Effects and Interactions of Ozone and the Anti-ozonant EDU at Different Stages of Radish {Raphanus sativus L.) Development

The use of the anti-ozonant ethylenediurea (EDU) to assess croplosses due to atmospheric ozone (O₃), is controversial becauseof incomplete knowledge on the optimal dosage, the extent ofprotection provided and potential effects on plant performanceof EDU per se. In a greenhouse experiment, radish (Raphanussativus L.) cv. ‘Cherry Belle’ plants were treatedwith EDU as a soil drench (150 mg1¹, 60 ml plant¹) at threestages of development: early, maximum and late hypocotyl thickening.Two days later the plants were exposed to O₃, mimicking an ambientpattern (70 nl 1¹ O₃, 7 h d¹, 5 d, and up to 120 nl 1¹ O₃ on2 d), or remained in filtered air. Assessment of leaf injury showed complete protection from ozone-inducedleaf damage at all stages of growth due to EDU. EDU did causeslight leaf margin necrosis and hyponastic leaf deformationirrespective of the atmospheric treatment, but biomass and relativegrowth rate (RGR) of the shoot and leaf number duration werenot altered and leaf area duration was increased when comparedto control plants. EDU did not affect dry weight accumulationnor RGR of the hypocotyl. Ozone-induced reductions in growthof below-ground organs (hypocotyl and root), which were mostprominent in the intermediate and early stage of growth, werelargely suppressed by the EDU-treatment. Decreases of hypocotylbiomass due to O₃ were transient and significant increases inRGR of the hypocotyl during the post-exposure period indicateda substantial capability of compensation during the period ofrecovery. Key words: Radish (Raphanus sativus), ozone, anti-ozonant, ethylenediurea (EDU), development, phytotoxicity     

Alternative Methods of Analysing Water Potential Isotherms: Some Cautions and Clarifications: I. THE IMPACT OF NON-IDEALITY AND OF SOME EXPERIMENTAL ERRORS

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.     

Comparison of the Effects of Root Temperature on Nitrate and Ammonium Nutrition of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napusL.) in Flowing Solution Culture: II. CATION-ANION BALANCE

Macduff, J. H., Hopper, M. J., Wild, A. and Trim, F. E. 1987.Comparison of the effects of root temperature on nitrate andammonium nutrition of oilseed rape (Brassica napusL.) in flowingsolution culture. II. Cation-anion balance.—J. exp. Bot.38: 1589-1602. The effects of root temperature and form of N nutrition (NH4or NOJ) on the mineral composition of the plant, the balanceof inorganic cation-anion uptake and on the apparent net effluxof H ⁺/OH^–ions from the roots were studied with 49-d-oldoilseed rape (Brassica napusL. cv. Bien venu) in flowing solutionculture. Plants were pre-treated for 14 d at a root temperatureof 5 °C prior to constant root temperatures of 3, 7, 11or 17°C for 14 d, with a common shoot temperature of 20/15°Cday/night. Nitrogen was supplied as NH⁺₄4 or NO^–₃ at 10mmol m³. Values of Q₁₀ (7-17°C) for mean unit absorptionrates of all the major nutrient ions (K⁺ , Mg⁺⁺ , NH⁺₄, SO₄,H₂PO₄, NO₃), except Ca⁺⁺, were > 2.0 over the first 5 d oftreatment but thereafter were < 1.5; the apparent effectof temperature on uptake rates diminished with time. Under NH⁺₄nutrition, inorganic cation uptake (Mg^{+ +} + K⁺+Ca^{+ +} +NH⁺₄)exceeded inorganic anion uptake (SO4 ^–₄+ H₂PO₄) over 14d at all temperatures, with the proportion of cation uptakeas NH4 remaining constant (0.67-0-68) irrespective of root temperature.The net efflux of H ⁺ from the roots approximately balancedNH⁺₄ uptake (1:1) over 14 d at each temperature and also balancedthe difference between the total uptake of inorganic cationsand inorganic anions. Under NO₃ nutrition, the sum of the netefflux of OH and the change in the carboxylate contents of plantsover 14 d approximately balanced the sum of NO₃ and SO ^–₄reduced in the plant. The majority of the negative charge associatedwith the reduction of NO₃ and SO ^–₄ was apparently effluxedas OH, but this fraction was lower at low root temperatures.The results are discussed in terms of mechanisms that have beenproposed to regulate the internal pH of plants. Key words: Brassica napus, oilseed rape, root temperature, cation-anion balance, H⁺/OH efflux.     

Sugar Efflux from Attached Seed Coats of Glycine max (L.) Men.

Ellis, E. C. and Spanswick, R. M. 1987. Sugar efflux from attachedseed coats of Glycine max (L.) Merr.—J. exp. Bot. 38:1470—1483. Sugar efflux (sucrose + glucose) from attached seed coats ofGlycine max (L.) Merr. was measured at high sampling rates toimprove the kinetic characterization of seed coat exudation.This study confirms that sugar efflux in seed coats has at leasttwo components, and demonstrates that the concentration of mannitolosmoticum bathing the seed coat may influence one or both ofthese components. High leaf irradiance increased sugar effluxrelative to a low leaf irradiance at the same mannitol concentration.A high concentration of mannitol (500 mol m³) enhanced sugarefflux relative to a medium concentration (100 mol m³) underboth high and low leaf irradiance. A low mannitol concentration(10 mol m³) stimulated sugar efflux (relative to 100 mol m³)to a greater extent when leaf irradiance was high. Rapid changesin mannitol concentration produced immediate stimulations ofsugar efflux. Effects of osmoticum on sugar efflux are explainedby simultaneous turgor-mediated effects on import of sucroseby the phloem and retrieval of apoplastic sucrose, presumablyby seed coat parenchyma.     

The Composition of Phloem Exudate and Xylem Sap from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Supplied with NH4+, NO""3 or NH4NO3

Shelp, B. J. 1987. The composition of phloem exudate and xylemsap from broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) suppliedwith NH⁺₄, NO₃ or NH₄NO₃.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1619–1636. The detailed composition of xylem sap and exudate from stemincisions of attached inflorescences of broccoli (Brassica oleraceavar. italica) was compared in plants supplied with NH⁺₄, NO₃or NH₄NO₃. A phloem origin for the exudate was suggested fromthe high levels of sugars (71–133 mg cm^-3), amino acids(8·1-26·7 mg cm³) and K. (2·3–3·8mg cm³), the low levels of NO₃ and Ca, the high C: N (w/w) ratios(8·3–33), and the alkaline pH (7·2–7·3).In contrast, the xylem sap was mildly acidic (pH 5·6–6·0),and possessed lower levels of all organic and inorganic solutesbut NO₃ and Ca, and lower ratios of K: Ca, Mg: Ca and C: N (0·6–4·4). Glutamine was the predominant o-phthalaldehyde-reactive aminocompound in both transport fluids with the next most abundantamino acids dependent on sap type and N-form. Together witharginine, -aminobutyric acid, which was found only in the xylemstream, was enhanced by NH⁺₄compared to NO₃ -nutrition suggestingthat glutamate metabolism was stimulated in the roots. Underlimiting N the amino acid concentrations in the transport fluidswere greater with NH⁺₄ than with NO₃. NO₃ reduction occurredin both the root and shoot with the latter site predominatingover the entire N range (0-300 mol m³). Even though the compositionof nitrogenous solutes in the xylem was dependent on cultivarand N source, the composition of the phloem streams supplyingthe developing inflorescence was relatively unaffected. The data on the element composition of organs and phloem sapare interpreted to suggest that, in spite of the restrictedmobility of some elements such as B and Mn, a significant proportionof their total supply to developing sinks is carried in thephloem stream. Key words: Transport fluid composition, plant nutrition, phloem mobility.     

Evaluation of the 15N Natural Abundance Method and Xylem Sap Analysis for Assessing N2 Fixation of Understorey Legumes in Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) Forest in S.W. Australia

Hansen, A. P. and Pate, J. S. 1987. Evaluation of the ¹⁵N naturalabundance method and xylem sap analysis for assessing N₂ fixationof understorey legumes in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donnex Sm.) forest in S.W. Australia.—J. exp. Bot 38: 1446–1458. Nodulated seedlings of Acacia pulchella, A. alata and A. extensawere grown in glasshouse sand culture under a range of levels(0–16 mol m³) of nitrate, supplied as ¹⁵NO₃, or as unenrichedlaboratory grade nitrate (¹⁵N value 5·5%_o). Nitrate at8·0 mol m ³ or above was highly inhibitory to growthof all species. Using ¹⁵N dilution analysis of the ¹⁵N enrichedcultures to measure symbiotic dependency, it was shown that¹⁵N values of the parallel unenriched cultures increased innear linear fashion from close to zero in fully symbiotic plantsto values close to that of the supplied NO₃ in plants experiencingnitrate levels (4·0 mol m³ or above) inhibiting N₂ fixationby over 90%. Xylem sap analyses (0·4 mol m³ NO₃ treatments)showed asparagine as the major nitrogenous solute, relativelylittle spill-over of free nitrate, and no evidence of majorshifts in balance of amino compounds with increasing dependenceon nitrate. This essentially invalidated use of the techniqueas a field assay for N₂ fixation by the species. ¹⁵N values for total N of soil sampled at 64 widely distributedsites in jarrah forest ranged from – 2·15 to +5·4(mean +2·1). Comparable values for soil mineral N (NH⁺₄and NO₃) were +0·3 to + 14·2 (mean +5·1).¹⁵N values of the total plant N of the legumes and of non-N₂-fixingreference species were also highly variable between sites, withlittle evidence of reference plant N accurately reflecting the¹⁵N abundance of soil nitrogen, or of visibly well nodulatedlegume components showing consistently lower ¹⁵N values thantheir companion reference plants. At one site it was possibleto compare ¹⁵N values of first season seedling legumes withpreviously published estimates of their progressive N₂ fixationusing C₂H₂ reduction assays. It was concluded that heterogeneity in ¹⁵N discrimination ofsoil within the ecosystem precluded effective use of the ¹⁵Nnatural abundance technique for assessing legume N₂ fixation. Key words: Acacia spp., ¹⁵N natural abundance,, xylem sap analysis,, nitrogen fixation.     

Wheat Response to CO2 Enrichment: Growth and CO2 Exchanges at Two Plant Densities

Du Cloux, H. C, André, M., Daguenet, A. and Massinuno,J. 1987. Wheat response to CO₂ enrichment: Growth and CO₂ exchangesat two plant densities.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1421–1431. The vegetative growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Capitole)was followed for almost 40 d after germination in controlledconditions. Four different treatments were carried out by combiningtwo air concentrations of CO₂, either normal (330 mm³ dm ³)or doubled (660 mm³ dm ³) with two plant densities, either 200plants m ² or 40 plants m ². Throughout the experiment the CO₂gas exchanges of each canopy were measured 24 h d¹. These provideda continuous growth curve for each treatment, which were comparedwith dry weights. After a small stimulation at the start (first13 d), no further effect of CO₂ enrichment was observed on relativegrowth rate (RGR). However, RGR was stimulated throughout theexperiment when plotted as a function of biomass. The finalstimulation ol dry weight at 660 mm³ dm ³ CO₂ was a factor of1·45 at high density and 1·50 at low density,contrary to other studies, no diminution of this CO₂ effecton dry weight was observed over time. Nevertheless, at low density,a transient additional enhancement of biomass (up to 1·70)was obtained at a leaf area index (LAI) below 1. This effectwas attributed to a different build up of the gain of carbonin the case of an isolated plant or a closed canopy. In theformer, the stimulation of leaf area and the net assimilationrate are both involved; in the latter the enhancement becomesindependent of the effect on leaf area because the canopy photosynthesisper unit ground area as a function of LAI reaches a plateau. Key words: Triticum aestuum, L. var. Capitole, Vegetative growth, Canopy     

A Transient Stimulation of Net Photosynthesis of Rye Leaves by {alpha}-Hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic Acid ({alpha}-HPMS) due to Inhibition of Photorespiratory CO2 Release

The effects of -hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic acid (-HPMS)upon net photosynthesis (P_n, the CO₂ compensation point (),post-lower illumination burst of CO₂ (PLIB) and post-lower temperatureburst of CO₂ (PLTB) in detached rye (Secale cereale L.) leaveswere investigated. At low concentrations ( 0.5 mol m^–3),-HPMS initially stimulated P_n and decreased the magnitude ofboth PLIB and PLTB. The decreased at all concentrations of-HPMS (0.05–5.0 mol m^–3. The effects of -HPMS onP_n and were time-dependent and, after a few minutes, the P_nwas inhibited while values increased considerably. At a higherconcentration (5.0 mol m ^–3), the transient effects of-HPMS were shorter () or not observed at all (P_n. Both PLIBand PLTB, when expressed in relation to P_n, increased at higherlevels of this compound. Similar data with respect to the effectsof -HPMS on PLIB and PLTB were found for leaves of dandelion(Taraxacum officinale L.). The results suggest that -HPMS may stimulate P_n by inhibitingphotorespiration, as originally suggested by Zelitch (1966),but only at low concentrations and over a short time span. Thedecrease of PLIB and PLTB values at low -HPMS levels is consistentwith these processes being a residual activity of the glycolatepathway. Key words: CO₂ compensation point, -hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulphonic acid, photorespiration, photosynthesis     

Adaptation of the Euryhaline Charophyte Lamprothamnium papulosum to Brackish and Freshwater: Turgor Pressure and Vacuolar Solute Concentrations During Steady-State Culture and After Hypo-osmotic Treatment

The euryhaline charophyte Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallr.)J. Gr. was adapted to media with decreasing salinities rangingfrom 550 to 0 mosmol kg^–1. Vegetative plants grown inmedia with osmotic pressures (⁰) in the range of 550 to 130mosmol kg^–1 maintained a constant turgor pressure () at309 + 7 mosmol kg^–1. 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 kg^–1. 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 m^–3. 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     

Analysis of Pressure-Volume Curves of Leaves of Rosa hybrida cv. Sonia

By analysing the relationship between inverse water potential(^–1), and relative water content (RWC) measured on leavesof roses (Rosa hybrida cv. Sonia), grown soilless, it was foundthat a non-linear (NL) model was better suited than a linearmodel to reproduce values observed in the non-turgid region.To explain this apparent curvature, it is assumed that a reductionof the non-osmotic water fraction (A_p) takes place when decreases.Osmotic potentials () measured on fresh and frozen leaf discstend to support this hypothesis. A method for exploiting PVcurves, which takes into account the variation of A_p, is described.It delivers values for the turgor pressure (_p), the relativeosmotic water content, and the mean bulk volumetric elasticitycoefficient, lower than those given by the linear model. Onthe other hand, it gives higher estimates for A_p and for . Whenapplying the traditional model to obtain estimates for waterrelations characteristics of rose leaves, and comparing resultsfrom two distinct salinity treatments (electrical conductivitiesof 1·8 mS cm^–1 and 3·8 mS cm^–1, respectively),one deduces a significant reduction of at turgor-loss in thehigh salinity treatment. The NL method is, in addition, ablesimultaneously to reveal a reduction of and a significant increasein _p at RWC=100% this proves that soilless–grown roseplants are able to osmoregulate when subjected to a constantand relatively high degree of salinity. Key words: Apoplastic water, non-linear regression, pressure-volume curves, tissue-water relations     

Some Methods for the Measurements of Tonoplast Resistance of Nitellopsis obtusa

Measurements of tonoplast resistance for unit area, T were carriedout by four methods. The T values obtained by two of these methods,when taking into account a correction for leakage current, were0.024 and 0.010 k cm². The other two methods, which made itpossible to neglect leakage current, gave the T values of 0.036and 0.021 k cm². Thus, the mean value of tonoplast resistancein the investigated cells of Nitellopsis obtusa was 0.023 kcm², while the measurements in which leakage current was nottaken into account gave the value 10.6 k cm². The results obtainedin this study indicate the fact that leakage current significantlyaffects measurements of tonoplast resistance and that the truevalue of that resistance is smaller by two or three orders ofmagnitude than that usually reported.     

Characterization of Spring Wheat Genotypes Differing in Drought-Induced Abscisic Acid Accumulation: II. LEAF WATER RELATIONS

Aspects of the water relations of spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) are described for cultivars Highbury (low ABA) and TW269/9(high ABA), and low and high ABA accumulating F⁶selections derivedfrom a cross between them. In a pot experiment, pressure-volume (P-V) curves were constructedfor main stem leaf four (MSL4) of well-watered plants of Highburyand TW269/9. Estimates of solute potential (²) from these curveswere similar for the two cultivars, but varied with the timeof sampling and the time allowed for hydration in dim light. In a field experiment with four low and four high ABA F⁶lines,P-V curves for flag leaves from both droughted and irrigatedplants gave at both zero turgor (^p) and zero water potential(¹) which differed with degree of stress, sampling time andgenotype. ¹was strongly dependent on the initial_L of the leafand was reduced on average by c. 0.4 MPa per MPa decline ininitial L.5, was lower (more negative) by c. 0.1-MPa in theafternoon than in the morning. Overall, was also 0.1 MPa lowerin low ABA lines than in high ABA lines. In another field experiment, flag leaves of five low and fivehigh ABA F⁶lines were sampled over a 4 week period from droughtedplots and _L and 5, measured (the latter by osmometry with expressedsap). For these leaves 5, at zero p or zero _L was consistentlylower by 0.3–0.5 MPa than estimates of 5, from the P-Vcurves with flag leaves. However, data for the low ABA lineswere again lower (by c. 0.1 MPa) than those for high ABA lines. The consequences of these differences in 1 are discussed inrelation to the stimulation of ABA accumulation in low and highABA selections. Key words: Water potential, Solute potential, P-V curves, Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Drought stress     

The Relationship Between Transpiration Rate, Water Potential, and Resistances to Water Movement in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effects of transpiration rate on the vertical gradientsof leaf and stem xylem water potential ( and ) were examinedusing hydroponic sunflower plants. Transpiration was variedby stepwise alterations of environmental conditions. The gradientsof and were relatively small (2.3 and 0.8 x 10⁵ Pa m^–1)when transpiration rates approached zero, but increased sharplyto 5.4 and 2.3 x 10⁵ Pa m^–1 as transpiration increased.However, the gradients were independent of transpiration ratesabove 0.4 g dm^–2 h^–1 owing to variability of theplant resistance. The gradients of _I were usually less thanhalf those of _I. ₁ in individual leaves remained constant over a wide range oftranspiration rates (0.4—2.4 g dm^–2 h^–1) andeach leaf possessed a characteristic plateau value related toits elevation. _I responded similarly but was approximately 2.0x 10⁵ Pa higher than _I at the same elevation. Identical resultswere obtained regardless of the procedure employed to vary transpiration. The drop in water potential between stem and leaf implies thatthe leaf resistance is appreciable. This was confirmed usingrapidly transpiring excised leaves freely supplied with water._I increased by 2.0–2.5 x 10⁵ Pa following removal of theroot resistance but remained 2 x 10⁵ Pa lower than similar excisedleaves in darkness. Furthermore, ^I in excised leaves remainedconstant over a wide range of transporting rates, demonstratingthat the leaf resistance is also variable. The results are discussed in relation to previous reports.     

The Derivation of the Cell Wall Elasticity Function from the Cell Turgor Potential

An equation is derived expressing average turgor pressure ofa leaf (_p) as a function of relative water content (RWC). Basedon this derivation, the relationships of the bulk elastic modulus(_v) and both RWC and _p, are formulated and discussed. The bulkelastic modulus (_v) becomes zero for _p = 0, that is at the turgorloss point for the leaf. At full water saturation the valueof ev is proportional to the water saturation turgor potential_p(max). The factor relating _P and _v (structure coefficient ,Burstrom, Uhrstr?m and Olausson, 1970) changes only very littlefor values of _p, which are not too close to zero. An exampleis given for the calculation from experimental data of the turgorpressure function, the structure coefficient function, and the_v function. Key words: Cell wall, Turgor pressure, Bulk elastic modulus     

Water Relations of Chromium VI Treated Bush Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) under both Normal and Water Stress Conditions

The effect of Chromium VI on leaf water potential (^w), solutepotential (^a), turgor potential (^p) and relative water content(RWC) of primary and first trifoliatc leaves of Phaseolus vulgarisL. was studied under normal growth conditions and during anartificially induced water stress period in order to establishthe possible influence of this heavy metal on the water stressresistance of plants. Plants were grown on perlite with nutrientsolution containing 0, 1•0, 2•5, 5•0 or 10•0µg cm^–3 Cr as Na₂Cr₂O₇.2H₂O. The effect of Cr onwater relations was highly concentration dependent, and primaryand first trifoliate leaves were affected differently. The growthreducing concentrations of Cr (2•5, 5•0 and 10•0µg cm^–3) generally decreased _s and _w and increased_p in primary leaves. The 1•0 µg cm^–3 Cr treatmentdid not affect growth, but altered water relations substantially:in primary leaves _w and _p were increased and _s decreased, whilein trifoliate leaves the effect was the opposite. All Cr treatedplants resisted water stress for longer than control plants.The higher water stress resistance may be due to the lower _sand to the increased cell wall elasticity observed in Cr VItreated plants. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, Chromium VI, water stress, Richter plot     

Derivation of Pressure-Volume Curves by a Non-Linear Regression Procedure and Determination of Apoplastic Water

Data from pressure-volume (PV) analysis may be submitted totransformation I [i.e. leaf water potential (₁) versus inverserelative water content (1/R)] or to transformation II (i.e.1/₁ versus R). This may cause an essential distortion of theerror structure especially in transformation II due to the relativelylarge range which is to be covered by the 1/₁ ratio. Similarly,logarithmic transformation of leaf turgor potential (_P) whenderiving the sensitivity factor of elasticity (ß)by linear regression from values of In _p and 1/R may distortthe error structure. In order to investigate the magnitude ofthe distortion effect on parameters derived from PV analysisby regression a non-linear regression procedure was comparedwith the common linear procedure when calculating _p from ßin the turgid region and leaf osmotic potential (_P) in boththe turgid and non-turgid region. As test plants we used fieldgrown species of spring barley (Hordeum distichum L., cvs Gunnarand Alis). The results show that transformations and applicationof linear regression procedures distort the error structureof _p more than the error structure of _', which was only slightlyaffected. However, we recommend the use of the non-linear procedurein both cases. Furthermore, from PV analysis, obtained by thermocouple hygrometryon living and killed leaf tissue, respectively, we derived themathematical basis for calculating the apoplastic water fraction(R_a). R_a was 0.15 at R= 1 and decreased with dehydration. The equations describing the relation between and R and between_p and R were extended to take into account the apoplastic waterfraction. Key words: Apoplastic water, distortion errors, non-linear regression, pressure-volume curves     

Experimental Investigations on the Environmental Determination of {delta}13C at Different Altitudes

The influence of environmental variables which are known tochange with altitude on the ¹³C of leaves of Nardus stricta,have been investigated in controlled environment experiments.Low temperature and an increased incidence of freezing temperaturescaused ¹³C to increase. In contrast, lowered atmospheric pressurereduced ¹³C. Increased leaf surface wetness and soil water contentalso caused a decrease. Plants from different altitudes didnot differ consistently or significantly in their responses. Key words: Carbon isotope discrimination, altitude, temperature, atmospheric pressure, freezing     

An Error in the Calibration of Xylem-water Potential against Leaf-water Potential

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.     

Physiological Responses to Drought of Lolium perenne L.: Measurement of, and Genetic Variation in, Water Potential, Solute Potential, Elasticity and Cell Hydration

Thomas, H. 1987. Physiological responses to drought of Loliumperenne L.: Measurement of, and genetic variation in, waterpotential, solute potential, elasticity and cell hydration.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 115–125. Clonally-replicated genotypes of Loiium perenne L. were grownin a controlled environment. Leaf water potential (_w) osmoticpotential (_s), turgor potential (_p = _w – _s), elasticity(E), leaf hydration (g water per g dry matter, H) and numberof green leaves per tiller (N_GL) were measured before and duringa 42 d drought treatment. A simplified method of estimating E (at _w < 1?0 MPa) usingonly six measurements was developed to permit a measurementrate of 8 leaves per hour. Measurement errors in all characterswere 3% or less. During drought, _w and _s (at _w = 0?5 MPa) decreased significantly,_p and E increased significantly, and H decreased slightly. Plantsize during drought was negatively correlated with _s, and ^Hand positively correlated with _p, osmotic adjustment, E andN_GL. Measurements made on the genotypes before draughting didnot give a reliable indication of their physiological conditionafter adaptation to drought. Genetically controlled variation (‘broad sense heritability’)of drought-adapted plants for E was 15%, _w 23%, _s, 34%, _p, 35%,H 34% and N_GL 64%. The possibilities for, and effectivenessof, divergent selection of genotypes with high and low expressionof the characters are discussed. Key words: Water relations, Lolium, genetic variation     

Comparative Ecophysiology and Anatomy of Terrestrial and Epiphytic Anthurium bredemeyeri Schott in a Tropical Andean Cloud Forest

Water relations and anatomy of a casual epiphyte were studiedat La Carbonera, a tropical cloud forest. Anthurium bredemeyerigrowing as an epiphyte and in its terrestrial form were studiedto find differences due to their different habits. Both formsmaintained relatively high leaf conductances (0·12 to0·15 mol m² s¹) when leaf ater potential was relativelyhigh (above – 0·5 MPa). A lowering of the leafwater potential (below – 0·5 MPa) during the dryseason, significantly affected leaf conductances in both terrestrialand epiphytic forms, the latter one to a greater degree. Interms of anatomy, a reduction in stomatal density was observedin the epiphyte, although no other differences were observed.The results show how the epiphyte was affected to a greaterdegree by a decrease in water availability during the dry seasoncompared to the terrestrial form. Key words: Anthurium bredemeyeri, epiphyte, water relations, anatomy