THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF LOW TEMPERATURE AND SO2+NO2 POLLUTION ON THE NEW SEASON'S GROWTH AND WATER RELATIONS OF PICEA SITCHENSIS

Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. seedlings were exposed to SO₂, NO₂ and SO₂+ NO₂ during dormancy in controlled environments, and were taken to night temperatures of 4, 0, −5, −10 and −15 °C in a freezer. Conditions in the freezer were carefully monitored during the low–temperature treatments. In two experiments, different photoenvironments and temperature regimes were imposed prior to the cold treatments, and different effects were observed. In the first, only limited frost hardiness was achieved and night temperatures of −15 °C were lethal. Temperatures of −5 and − 10 °C led to poor survival of lateral buds, particularly in plants exposed to 45 ppb SO₂. The poor bud break in plants exposed to SO₂ and to − 5 °C resulted in a loss of the effectiveness of this temperature as a chill requirement. Pressure-volume analysis showed that the shoots of plants exposed to NO₂ had greater elasticity (lower elastic moduli, e), so that loss of turgor occurred at lower relative water contents. In contrast, a hardening period (2 weeks in night/day temperatures of 3/10 °C and 8 h days at 50 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PAR) gave decreased elasticity and lower solute potentials of spruce shoots. In the second experiment, exposure to 30 ppb SO₂ and SO₂+ NO₂ led to slight, but consistent, increases in frost injury to the needles of plants frozen to − 5 and − 10 °C. The results suggest that the main interaction of low temperatures and winter pollutants may be on bud survival rather than on needle damage, but that effects are subtle, only occurring with certain combinations of pollutant dose and cold treatment.     

Changes in the Localization of {beta}-Glycerophosphatase Activity During the Infection of Phaseolus vulgaris by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

Histochemical methods showed that epidermal cells of Phaseolusvulgaris (cv. Kievit) contained lysosomelike particles richin ß-glyceTophosphatase. The behaviour of these organellesduring infection by different physiological races of Colletotrichumlindemuthianum has been examined. Host cell death during theresistant (hypersensitive) response of the bean to infectionby incompatible races ß and occurred during the secondand third days after inoculation. Cell death appeared to becoincident with the release of ß-glycerophosphataseinto the cytoplasm and a reduction in size and number of stainingparticles. Invading incompatible hyphae were restricted to singlenecrotic cells. In contrast, for 4 days, infection by the compatiblerace caused little alteration in particulate staining whileconsiderable fungal colonization took place. Subsequent observationsrevealed a decrease in the number of enzyme-rich particles whichwas not associated with the appearance of diffuse staining evenafter cell necrosis. It is suggested that the release of ß-glycerophosphataseand possibly other hydrolases from the lysosome-like particlesof the host caused hypersensitive cell death, and that necrosiswas not controlled by the plant in this way during the susceptibleresponse.     

Asymmetric responses of adaxial and abaxial stomata to elevated CO2: impacts on the control of gas exchange by leaves

The response of adaxial and abaxial stomatal conductance in Rumex obtusifolius to growth at elevated atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ (250 μmol mol^?1 above ambient) was investigated over two growing seasons. The conductance of both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces was found to be reduced by elevated concentrations of CO₂. Elevated CO₂ caused a much greater reduction in conductance for the adaxial surface than for the abaxial surface. The absence of effects upon stomatal density indicated that the reductions were probably the result of changes in stomatal aperture. Partitioning of gas exchange between the leaf surfaces revealed that increased concentrations of CO₂ caused increased rates of photosynthesis only via the abaxial surface. Additionally, leaf thickness was found to increase during growth at elevated concentrations of CO₂. The tendency for these amphistomatous leaves to develop a distribution of conductance approaching that of hypostomatous leaves clearly reduced their maximum photosynthetic potential. This conclusion was supported by measurements of stomatal limitation, which showed greater values for the adaxial surfaces, and greater values at elevated CO₂. This reduction in photosynthesis may in part be caused by higher diffusive limitations imposed because of increased leaf thickness. In an uncoupled canopy, asymmetrical stomatal responses of the kind identified here may appreciably reduce transpiration. Species which show symmetrical responses are less likely to show reduced transpirational rates, and a redistribution of water loss between species may occur. The implications of asymmetrical stomatal responses for photosynthesis and canopy transpiration are discussed.     

Stomatal responses to light and CO2 are dependent on KCI concentration

Abstract. The responses of stomata on detached epidermis of Commelina communis to light and CO₂ have been shown to be strongly dependent on the concentration of KCI in the incubation medium. There was a high sensitivity to the two stimuli in 50 mM KCI, but there were much reduced responses at lower and higher concentrations. It is considered that an appropriate choice of medium is essential if useful physiological studies of stomata are to be made using epidermal strips. At lower KCI concentrations, the ability of the stomata to open is thought to be limited by the availability of K⁺ ions, and at higher concentrations their ability to close may be affected because of an inhibition of the net efflux of K⁺. The production of malate was related to KCI concentration, and was largest in the medium containing zero KCI which supported poor stomatal responses to light and CO₂It is concluded that malate metabolism is unlikely to play a central part in the changes in guard cell turgor that are brought about by light and CO₂.     

Correlative Inhibition of Lateral Bud Growth in Phaseolus vulgaris L.--Influence of the Environment

The influence of various environmental factors upon main stemand lateral bud growth has beeninvestigated using Phaseolusvulgaris, with the object of discovering why there is variabilityin the response of lateral buds on decapitated plants to apically-appliedIAA. Light intensity, light quality and temperature had differentand specific effects on main stem and lateral bud growth inintact plants and on the effectiveness of IAA in inhibitingprimary leaf axillary bud growth in decapitated plants. Photoperiod,on the other hand, was apparently ineffective. It is concluded that environmental factors, as well as contributingto the normal regulation of apical dominance, could also partlyor wholly account for the variation in effectiveness of appliedIAA found by different workers. IAA was least effective whenthe temperature was lower at night than during the day.