper one method is applied to several tropical tree
species when leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference (D), photosynthetic
photon flux density, leaf temperature, and atmospheric soil water
availability were manipulated. The response of leaves that had expanded
during the dry season were also compared to that of leaves that had
expanded in the wet season. Few differences in absolute value of
E/A, or the form of the relationship, were observed
between species or between seasons. In the majority of species,
E/A increased significantly as either leaf-to-air vapour
pressure difference increased, at a leaf temperature of either 33C or 38C, or as in
photosynthetic photon flux density increased. In contrast, as leaf
temperature increased at constant D, E/A was generally
constant. As pre-dawn water potential declined, E/A
declined. The relationship between E/A and D did not
differ whether internal or ambient carbon dioxide concentration were kept
constant. It is concluded that stomata are only behaving optimally over a
very small range of D. If a larger range of D is used, to incorporate
values that more closely reflect those experienced by tropical trees in a
savanna environment optimization is incomplete.Key
words: Stomatal optimization theory, marginal unit water cost.
相似文献
9.
Short communication. A steep Ca2[IMAGE]-dependence of a K[IMAGE] channel in a unicellular green alga
Bauer C; Plieth C; Hansen U; Simonis W; Schonknecht G 《Journal of experimental botany》1998,49(327):1761-1765
An increase of cytosolic Ca2 in the
unicellular green alga Eremosphaera viridis activities
Ca2-dependent
K channels causing a hyperpolarization of
the plasma membrane. Data from parallel calcium, and potential measurements
were combined with I/V relationships. This yielded a
steep Ca2-dependence of
K channels with a co-operativity of 4 and
an affinity of 300 nM.Key words: Eremosphaera viridis,
plasma membrane, Ca2-dependent
K channel, co-operative binding.
相似文献
10.
An error occurs in the calibration of xylem pressure potential() against leaf-water potential () when the calibration is madeusing plant material in which the water stress has been inducedartificially after excision. The impostion of water stress afterexcision affects the determination more than it affects , consequentlythe relationship between these two indices of water stress isaltered. Care should be exercised to ensure that identical proceduresare adopted during . calibrations and during susbsequent fieldmeasurements of with the pressure-chamber apparatus. 相似文献
11.
The role of solute accumulation, osmotic adjustment and changes in cell wall elasticity in drought tolerance in Ziziphus mauritiana (Lamk.) 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
Clifford S; Arndt S; Corlett J; Joshi S; Sankhla N; Popp M; Jones H 《Journal of experimental botany》1998,49(323):967-977
Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) is a major fruit tree
crop of the north-west Indian arid zone. In a study of the physiological
basis of drought tolerance in this species, two glasshouse experiments were
conducted in which trees were droughted during single stress-cycles. In the
first experiment, during a 13 d drying cycle, pre-dawn leaf water
(leaf) and osmotic () potentials in droughted
trees declined from -0.5 and -1.4 MPa to -1.7 and -2.2 MPa, respectively,
for a decrease in relative water content () of 14%. During
drought stress, changes in sugar metabolism were associated with
significant increases in concentrations of hexose sugars (3.8-fold),
cyclitol (scyllo-inositol; 1.5-fold), and proline (35-fold; expressed per
unit dry weight), suggesting that altered solute partitioning may be an
important factor in drought tolerance of Ziziphus. On
rewatering pre-dawn leaf and recovered fully, but
remained depressed by 0.4 MPa relative to control
values, indicating that solute concentration per unit water content had
changed during the drought cycle.Evidence for osmotic adjustment was
provided from a second study during which a gradual drought was imposed.
Pressure-volume analysis revealed a 0.7 MPa reduction in osmotic potential
at full turgor, with leaf at turgor loss depressed by 1 MPa in
drought-stressed leaves. Coupled with osmotic adjustment, during gradual
drought, was a 65% increase in bulk tissue elastic modulus (wall rigidity)
which resulted in turgor loss at the same in both stressed and
unstressed leaves. The possible ecological significance of maintenance of
turgor potential and cell volume at low water potentials for drought
tolerance in Ziziphus is discussed.Keywords:
Ziziphus mauritiana, drought, solute
accumulation, osmotic adjustment, proline.
相似文献
12.
Photorespiratory glycine enhances glutathione accumulation in both the chloroplastic and cytosolic compartments 总被引:7,自引:0,他引:7
Transformed poplars overexpressing -glutamylcysteine synthetase (-ECS) in the chloroplast (Lggs) were used to
investigate chloroplastic biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH). In Lggs
leaves, GSH contents were enhanced by up to 3.7 fold. In general, the
highest GSH contents were observed in lines with highest
-glutamylcysteine (-EC) contents. These lines had
relatively low glycine. In darkness, foliar GSH decreased and -EC
increased. Illumination of pre-darkened Lggs in air resulted in a 5-fold
decrease in the -EC : GSH ratio. This light-induced decrease was
largely abolished if leaves were illuminated at high CO2. Consequently, the
-EC : GSH ratio of illuminated leaves was much higher at high CO2
than in air. At high CO2 total foliar amino acids were
higher, but glycine and serine were lower, than in air. These results
suggest that photorespiratory glycine is used in chloroplastic GSH
synthesis. Despite this net CO2 fixation was similar in Lggs to
untransformed poplars. Pre-illuminated leaf discs from Lggs, and poplars
overexpression -ECS in the cytosol (ggs), were incubated in
darkness with a range of metabolites. After 15 h, discs for both types of
transformant incubated on water had accumulated high levels of -EC
and showed marked increases in the -EC : GSH ratio. Feeding
glycine, serine, glycollate or phosphoserine, attenuated the dark-induced
changes in the -EC : GSH ratio, whereas 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA),
phosphoenolpyruvate, glycerate, and hydroxypyruvate did not. Glycine
produced from glycollate was therefore required for maximal GSH
accumulation in both the chloroplastic and cytosolic compartment.
Production of glycine from PGA failed to meet the demand of increased GSH
synthetic capacity. 相似文献
13.
In recent years alternative ways have been proposed to transformmeasurements of leaf water potential, , and relative water content,R*, in order to derive values of osmotic pressure at full turgidityin leaves and shoots, o(when 0). Two types of transformationsare usually considered: 1/ versus R* and versus 1/R*, and linearregression is used to fit the data in the region where turgoris thought to be zero. It appears that when o is estimated bylinear extrapolation of 1/Psi; versus R* then apoplastic watermight not influence the accuracy of o but when the versus \/R*transformation is used apoplastic water causes an underestimateof o. We examine the accuracy of the estimate of o obtainedfrom the two transformations when there are random errors in, systematic errors in , and when the osmotic solutions arenon-ideal. The 1/ versus R* transformation generally producesthe best estimate of 0 by linear extrapolation. 相似文献
14.
Somatic embryogenesis of Scots pine: cold treatment and characteristics of explants affecting induction 总被引:4,自引:0,他引:4
Haggman H; Jokela A; Krajnakova J; Kauppi A; Niemi K; Aronen T 《Journal of experimental botany》1999,50(341):1769-1778
This is the first report on Scots pine (Pinus
sylvestris L.) somatic embryo plants regenerated and growing in
a greenhouse. The present work focused on improving somatic embryogenesis
of the species by studying the factors affecting culture induction.
Developmental stage of explants that were immature female gametophytes,
including the zygotic embryos with suspensor tissues, was investigated in
detail. The genetic background of the material, cold treatments (14 d, 1 or
2 months at +5C) of cones including
explants, as well as the plant growth regulator composition of the
initiation medium, were also examined. When initiation of somatic
embryogenesis was successful, the zygotic embryos in the explants were
either proembryos or early embryos. Cold treatment of the cones had no
significant effect on induction, nor were there any differences among the
treatments with different duration, thus improving the practical
applicability of the culture technique. The explants in cold-stored cones
probably retained their initiation capacity due to the conversion of starch
to sugars. This was observed as decreased number and size of starch grains
in the megagametophytes compared with the controls. The seed family and the
medium significantly affected induction success, the medium with auxin (9.1
or 13.6 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and
cytokinin (2.2 M 6-benzylaminopurine) being
better than the medium with cytokinin (5 M 6-benzylaminopurine)
alone. The significance of the genetic background of the explants and the
initiation medium indicate that it might be possible to improve the
initiation rates by using explants from controlled crossings between
competent genotypes, and by developing more specific media for important
seed families. 相似文献
15.
Effects of Priming and Endosperm Integrity on Seed Germination Rates of Tomato Genotypes: II. GERMINATION AT REDUCED WATER POTENTIAL 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
Seed germination rates (GR =inverse of time to germination)are sensitive to genetic, environmental, and physiological factors.We have compared the GR of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)seeds of cultivar T5 to those of rapidly germinating L. esculentumgenotypes PI 341988 and PI 120256 over a range of water potential(). The influence of seed priming treatments and removal ofthe endosperm/testa cap enclosing the radicle tip on germinationat reduced were also assessed. Germination time-courses atdifferent 's were analysed according to a model that identifieda base, or minimum, allowing germination of a specific percentage(g) of the seed population (b(g)), and a hydrotime constant(H) indicating the rate of progress toward germination per MPa.h.The distribution of b(g) determined by probit analysis was characterizedby a mean base (b) and the standard deviation in b among seeds(b). The three derived parameters, b, b) and H, were sufficientto predict the time-courses of germination of intact seeds atany . A normalized time-scale for comparing germination responsesto reduced is introduced. The time to germination at any (tg())can be normalized to be equivalent to that observed in water(tg(0)) according to the equation tg(0)=[l(/b(g))]tg().PI 341988 seeds were more tolerant of reduced and had a morerapid GR than T5 seeds due to both a lower b and a smaller H.The rapid germination of PI 120256, on the other hand, couldbe attributed entirely to a smaller H. Seed priming (6 d in1.2 MPa polyethylene glycol 8000 solution at 20 ?C followedby drying) increased GR at all >b(g), but did not lower theminimum allowing germination; i.e. priming reduced H withoutlowering b. Removing the endosperm/testa cap (cut seeds) markedlyincreased GR and lowered the mean required to inhibit germinationby 0.7 to 0.9 MPa. However, this resulted primarily from downwardadjustment in b during the incubation of cut seeds at low inthe test solutions. The difference in b between intact and cutseeds incubated at high was much less (0.l MPa), indicatingthat at the time of radicle protrusion, the endosperm had weakenedto the point where it constituted only a small mechanical barrier.In the intact seed, endosperm weakening and the downward adjustmentin embryo b ceased at < 0.6 MPa, while the reductionin H associated with priming proceeded down to at least 1.2MPa. Based on these data and on the pressure required to pushthe embryos from the seeds at various times after imbibition,it appears that the primary effect of priming was to shortenthe time required for final endosperm weakening to occur. However,as priming increased GR even in cut seeds, priming effects onthe embryo may control the rate of endosperm weakening. Key words: tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., water potential, germination rate, seed priming, genetic variation 相似文献
16.
Flowering time in pea (Pisum sativum L.) is determined
by genetically controlled responses to photoperiod and temperature. To
investigate these responses, 11 lines homozygous for the flowering genes
Lf, Sn, E, and Hr were grown
under contrasting semi-controlled photothermal environments and the
durations (d) from sowing to first flower (f) were
recorded. The effects of the four genes were quantified using a two-plane
photothermal model which linearly relates the rate of progress from sowing
to flowering (1/f) with the mean pre-flowering values
of temperature (T) and/or photo-period (P), based on
1/fa + bT
(when P is longer than the critical photoperiod, Pc) and
1/fa +
bT + cP
(when P<Pc). The main effect of Lf alleles was
on temperature sensitivity (b) when P>Pc, which
increased in the sequence
Lfd<Lf<
lf<lfa. Gene
Hr, when together with Sn,
increased photoperiod sensitivity (c) and
reduced the intercept (a) when P<Pc.
Allele sn determined a single plane response to
temperature alone (i.e. a day-neutral response). Gene
E, when present with lf Sn,
increased 1/f in both the thermal (P<Pc) and
photothermal (PPc) domains, mainly by
increasing a and b,
respectively. Variations in the coefficients of the thermal and
photothermal responses determined that the critical photoperiod varied with
temperature in all photoperiod-sensitive genotypes. A common base
temperature of 0.2C was determined amongst
Day-Neutral Class genotypes (sn) and thermal time from
sowing to flowering increased in the sequence
lfa<lf<
<:f<Lfd. Intra-Class
variations attributed to the Lf alleles were also
detected in the Late (Sn hr) and Late High Response
(Sn Hr) Classes. The linear photothermal model
provided a sound basis for studying the quantitative effects of flowering
genes in pea. 相似文献
17.
The Meaning of Matric Potential 总被引:6,自引:1,他引:5
The commonly used equation, = P - + , which describes thepartitioning of plant water potential, , into components ofhydrostatic pressure, P, osmotic pressure, , and matric potential,, is misleading. The term , which is supposed to show the influenceof a solid phase on , is zero if a consistent definition ofpressure is used in the standard thermodynamic derivation. However,it can be usefully defined by = + D, where D is the osmoticpressure of the equilibrium dialysate of the system. The practicaland theoretical significance of this definition is discussed. 相似文献
18.
The euryhaline charophyte Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallr.)J. Gr. was adapted to media with decreasing salinities rangingfrom 550 to 0 mosmol kg1. Vegetative plants grown inmedia with osmotic pressures (0) in the range of 550 to 130mosmol kg1 maintained a constant turgor pressure () at309 + 7 mosmol kg1. The ions K+, Na+ and Cl, werethe predominant solutes in the vacuole. Changes in their concentrationsaccount for the variation in internal osmotic pressure (1) with,0. The divalent ions Mg2+, Ca2+ and were also present in significant amounts, but their concentrationsdid not alter with changes in, 0. In cells subjected to hypo-osmotic shock the regulation of was incomplete. The turgor pressure increased from 302 to 383mosmol kg1. The first rapid response to the sudden decreasein 0 was a loss of K+ and Cl. In contrast to the decreasein ionic concentrations an accumulation of sucrose occurredwhich could account for the increase of . The increase in sucroseconcentration started 24 to 48 h after the downshock and reachedits highest value after 3 to 4 weeks. The sucrose concentrationin the vacuole was up to 320 mol m3. During this timethe ionic content continued to decrease but did not counterbalancethe sucrose concentration sufficiently to regain the original. High sucrose levels accompanied by an enhanced were also observedduring the period of fructification (sexual reproduction: formationof antheridia and oogonia) in Lamprothamnium kept under conditionsof constant salinity. It is concluded that high sucrose content and elevated arecharacteristic of sexual reproduction in this charophyte. Lamprothamniumis able to tolerate different during various developmentalstages (e.g. vegetative and reproductive phases). Key words: Lamprothamnium papulosum, sucrose, turgor pressure 相似文献
19.
Legge, N. J. 1985. Water movement from soil to root investigatedthrough simultaneous measurement of soil and stem water potentialin potted trees.J. exp. Bot. 36: 15831589. Osmotic tensiometers implanted in the stems of three mountainash (Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell.) saplings growing in largeplastic bins recorded stem water potential, w, while soil waterpotential, w, was simultaneously recorded by instruments nearthe trees' roots and in the surrounding root-free soil Earlyin a drying cycle, with the soil still wet, the diurnal variationin 1, was often slight, despite diurnal variations in u approaching2.0 M Pa. Late in a drying cycle the diurnal fluctuations in1, and u were very similar although changes in 1, still laggedup to 1.5 h behind changes in u. 1values at this time occasionallyreached 3.0 MPa with no apparent damage to the treesWatering the bins in daytime led to a response in 1, valueswithin about 5 min, whereas u, values did not respond for afurther 20 min. u values then rose rapidly but after only 1h began to decline again, while 1, values remained at or nearsaturation for the rest of the day. Water uptake hypotheseswhich attribute an important role to a soil-root interface resistanceare not supported by these data Key words: Soil water potential, penrhizal gradients 相似文献
20.
Developmental Responses to Drought and Abscisic Acid in Sunflower Roots: I. ROOT GROWTH, APICAL ANATOMY, OSMOTIC ADJUSTMENT 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
ROBERTSON J. MASON; HUBICK KERRY T; YEUNG EDWARD C.; REID DAVID M 《Journal of experimental botany》1990,41(3):325-327
Aeroponically grown sunflower seedlings (Helianthus annuus L.cv. Russian Giant) were droughted or treated with abscisic acid(ABA) for 7 d. Drought stress prompted a three-phase growthresponse in sunflower roots: an initial phase of increased rootelongation was followed by a period of almost complete inhibitionbetween about 6 h and 72 h; this was followed, in turn, by aphase of partial recovery in the rate of root elongation. Droughtdecreased the size of the apical meristem as cells in the proximalregion of the meristem vacuolated and elongated. Root-to-shootbiomass ratios (R:S) increased initially but declined after72 h. Drought stress decreased water potential () and osmoticpotential ( and increased turgor pressure p in the apical 30mm of the roots. These initial changes were transitory, lastingabout 3 h. Thereafter, and began to rise; p fell back to controllevels. In the later stages of treatment, fell as the stressgrew more severe, but fp was maintained by osmotic adjustment.Desiccation for 1 h increased turgor pressures in excised 30mm apical segments. The transitory increase in root elongationwas contemporary with the initial rise in p in the root apices,while the periods of greatest inhibition and partial recoveryin root elongation were contemporary with the periods of declineand partial recovery in the length of the apical meristem respectively.The inhibition of root elongation and the anatomical changesin the root apices were not determined by loss of turgor orlack of photosynthate, but rather appeared to be an active responseby the meristem to a drop in external . Treatment with ABA triggeredmany of the same changes as drought stress: ABA promoted a three-phasegrowth response, increased R:S, triggered the same initial changesin , , and p, increased p in excised 3.0 mm apical segments,and induced the same pattern of anatomical changes in the rootapices as drought stress. It is proposed that ABA mediates drought-inducedchanges in the primary development of sunflower roots. Key words: Abscisic acid, apical meristem, drought, osmotic adjustmen 相似文献