| Abstract: | Festuca arundicacea and Lolium perenne were grown in a controlled-environmentwind tunnel at high (7.4 m s–1) or low (1.0 m s–1)windspeed. The rate of leaf extension was markedly reduced atthe high windspeed. This effect could not be attributed to waterstress, for, although the leaf conductance increased with exposureto high wind, no effect on leaf water potential was detected.Nor was the rate of photosynthesis affected when the windspeedwas changed. Moreover, concentrations of ethylene in the windtunnel were too low to explain the observations. It is suggestedthat mechanical stimulus itself may have caused the reductionin leaf growth rate. |
