Structural changes in the innercortex cells of soybean root nodules are induced by short-term exposure to high salt or oxygen concentrations

After a 2 h exposure of intact soybean nodules to high concentrations of NaCl (100mol m_?3) or oxygen (8OkPa O₂), morphometric computations carried out using an image analysis technique on semi-thin sections showed that both treatments induced a decrease in the area of the inner-cortex cells, which were then characterized by a tangential elongation. In contrast, no significant change in area occurred in the middle-cortex cells although their elongation decreased. Electron microscopic observations showed that in the inner-cortex cells changes included the presence of wall infoldings, an enlarged periplasmic space and a lobate nucleus whose chromatin distribution differed from that of the control. Structural changes also occurred in the endoplasmic reticulum, microbodies, mitochondria and plastids. From several of these changes, which are similar to those noted in osmocontractil cells in response to external stimuli, it can be hypothesized that the inner cortex may provide a potential mechanism for the control of oxygen diffusion through the nodules.     

Rice leaf growth and water potential are resilient to evaporative demand and soil water deficit once the effects of root system are neutralized

Rice is known to be sensitive to soil water deficit and evaporative demand, with a greatest sensitivity of lowland‐adapted genotypes. We have analysed the responses of plant water relations and of leaf elongation rate (LER) to soil water status and evaporative demand in seven rice genotypes belonging to different species, subspecies, either upland‐ or lowland‐adapted. In the considered range of soil water potential (0 to ?0.6 MPa), stomatal conductance was controlled in such a way that the daytime leaf water potential was similar in well‐watered, droughted or flooded conditions (isohydric behaviour). A low sensitivity of LER to evaporative demand was observed in the same three conditions, with small differences between genotypes and lower sensitivity than in maize. The sensitivity of LER to soil water deficit was similar to that of maize. A tendency towards lower sensitivities was observed in upland than lowland genotypes but with smaller differences than expected. We conclude that leaf water status and leaf elongation of rice are not particularly sensitive to water deficit. The main origin of drought sensitivity in rice may be its poor root system, whose effect was alleviated in the study presented here by growing plants in pots whose soil was entirely colonized by roots of all genotypes.     

N2Fixation Response to Drought in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.)

Nitrogen fixation activity in common bean is generally thoughtto be low and sensitive to soil drying and, consequently, droughtcan have important negative effects on N accumulation and yieldpotential. The objectives of this research were to examine theresponse of N₂fixation to drought stress in common bean, andto test the hypothesis that drought sensitivity of N₂fixationin common bean is linked to ureide levels in the plants. Twoglasshouse experiments were conducted to compare the responsesof leaf transpiration and acetylene reduction activity (ARA)to soil water contents. ARA decrease during soil dehydrationwas found to lag behind the decline in transpiration. This indicatesthat ARA is relatively less sensitive to soil dehydration comparedto leaf gas exchange. Further, in comparing two cultivars therewas no consistent difference in the relative response of ARAand transpiration to soil drying. The ureide concentrationsmeasured in common bean plants were low, ranging from 0.1 to1.0 mmol l^-1in xylem sap exudates. Ureide concentrations inthe sap exudate varied significantly among the two genotypeseven though there was no difference in ARA response to drought.It was concluded that in common bean, the lower sensitivityof N₂fixation to drought compared to leaf gas exchange couldbe related to low ureide concentrations in petioles and xylemsap.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company Phaseolus vulgaris,nitrogen fixation, drought stress, nodules, ureides.