Comparison of the Respiratory Metabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.

Bryce, J. H. and ap Rees, T. 1985. Comparison of the respiratorymetabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.—J.exp. Bot. 36 1559–1565. The aim of this work was to discover if the respiratory metabolismof the roots of Plantago lanceolata L. differed from that ofthe roots of Plantago major L. Measurements of oxygen uptakeand dry weight of excised root systems during growth of seedlingsprovided evidence that the two species differed in the amountof respiration needed to support a given increase in dry weight.Excised root systems were given a 6-h pulse in [U-¹⁴C]sucrosefollowed by a 16.5-h chase in sucrose. The detailed distributionof ¹⁴C amongst the major components of the roots at the endof the pulse and the chase revealed no significant differencebetween the two species. Patterns of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C],[2-¹⁴C], [3,4-¹⁴C], and [6-¹⁴C]glucose of excised root systemsfrom plants of three ages were similar for the two species.It is suggested that there is no conclusive evidence for anysignificant inherent difference in the respiratory metabolismof the roots of the two species. Key words: ¹⁴C sugar metabolism, respiration, roots, Plantago     

Diurnal regulation of NO3-uptake in soybean plants II. Relationship with accumulation of NO and asparagine in the roots

Experiments were performed with soybean plants to test the hypothesisthat the inhibition of NO₃^– uptake in darkness is dueto feedback control by NO₃^– and/or Asn accumulating inthe roots. Xylem export of N compounds was shown to depend onwater flux in both excised root systems and ¹⁵N-labelled intactplants, suggesting that the shortage of transpiration in darknessmay be responsible for the retention of NO₃^– and Asn inthe roots. This was verified in experiments where the light/darkpattern of transpiration was modulated in intact plants by changingthe relative humidity of the atmosphere. Any decrease of transpirationat night was associated with a concurrent stimulation of NO₃^–and Asn accumulations in the roots. However, the light/darkrhythmicity of NO₃^– uptake was only marginally affectedby these treatments, and thusappeared quite independent fromtranspiration and root NO₃^– or Asn levels. Typically,the maintainance of a constant transpiration during the day/nightcycle did not suppress the inhibition of NO₃^– uptake indarkness, whereas it almost prevented the dark increase in rootNO₃^– and Asn contents. These data strongly support theconclusion that the effect of light on NO₃^– uptake isnot mediated by changes in translocation and accumulation ofN compounds. Key words: Glycine max, light/dark, cycles, nitrate uptake, transpiration, transport of N compounds, accumulation of N compounds     

Comparisons of the Respiratory Effluxes of Nodules and Roots in Six Temperate Legumes

The specific respiration rates of nodulated root systems, ofnodules and of roots were determined during active nitrogenfixation in soya bean, navy bean, pea, lucerne, red clover andwhite clover, by measurements on whole plants before and afterthe removal of nodule populations. Similar measurements weremade on comparable populations of the six legumes, lacking nodulesbut receiving abundant nitrate-nitrogen, to determine the specificrespiration of their roots. All plants were grown in a controlled-environmentclimate which fostered rapid growth. The specific respiration rates of nodulated root systems ofthe three grain and three forage legumes during a 7–14-dayperiod of vegetative growth varied between 10 and 17 mg CO₂g^–1 (dry weight) h^–1. This mean value consistedof two components: a specific root respiration rate of 6–9mg CO₂ g^–1 h^–1 and a specific nodule respirationrate of 22–46 mg CO₂ g^–1 h^–1. Nodule respirationaccounted for 42–70 per cent of nodulated root respiration;nodule weight accounted for 12–40 per cent of nodulatedroot weight. The specific respiration rates of roots lackingnodules and utilizing nitrate nitrogen were generally 20–30per cent greater than the equivalent rates of roots from nodulatedplants. The measured respiratory effluxes are discussed in thecontext of nitrogen nitrogen fixation, nitrate assimilation. Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, soya bean, navy bean, pea, lucerne, red clover, white clover, nodule respiration, root respiration, fixation, nitrate assimilation     

Proliferation of Maize (Zea mays L.) Roots in Response to Localized Supply of Nitrate

Maize (Zea mays L.) plants with two primary nodal root axeswere grown for 8 d in flowing nutrient culture with each axisindependently supplied with . Dry matter accumulation by roots was similar whether 1.0 mol m^–3 was supplied to on( or both axes. When was supplied to only one axis, however, accumulationof dry matter within the root system was significantly greaterin the axis supplied with . The increased dry matter accumulation by the +N-treated axis was attributableentirely to increased density and growth of lateral branchesand not to a difference in growth of the primary axis. Proliferation of lateral branches for the + N axis was associatedwith the capacity for in situ reduction and utilization of aportion of the absorbed , especially in the apical region where lateral primordia are initiated. Althoughreduced nitrogen was translocated to the –N axis, concentrationsin the –N axis remained significantly lower than in the+N axis. The concentratio of reduced nitrogen, as well as invitro reductase activity, was greater in apical than in more basal regions of the +N axis. The enhancedproliferation of lateral branches in the + N axis was accompaniedby an increase in total respiration rate of the axis. Part ofthe increased respiration was attributable to increased massof roots. The specific respiration rate (umol CO₂ exolved perhour per gram root dry weight) was also greater for the +N thanfor the –N axis. If respiration rate is taken as representativeof sink demand, stimulation of initiation and growth of lateralsby in situ utilization of a localized exogenous supply of establishes an increased sink demand through enhancedmetabolic activity and the increased partitioning of assimilatesto the + N axis responds to the difference in sink demand between+N and –N axes. Key words: NO₃^- reduction, NO₃^- uptake nitrogen partitioning, root respiration, sink demand     

Root Distribution, Growth, Respiration, and Hydraulic Conductivity for Two Highly Productive Agaves

Cultivated Agave mapisaga and A. salmiana can have an extremelyhigh above-ground dry-weight productivity of 40 Mg ha^–1yr^–1. To help understand the below-ground capabilitiesthat support the high above-ground productivity of these Crassulaceanacid metabolism plants, roots were studied in the laboratoryand in plantations near Mexico City. For approximately 15-year-oldplants, the lateral spread of roots from the plant base averaged1.3 m and the maximal root depth was 0.8 m, both considerablygreater than for desert succulents of the same age. Root andshoot growth occurred all year, although the increase in shootgrowth at the beginning of the wet season preceded the increasein growth of main roots. New lateral roots branching from themain roots were more common at the beginning of the wet season,which favoured water uptake with a minimal biomass investment,whereas growth of new main roots occurred later in the growingseason. The root: shoot dry weight ratio was extremely low,less than 0.07 for 6-year-old plants of both species, and decreasedwith plant age. The elongation rates of main roots and lateralroots were 10 to 17 mm d^–1, higher than for various desertsucculents but similar to elongation rates for roots of highlyproductive C₃ and C₄ agronomic species. The respiration rateof attached main roots was 32 µmol CO₂ evolved kg^–1dry weight s^–1 at 4 weeks of age, that of lateral rootswas about 70% higher, and both rates decreased with root age.Such respiration rates are 4- to 5-fold higher than for Agavedeserti, but similar to rates for C₃ and C₄ agronomic species.The root hydraulic conductivity had a maximal value of 3 x 10^–7ms^–1 MPa^–1 at 4 weeks of age, similar to A. deserti.The radial hydraulic conductivity from the root surface to thexylem decreased and the axial conductivity along the xylem increasedwith root age, again similar to A. deserti. Thus, although rootsof A. mapisaga and A. salmiana had hydraulic properties perunit length similar to those of a desert agave, their highergrowth rates, their higher respiration rates, and the greatersoil volume explored by their roots than for various desertsucculents apparently helped support their high above-groundbiomass productivity Key words: Crassulacean acid metabolism, productivity, root elongation rate, root system, water uptake     

Effects of NO2 and O3 Alone or in Combination on Kidney Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Growth, Partitioning of Assimilates and Root Activities

Ten-day old kidney bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Shin-edogawa)were exposed to 2.0 and 4–0 parts 10^–6 NO2, and0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 parts 10^–6 O3 alone or in combinationfor 2, 4, and 7 d. The effects of these air pollutants wereexamined with respect to the growth, partitioning of assimilates,nitrogen uptake, soluble sugar content, and root respiration. Decreased dry matter production was significant with all treatmentsexcept 2.0 parts 10^–6 NO₂ and 0.1 parts 10^–6 O₃.Exposure to mixtures of the gases produced more severe suppressionof growth than exposure to the single gases. Root/shoot ratiowas significantly lowered at 7 d by the gas treatments otherthan 2.0 parts 10^–6 NO₂ and 0.1 parts 10^–6 O₃. Thetotal nitrogen content of plants was increased by all treatments;the higher percent of nitrogen found with O₃ exposure will resultfrom the growth retardation which increases the concentrationof nitrogen in the plants because the absorption of nitrogenby roots was unaffected. The combination of O₃ with NO₂ significantlydecreased the assimilation of NO₂ by the plants. The concentration of soluble sugars in roots was decreased bythe gas treatments. There was a strong positive correlationbetween soluble sugar content and dry weight of the roots harvestedat 7 d. Root respiration was relatively unchanged until 5 dand then decreased significantly at 7 d by 2.0 parts 10^–6NO₂ and 0–2 parts 10^–6 O₃. Retarded growth of theroots and the decreased root respiration may be due to diminishedtranslocation of sugars from leaves to roots caused by exposureto air pollutants. The uptake of soil nitrogen was not closelyrelated with root respiration in the case of O₃ exposure. Key words: NO₂, O₃, Phaseolus vulgaris, Growth, Sugars, Root respiration     

Effect of Root and Shoot Meristem Temperature on Shoot to Root Dry Matter Partitioning and the Internal Concentrations of Nitrogen and Carbohydrates in Maize and Wheat

Maize (Zea mays L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)were grown in nutrient solution at uniformly high air temperature(20 °C), but different root zone temperatures (RZT 20, 16,12 °C). To manipulate the ratio of shoot activity to rootactivity, the plants were grown with their shoot base includingthe apical meristem either above (i.e. at 20 °C) or withinthe nutrient solution (i.e. at 20, 16 or 12 °C). In wheat, the ratio of shoot:root dry matter partitioning decreasedat low RZT, whereas the opposite was true for maize. In bothspecies, dry matter partitioning to the shoot was one-sidedlyincreased when the shoot base temperature, and thus shoot activity,were increased at low RZT. The concentrations of non-structuralcarbohydrates (NSC) in the shoots and roots were higher at lowin comparison to high RZT in both species, irrespective of theshoot base temperature. The concentrations of nitrogen (N) inthe shoot and root fresh matter also increased at low RZT withthe exception of maize grown at 12 °C RZT and 20 °Cshoot base temperature. The ratio of NSC:N was increased inboth species at low RZT. However this ratio was negatively correlatedwith the ratio of shoot:root dry matter partitioning in wheat,but positively correlated in maize. It is suggested that dry matter partitioning between shoot androots at low RZT is not causally related to the internal nitrogenor carbohydrate status of the plants. Furthermore, balancedactivity between shoot and roots is maintained by adaptationsin specific shoot and root activity, rather than by an alteredratio of biomass allocation between shoot and roots.Copyright1994, 1999 Academic Press Wheat, Triticum aestivum, maize, Zea mays, root temperature, shoot meristem temperature, biomass allocation, shoot:root ratio, carbohydrate status, nitrogen status, functional equilibrium     

The Influence of NO-3 and NH+4 Nutrition on the Gas Exchange Characteristics of the Roots of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) Plants

Respiratory oxygen consumption by roots was 1·4- and1·6-fold larger in NH⁺₄-fed than in NO^-₃-fed wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants respectively. Higherroot oxygen consumption in NH⁺₄-fed plants than in NO^-₃-fedplants was associated with higher total nitrogen contents inNH⁺4-fed plants. Root oxygen consumption was, however, not correlatedwith growth rates or shoot:root ratios. Carbon dioxide releasewas 1·4- and 1·2-fold larger in NO⁺3-fed thanin NH⁺₄-fed wheat and maize plants respectively. Differencesin oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates resulted inthe gas exchange quotients of NH^-₄-fed plants (wheat, 0·5;maize, 0·6) being greatly reduced compared with thoseof NO^-₃-fed plants (wheat, 1·0; maize, 1·1). Measuredrates of HCO^-₃ assimilation by PEPc in roots were considerablylarger in 4 mM NH⁺₄-fed than in 4 NO^-₃ plants (wheat, 2·6-fold;maize, 8·3-fold). These differences were, however, insufficientto account for the observed differences in root carbon dioxideflux and it is probable that HCO^-₃ uptake is also importantin determining carbon dioxide fluxes. Thus reduced root extension in NH⁺₄-fed compared with NO^-₃-fedwheat plants could not be ascribed to differences in carbondioxide losses from roots.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Triticum aestivum, wheat, Zea mays, maize assimilation, ammonium assimilation, root respiration     

NaCl Uptake in Roots of Zea mays Seedlings: Comparison of Root Pressure Probe and EDX Data

The extent by which salinity affects plant growth depends partlyon the ability of the plant to exclude NaCl. To study the uptakeof NaCl into excised roots of Zea mays L. cv. ‘Tanker’,two different techniques were applied. A root pressure probewas used to record steady state as well as transient valuesof root (xylem) pressure upon exposure of the root to mediacontaining NaCl and KCl as osmotic solutes. In treatments withNaCl, pressure/time responses of the root indicated a significantuptake of NaCl into the xylem. NaCl induced kinetics were completelyreversible when the NaCl solution was replaced by an isosmoticKCl solution. This indicated a passive movement of Na⁺-saltsacross the root cylinder. Root samples were taken at differenttimes of exposure to NaCl and prepared for X-ray microanalysis(EDX analysis). Radial profiles of ion concentrations (Na⁺,K⁺, Cl^–) were measured in cell vacuoles and xylem vesselsalong the root axis. Na⁺ appeared rapidly in mature xylem (earlymetaxylem) and living xylem (late metaxylem) before it was detectablein vacuoles of the root cortex. EDX results confirmed that thekinetics observed by the pressure probe technique correspondedmainly to an influx of Na⁺-salts into early metaxylem. In latemetaxylem, the uptake of Na⁺ was associated with a decline ofK⁺. The Na⁺/K⁺ exchange indicated a mechanism to reduce sodiumfrom the transpiration stream. Ion localization, ion transport, maize, root pressure, salinity, water relations, X-ray microanalysis, Zea mays     

Inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum Affects Growth and Gibberellin Status of Corn Seedling Roots

Maize (Zea mays L., hybrid Cargill 147) seedlings, grown inaseptic conditions, were inoculated with three strains of Azospirillumlipoferum (Al op 33, Al iaa 320, and ATCC 29708) or culturedin different concentrations of indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) orgibberellin A₃ (GA₃). After 48 h, root length, root surfacearea, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight were measured inall treatments. Gibberellin content was evaluated in selectedroots of control and Azospirillum inoculated seedlings by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring withthe use of deuterated gibberellins as internal standards. Thethree strains of A. lipoferum, IAA (2 ng ml^–1), and GA₃(40 to 400 pg ml^–1) significantly enhanced root growth.Improvement of root hair growth and density was obtained mainlywith A. lipoferum strain Al op 33 and GA₃ 40 pg ml^–1.GA₃ was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (byboth, full scan and selected ion monitoring) in a free acidfraction from roots of the seedlings inoculated with A. lipoferum.In the roots of the non inoculated seedlings GA₃ was found afterhydrolysis of a fraction expected to contain glucosyl conjugates. (Received April 26, 1993; Accepted September 27, 1993)     

Defective Secretion of Mucilage is the Cellular Basis for Agravitropism in Primary Roots of Zea mays cv. Ageotropic

Root caps of primary, secondary, and seminal roots of Z. mayscv. Kys secrete large amounts of mucilage and are in close contactwith the root all along the root apex. These roots are stronglygraviresponsive. Secondary and seminal roots of Z. mays cv.Ageotropic are also strongly graviresponsive. Similarly, theircaps secrete mucilage and closely appress the root all alongthe root apex. However, primary roots of Z. mays cv. Ageotropicare non-responsive to gravity. Their caps secrete negligibleamounts of mucilage and contact the root only at the extremeapex of the root along the calyptrogen. These roots become graviresponsivewhen their tips are coated with mucilage or mucilage-like materials.Peripheral cells of root caps of roots of Z. mays cv. Kys containmany dictyosomes associated with vesicles that migrate to andfuse with the plasmalemma. Root-cap cells of secondary and seminal(i.e. graviresponsive) roots of Z. mays cv. Ageotropic are similarto those of primary roots of Z. mays cv. Kys. However, root-capcells of primary (i.e. non-graviresponsive) roots of Z. mayscv. Ageotropic have distended dictyosomal cisternae filled withan electron-dense, granular material. Large vesicles full ofthis material populate the cells and apparently do not fusewith the plasmalemma. Taken together, these results suggestthat non-graviresponsiveness of primary roots of Z. mays cv.Ageotropic results from the lack of apoplastic continuity betweenthe root and the periphery of the root cap. This is a resultof negligible secretion of mucilage by cells along the edgeof the root cap which, in turn, appears to be due to the malfunctioningof dictyosomes in these cells. Corn, dictyosomes, mucilage, root gravitropism, Zea mays cv. Ageotropic, Zea mays cv. Kys     

Ammonium and nitrate nutrition inPlantago lanceolata andPlantago major L. ssp.major

P. lanceolata andP. major were grown in culture solutions with nitrate or ammonium as the nitrogen source. Dry matter accumulation in the shoot was faster with nitrate than with ammonium, whilst that of the roots was not affected by the nitrogen source. As a consequence, the shoot-to-root ratio was lower with ammonium than with nitrate. InP. lanceolata, dry matter percentage of shoot and root tissue was lower with nitrate nutrition, suggesting better elongation growth than with ammonium. However, in shoot tissue ofP. major the opposite was found. The rate of root respiration declined with time, and this was almost completely due to a declining activity of the alternative path, which amounted to about 30–60% of total root respiration. Respiration via the cytochrome path was for a part of time slightly increased by ammonium, whereas the activity of the alternative path was strongly enhanced. The concentration of ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (SC) in the roots of both species was higher when nitrate was used, but no difference in the concentration of starch was found. When the plants were transferred from one nitrogen source to the other, many parameters, including the concentration of nitrate and chloride, and the shoot to root ratio, adjusted to the new situation in both species. Grassland Species Research Group, Publication no. 116.     

The Inhibition of Growth by Gravitropic Stimulation in Darkness in Agravitropic Primary Roots of Zea and the Role of Calcium

The primary roots of the "Golden Cross Bantam 70" cultivar ofZea mays are agravitropic in darkness and their orthogravitropismis light-dependent. Analysis of the agravitropic roots providesimportant information about the mechanism of orthogravitropism.However, the underlying mechanism of the agravitropic responsein darkness is unknown. We found that the growth of intact primaryroots was inhibited by gravitropic stimulation (i.e., changingthe orientation of the roots from vertical to horizontal) indarkness, but that of detipped roots was not. The role of calciumin this gravistimulation-dependent inhibition of growth wasinvestigated using apical 5-mm segments of the primary roots.The gravistimulation-dependent inhibition of growth was preventedby applying 10 mM MES-KOH buffer at pH 6.0 to the root cap.By contrast, the application of 0.1–1 mM buffer at pH6.0 and 10 mM buffer at pH 4.5–5.0 allowed the gravistimulation-dependentinhibition of growth. Furthermore, when the buffer of 10 mM(pH 6.0) contained 1–5 mM CaCl₂, the gravistimulation-dependentinhibition of growth was apparent. By contrast, when weak (1mM) buffer at pH 6.0 or 10 mM buffer at pH 4.5 contained 5 mMEGTA, no gravistimulation-dependent inhibition of growth wasobserved. Thus, the gravistimulation-dependent inhibition ofgrowth in darkness seemed to be mediated by an increase in thelevel of free Ca²⁺ in the root tip. These results suggest thatfree Ca²⁺ in the apoplast of the root tip plays an importantrole in the agravitropic response in darkness as well as inorthogravitropism under light of the roots of this cultivarof Zea mays. (Received March 21, 1994; Accepted July 25, 1994)     

Effect of environmental factors on water utilization and boron accumulation and translocation in sugarcane

Rates of boron (B) accumulation and/or water utilization of3 month-old sugarcane plants were altered by changes in temperature,relative humidity, light intensity and duration of exposureto light. The effects of the environment on boron accumulationwere not directly dependent upon effects on water utilization.Boron accumulation was affected more than water uptake by increasingroot and air temperatures from 8°C to 37°C, and by raisingthe pH of the external solution from 5.7 to 7.0. Contrarily,water utilization decreased more than B accumulation when therelative humidity was increased from 30±5% to 95±5%,when light intensity was decreased or daily exposure to lightwas shortened and when the plants were pretreated with 5x10^–5M phenyl mercuric acetate, an anti-transpirant. The absorption of B by roots was experimentally separated fromits subsequent translocation to the shoots. Absorption of Bby roots was at least partially under metabolic control, sinceuptake from a 2 mg/liter B solution could occur against a concentrationgradient. Translocation of B from the roots to the shoot occurredpassively in the transpiration stream. ¹ Journal Series No. 1427 of the Hawaii Agricultural ExperimentStation. (Received March 2, 1972; )     

Partitioning and Utilization of Net Photosynthate in a Nodulated Annual Legume

The economy of carbon in nodulated white lupin (Lupinus albusL.) was studied in terms of consumption of net photosynthatein nitrogen fixation, in maintenance of respiration, and inthe production of dry matter and protein. Net photosynthesisrose to a maximum in early fruiting and then fell abruptly dueto shedding of leaves. Nodulated roots acquired translocateequivalent to 51% of the plant's net photosynthate, 78% of thecarbon of this translocate being respired, 10% entering drymatter, and 12% returning to the shoot attached to productsof nitrogen fixation. Nodules utilized 4?0–6?5 g C infixing 1 g nitrogen. Photosynthate was utilized most effectivelyfor nitrogen fixation in late vegetative growth. Fruits sequestered16% of the plant's net photosynthate, shoot night respiration17%, and dry matter formation in shoot vegetative parts 22%.Averaged over growth, 9?9 g net photosynthate was required toproduce 1 g seed dry matter and 31 g net photosynthate to produce1 g seed protein. Budgets for utilization of the carbon of netphotosynthate were constructed for 10 d intervals of the plant'sgrowth cycle. Feeding of shoots with ¹⁴CO₂ resulted in radiocarbonbecoming partitioned approximately as predicted by these budgets.The dependence of root respiration on recent photosynthate wasassessed by following the time course of release of ¹⁴CO₂ tothe rooting medium of the ¹⁴CO-labelled plants.     

Root Confinement and its Effects on the Water Relations, Growth and Assimilate Partitioning of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)

Although it is well established that the root growth in manyspecies is very sensitive to mechanical impedance or to confinementin small volumes, little is known about the consequent effectson growth of the whole plant and the mechanisms involved. Thiswork investigated the effects of root confinement on the waterrelations, growth and assimilate partitioning of tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum Mill) grown in solution culture. Six-week old plants were transferred to either 4500 ml or 75ml containers filled with nutrient solution, and allowed togrow for 14 d. Transpiration, leaf-air temperature differences,and leaf diffusive resistances were measured frequently. Leaf,stem and shoot dry masses, leaf area and root length, were estimatedwhen the treatments were imposed and at the end of the experiment.After 14 d growth the root and shoot hydraulic resistances wereestimated from measurements of leaf water potential and transpirationrate, using a steady-state technique. Confining root growth to the small containers substantiallyreduced shoot and root growth and increased the proportion oftotal dry matter present in the stems. These effects were dueto drought stress. The hydraulic resistance of the root systemwas greatest in the confined plants. This led to more negativeleaf water potentials, increased leaf diffusive resistance,and reduced the net assimilation rate by a factor of 2.5. Transpirationper unit leaf area was less affected. However, cumulative transpirationwas also reduced by a factor of 2.5. mostly because of the smallerleaf area on the confined plants. Root hydraulic resistivitywas measured at 3.1 x 10¹²s m^–1 in the control treatment,but increased to 3.9 x 10¹² s m^–1 for roots in the smallcontainer. The mechanisms by which root confinement caused drought stressand disrupted the pattern of assimilate partitioning are discussedin detail. Assimilate partitioning, Lycopersicon esculentum, root confinement, plant growth, root growth, root resistance, shoot resistance, tomato, transpiration, water-use efficiency     

Estimation of the Annual Cost of Kiwifruit Vine Growth and Maintenance

Elemental analysis (for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur)and ash data for kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson var. deliciosa cv. Hayward] stems,leaves and fine roots were used to calculate the specific costs(kg carbohydrate kg^-1 dry matter) of organ synthesis with ammoniacalnitrogen supply. Those costs ranged between 1·19 and1·35 for stems and 1·19 and 1·27 for leaves.The mean annual specific cost for fine roots was 1·17.Seasonal vine growth costs were calculated by multiplying thespecific costs by biomass data for a typical vine. Total costof synthesis was 57·2 kg carbohydrate per vine year^-1,taking fine root turnover as three times per season. Nitratenitrogen supply increased that cost by 6·6% to 61·0kg carbohydrate per vine year^-1. Fruit growth accounted forthe largest proportion of synthetic costs. Vine growth respiration(expressed in terms of carbohydrate equivalents) accounted forapproximately 11·5% of the total cost of synthesis. Maintenancerespiration was estimated to be 5·28, 8·44, 1·90,8·62 and 13·3 kg carbohydrate per organ year^-1for stems, leaves, fruit, above-ground perennial componentsand roots, respectively. Total annual cost of growth and maintenancefor a mature vine was 94·7 and 98·5 kg carbohydrateper vine year^-1 with ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen supply,respectively. Both values are similar to an estimate of vinephotosynthesis. Maintenance respiration accounted for approximately40% of the total annual cost of vine growth, regardless of theform of nitrogen supplied. Peak carbohydrate demand was duringthe period from 60 to 160 d after budbreak.Copyright 1995, 1999Academic Press Actinidia deliciosa, kiwifruit, carbon economy, growth respiration, maintenance respiration     

Diurnal Rb+ Transport from Roots to the Laminar Pulvinus in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The primary leaves of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) openunder light and close in the dark by the deformation of thepulvinus resulting from diurnal distribution changes of K⁺,Cl^–, organic acid (or H⁺) and NO₃^–. When Rb⁺ was added as a tracer of K⁺ to the seedlings throughtheir roots, it was transported to the pulvinus cells duringthe light period but not during the dark period. Transpirationoccurred vigorously in the light but almost stopped in the dark.We concluded that Rb⁺ absorbed by the roots was carried to thepulvinus by the transpiration stream. Phaseolus vulgaris L., pulvinus, Rb⁺, diurnal transport transpiration stream     

Root and Shoot Growth of Plants Treated with Abscisic Acid

Young seedlings of Capsicum annum L., Commelina communis L.and maize (Zea mays L.) were subjected to a mild water-stressingtreatment and/or treated with abscisic acid (ABA). Plants rootedin soil received a soil-drying treatment and their leaves weresprayed with a 10–⁴ M solution of ABA. Plants grown insolution culture were stressed by the addition of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) to the rooting medium and ABA was also added tothe rooting medium, either with or without PEG. The effectsof both treatments on the growth of roots and shoots and theultimate root: shoot dry weight ratio were very similar. Shootgrowth was limited both by water stress and by ABA application;while there was some evidence that mild water stress and/orABA application may have resulted in a stimulation of root growth.More severe water stress reduced the growth of roots but theoverall effect of stress was to increase the ratio of rootsto shoots. Capsicum annum L., Commelina communis L., Zea mays L., water stress, abscisic acid     

Seed Water Relations and the Regulation of the Duration of Seed Growth in Soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] seeds and cotyledons weregrown in an in vitro culture system to investigate the relationshipsbetween cell expansion (net water uptake by the seed) and drymatter accumulation. Seeds or cotyledons grown in a completenutrient medium containing 200 mol m^–3 sucrose continueddry matter accumulation for up to 16 d after in planta seedsreached physiological maturity (maximum seed dry weight). Seedor cotyledon water content increased throughout the cultureperiod and the water concentration remained above 600 g kg^–1fresh weight. These data indicate that the cessation of seeddry matter accumulation is controlled by the physiological environmentof the seed and is not a pre-determined seed characteristic.Adding 600 mol m^–3 mannitol to the medium caused a decreasein seed water content and concentration. Seeds in this mediumstopped accumulating dry matter at a water concentration ofapproximately 550 g kg^–1. The data suggest that dry matteraccumulation by soybean seeds can continue only as long as thereis a net uptake of water to drive cell expansion. In the absenceof a net water uptake, continued dry matter accumulation causesdesiccation which triggers maturation. Key words: Glycine max (L.) Merrill, solution culture, duration of seed growth, water content, dry matter accumulation