A model of the effects of water stress on seed advancement and germination

A model of seed germination is proposed which uses a variable with the units of an osmotic potential (virtual osmotic potential) to integrate the effect of a constant or a varying water potential. This differs from existing models that describe the effects of fixed water potentials on germination, or the effects of fixed priming water potentials on the subsequent germination at a fixed water potential. When a seed is sown, the virtual osmotic potential is assumed to fall at a rate that depends on the ambient water potential, and on the difference between its current and a minimum value. Radicle growth is assumed to initiate when the difference between the ambient water potential and the virtual osmotic potential exceeds a threshold. The germination of carrot and onion seeds at various fixed potentials below 0 MPa was well described by the virtual osmotic potential model. The model was also used to simulate the results of experiments in which seeds were given a single step change in water potential.     

The use of positron emission tomography for studies of long-distance transport in plants: uptake and transport of 18F

Abstract. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been utilized to obtain dynamic images of long distance nutrient translocation in plants. Positron emitting ¹⁸F, produced by a Van de Graaff accelerator using the reaction ¹⁸O(p,n)¹⁸F, was fed in solution to excised stems of Glycine max positioned vertically in a large-aperture PET detector system. Images of tracer activity were recorded with a time resolution of 0.5 min and a spatial resolution of 4 mm. Maximum tracer activities at stem sites were obtained within 3 min of the pulse feed. A model is presented enabling evaluation of regional values for tracer flow, tracer binding, flow speed and flow volume. Analysis of data for one stem position yielded a flow volume of 2.1mm³ min⁻¹ and a flow speed of 36cm min⁻¹. Comparison with the distribution of ¹⁴C-inulin, which was simultaneously fed to the cut stems, indicates the ¹⁸F is suitable for use as an apoplastic tracer; 92% of the tracer activity accumulated in the leaves. The fraction of ¹⁸F that remained bound was most concentrated at stem nodal regions, an observation consistent with the existence of transfer cells at these sites. Advantages and limitations of PET applied to plant physiological investigations are discussed.     

The effect of growth at elevated CO2 concentrations on photosynthesis in wheat

Rising levels of atmospheric CO₂ will have profound, direct effects on plant carbon metabolism. In this study we used gas exchange measurements, models describing the instantaneous response of leaf net CO₂ assimilation rate (A) to intercellular CO₂ partial pressure (C_i), in vitro enzyme activity assay, and carbohydrate assay in order to investigate the photosynthetic responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Wembley) to growth under elevated partial pressures of atmospheric CO₂ (C_a). At flag leaf ligule emergence, the modelled, in vivo, maximum carboxylation velocity for RuBisCO was significantly lower in plants grown at elevated C_a than in plants grown at ambient C_a (70 Pa compared with 40 Pa). By 12 d after ligule emergence, no significant difference in this parameter was detectable. At ligule emergence, plants grown at elevated C_a exhibited reduced in vitro initial activities and activation states of RuBisCO. At their respective growth C_i values, the photosynthesis of 40-Pa-grown plants was sensitive to p(O₂) and to p(CO₂) whereas that of 70-Pa-grown plants was insensitive. Both sucrose and starch accumulated more rapidly in the leaves of plants grown at 70 Pa. At flag leaf ligule emergence, modelled non-photorespiratory respiration in the light (R_d) was significantly higher in 70-Pa-grown plants than in 40-Pa-grown plants. By 12 d after ligule emergence no significant differences in R_d were detectable.