Capillary mats were used to vary the water content in oasis blocks during mist propagation of chrysanthemum cuttings. Mats placed on the surface of the propagation bench extended over the edge of the bench and downward a distance of either 0 or 20 cm. Oasis blocks with chrysanthemum cuttings `Boaloi' and `Salmon Charm' were placed on mats under intermittent mist (10 seconds every 5 minutes) between 5 am and 8 pm. Relative water content, mL of water/gram oasis, and leaf water potential were measured at noon every 5 days. After 26 days number of roots per cutting was evaluated. Water content in the oasis block was reduced by 49% (450 to 219 mL/g dry weight of oasis) by hanging the capillary mat 20 cm over the edge of the bench compared to 0 cm treatment. Cuttings showed an increase in leaf relative water content from 49% and 51% at day 1 to 65% and 71% by day 11 for `Boaloi' and `Salmon Charm', respectively. Following initial root formation, leaf relative water content increased to 85%. Over the course of the experiment `Boaloi' and `Salmon Charm' showed an average reduction in leaf water potential of 0.14 and 0.08 MPA, respectively. `Boaloi' showed overall higher root numbers than `Salmon Charm'; however, no difference in rooting between mat treatments was observed.
Interrelations between water potential and fruit size, crop load, and stomatal conductance were studied in drip-irrigated `Spadona' pear (Pyrus communis L) grafted on quince C (Cydonia oblonga L.) rootstock and growing in a semi-arid zone. Five irrigation rates were applied in the main fruit growth phase: rates of 0.25, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, and 1.00 of “Class A” pan evaporation rate. The crop in each irrigation treatment was adjusted to four levels (200 to 1200 fruit per tree) by hand thinning at the beginning of June 1999. The crop was harvested on 1 Aug. 1999, and fruit size was determined by means of a commercial sorting machine. Soil, stem, and leaf water potentials and stomatal conductance were measured during the season. Crop yield was highly correlated with stem and soil water potentials. The highest midday stem water potential was lower than values commonly reported for nonstressed trees, and was accompanied by high soil water potential, indicating that the maximal water absorption rate of the root system under those particular soil conditions was limited. Stomatal conductance was highly correlated with leaf water potential (r 2 = 0.54), but a much better correlation was found with stem water potential (r 2 = 0.80). Stomatal conductance decreased at stem water potentials less than -2.1 MPa. Both stem water potential and stomatal conductance were unaffected by crop load under a wide range of irrigation rates.
Paraheliotropic leaf movements of bush bean were studied in relation to water availability, ambient temperature, leaf water potential, and stomatal conductance in a growth chamber. Unifoliate leaf angle from the horizontal (LA), stomatal conductance (G), and leaf water potential (WP) were measured at noon to minimize the effect of leaf movements due to circadian rhythm. Photoperiod and light intensity on the foliage were kept constant at 14 h, and 200 μmol·m–2·s–1, respectively, throughout the measurements. Negative correlations were obtained between water availability (WA) and LA (R = –0.93), and WP and LA (R = –0.85), whereas positive correlations were shown between WA and WP (R = 0.90), WA and G (R = 0.90), and WP and G (0.84) at 35C air temperature. Similar correlations were observed at 25C between WA and LA (R = –0.91), WP and LA (R = –0.79), WA and WP (R = 0.91), WA and G (R = 0.68), and WP and G (R = 0.76). Air temperature significantly (P ≤ 0.01) affected leaf movements.
Root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and osmotic potential (π) were measured in young, drought-stressed and non-stressed peach (Prunus persica), Olive (Olea europea), Citrumelo (Citrus paradisi x Poncirus trifoliata) and Pistachio (Pistachia integerrima) plants. Drought stress reduced Lp 2.5 to 4.2-fold, depending on species, but π was reduced only in expanded citrumelo leaves and unexpanded olive leaves by 0.34 and 1.4 MPa, respectively. A simulation model of plant water uptake and leaf water relations was constructed to quantify the offsetting effects of reduced Lp and osmotic adjustment (OA) on turgor maintenance. For olive data, a 2.5-fold reduction of Lp caused a linear decrease in turgor pressure difference between stressed and non-stressed plants, such that the effect of OA was totally offset at a leaf water potential (stressed) of ≈ -3.0 MPa. For citrumelo, because the degree of OA was lower, the water potential at which the effects of OA and reduced Lp were offsetting with respect to turgor maintenance was ≈ -0.6 MPa. The analysis suggests that some level of stomatal closure would be necessary to extend the water potential range over which stressed plants maintain higher turgor than non-stressed plants for citrumelo. Conversely, no degree of stomatal closure would be required of stressed olive plants to maintain higher turgor than non-stressed counterparts over a physiologically meaningful range of leaf water potential.
In order to evaluate and compare adaptability to dry sites, plant water relations and leaf gas exchange were compared in response to water stress among six birch species: monarch birch (Betula maximowicziana), river birch (B. nigra), paper birch (B. papyrifera), European birch (B. pendula), `Whitespire' Japanese birch (B. platyphylla var. japonica `Whitespire'), and gray birch (B. pendula). After 28 days without irrigation, Japanese birch maintained significantly higher stomatal conductance (gs) and net photosynthesis (Pn) than did any of the other species, despite having one of the lowest mid-day water potentials. Evaluation of tissue water relations, using pressure-volume methodology, showed no evidence of osmotic adjustment for any of these species in response to water stress. However, there was substantial variation among species in the water potential at the turgor loss point; varying from a high of -1.34 MPa for river birch to a low of -1.78 MPa for Japanese birch. Rates of Pn and gs under mild stress (mean predawn leaf water potential of -0.61 MPa) were negatively correlated with leaf osmotic potential at full turgor and the leaf water potential at the turgor loss point.
Castilleja indivisa grows hemiparasitically attached to the roots of various nearby plants. Studies were done using several host plants to determine the effects of the parasitic relationship on the growth of C. indivisa and the host plants. Transpiration rates, and leaf water potentials of C. indivisa, and various hosts, were also measured at various soil moisture levels. Carbon transfer between C. indivisa and each host was examined using a 14CO2 tracing technique.
The various hosts used in this experiment enhanced the growth of C. indivisa by 200-700% compared to non-parasitic controls. Transpiration rates of non-parasitic controls remained relatively low at all soil moisture levels while transpiration rates of parasitic C. indivisa increased rapidly as soil moisture increased, and generally exceeded that of its host at low to medium soil moisture levels. Leaf water potentials of non-parasitic controls were generally more negative than other treatments. Carbon exchange between C. indivisa and its hosts was insignificant and appears not to be a major nutritional factor.
Although transplanted trees typically establish and grow without incident in frequently irrigated turfgrass, their performance in precisely irrigated turfgrass in an arid climate is not known. We investigated the effect of precision irrigation scheduling on growth and water relations of balled-and-burlapped littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata Mill. `Greenspire') planted in buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides [Nutt.] Engelm. `Tatanka') and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Over 2 years, trees in turfgrass were irrigated either by frequent replacement based on local reference evapotranspiration, or precision irrigated by estimating depletion of soil water to the point of incipient water stress for each turfgrass species. Predawn leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of trees were measured during first-year establishment, and predawn leaf water potential was measured during a mid-season water-deficit period during the second year. Trunk diameter growth and total tree leaf area were measured at the end of each year. Values of predawn leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of trees in precision-irrigated buffalograss were lower (–0.65 MPa, 25.3 mmol·m–2·s–1) than those of trees in the other treatments near the end of the first growing season. The longer interval between precision irrigations resulted in mild water stress, but was not manifested in growth differences among trees across treatments during the first season. During the water-deficit period of the second year, there was no evidence of stress among the trees regardless of treatment. At the end of the second season, total leaf area of trees grown in precision-irrigated kentucky bluegrass (1.10 ± 0.34 m2) was 46% of that of trees grown in buffalograss (2.39 ± 0.82 m2) that were irrigated frequently. Trunk diameter growth of trees in frequently irrigated kentucky bluegrass (1.91 ± 2.65 mm) was 29% of that of the trees grown in buffalograss (6.68 ± 1.68 mm), regardless of irrigation treatment, suggesting a competition effect from kentucky bluegrass. We conclude that frequent irrigation of balled-and-burlapped trees in turfgrass, particularly buffalograss, is more conducive to tree health during establishment than is maximizing the interval between turfgrass irrigation. Regardless of irrigation schedule, kentucky bluegrass appears to impact tree growth severely during establishment in an arid climate.
We have carried out a comparative study on chitinase gene expression and enzyme activity in Lycopersicon chilense (a drought-tolerant wild tomato) and L. esculentum under water stress. Both enzyme assay and Northern blot analysis revealed that chitinase expression was differentially induced by drought among the different genotypes. Higher induction of chitinase was found in tolerant species compared to the sensitive one. Among genotypes examined, L. chilense LA2747 presented the highest level of the chitinase induction, while the lowest level was found in L. esculentum HR86. Leaves of drought-stressed plants showed the highest expression and roots showed the lowest, with stems being intermediate. Chitinase activity was detected in flowers of both drought-stressed and control plants. The measurement of leaf water potentials of different genotypes revealed a correlation between drought tolerance and the level of chitinase expression during water stress. Our results suggest that the chitinase might be involved in drought tolerance of L. chilense.
Six irrigation strategies were imposed on a block of O'Henry peach trees irrigated by fanjets. Treatments received different percentages of ET during the various stages of fruit growth and postharvest. ET was estimated by a large weighing lysimeter containing 2 trees and located in the center of the block. Fruit diameters were measured weekly and final fruit weights were determined at harvest. Adjusted fruit weights were estimated by statistically adjusting each treatment to the same fruit load.
Adjusted fruit weight correlated well with soil water content during the month before harvest but not during early stages of fruit growth. Treatments which applied 50% ET during early stages of fruit growth showed reduced fruit size at that time. However, with applications of 150% ET during the final fruit growth stage, fruit size recovered. Adjusted fruit weight also correlated with measures of tree water status including midday leaf water potential and canopy temperature.
Rooted cuttings of Acer rubrum `Red Sunset' grown in containers treated on interior surfaces with 100 g Cu(OH)2/liter white interior latex paint, or left untreated, were root pruned or not root pruned and planted in a field plot. A pseudo-bareroot treatment, trees from untreated containers shaken free of media, was included. Height (115 vs. 108 cm) and caliper (12.0 vs. 10.7 mm) at transplant was slightly greater for copper treated trees than for untreated trees. Leaf water potentials (LWP) at transplant were similar for all treatments. Mid-day LWP of trees transplanted from untreated containers tended to be lower than that of trees grown in copper treated containers at days 3, 14, 28, and 53 after transplant. Pseudo-bareroot trees had the most negative mid-day and pre-dawn LWP through day 92. Soil water potentials were from -0.01 to -0.03MPa.