variations in osmotic adjustment and correlation to physiological traits. OA level in leaves increased during drought stress in all genotypes ( Fig. 4 ). The OA was significantly greater in ColxCr14, ColxCr190, and SAGIPT41 than ColxCr679, ‘Penncross’, and
. In an earlier review article, Munns (1988) pointed out that growth reduction under drought stress may also contribute to osmotic adjustment, with a 30% reduction in a relative growth rate of leaves resulting in a reduction in ψ S by 0.1 to 0.2 MPa
stresses such as high and low temperatures, drought, and salinity ( Liu et al., 2017 ). Osmotic adjustment is a mechanism for the maintenance of water potential in plant cells during periods of heat and cold stress ( Zaher-Ara et al., 2016 ). Compatible
Expansion of green-white and red fruit in control (watered) and water-stressed greenhouse-grown strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch. `Brighton') plants was monitored with pressure transducers. Expansion of green-white fruit in control plants was rapid, showing little diurnal variation; whereas in water-stressed plants, fruit expansion occurred only during dark periods and shrinkage during the day. Red fruit were mature and failed to show net expansion. The apoplastic water potential (ψaw), measured with in situ psychrometers in control plants was always higher in leaves than in green-white fruit. In stressed plants, ψaw of leaves was higher than that of green-white fruit only in the dark, corresponding to the period when these fruit expanded. To determine the ability of fruit to osmotically adjust, fruit were removed from control and water-stressed plants, and hydrated for 12 hours; then, solute potential at full turgor (ψs 100) was measured. Water-stressed green-white fruit showed osmotic adjustment with a ψs 100 that was 0.28 MPa lower than that of control fruit. Mature leaves of water-stressed plants showed a similar level of osmotic adjustment, whereas water stress did not have a significant effect on the ψs 100 of red fruit. Fruit also were severed to permit rapid dehydration, and fruit solute potential (ψs) was plotted against relative water content [RWC = (fresh mass - dry mass ÷ fully turgid mass - dry mass) × 100]. Water-stressed, green-white fruit had a lower ψs for a given RWC than control fruit, further confirming the occurrence of osmotic adjustment in the stressed fruit tissue. The lack of a linear relationship between turgor pressure and RWC prevented the calculation of cell elasticity or volumetric elastic modulus. Osmotic adjustment resulted in about a 2.5-fold increase in glucose and sucrose levels in water-stressed green-white fruit. Although green-white fruit on water-stressed plants showed osmotic adjustment, it was not sufficient to maintain fruit expansion during the day.
contributor to OA in creeping bentgrass. Fig. 4. Osmotic adjustment of creeping bentgrass under well-watered (W) and drought stress without (D) and with glycine betaine (D + GB) or spermidine (Spd; D + Spd) treatments. Drought stress was imposed on 12 June
Growth-chamber studies were conducted to examine the ability of seven vegetable crops-`Blue Lake' bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), `Detroit Dark Red' beet (Beta vulgaris L.), `Burgundy' okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (Moench), `Little Marvel' pea (Pisum sativum L.), `California Wonder' bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), `New Zealand' spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and `Beefsteak' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)–to adjust osmotically in response to water-deficit stress. Water stress was imposed by withholding water for 3 days, and the adjustment of leaf and root osmotic potentials upon relief of the stress and rehydration were monitored with thermocouple psychrometers. Despite similar reductions in leaf water potential and stomata1 conductance among the species studied, crop-specific differences were observed in leaf and root osmotic adjustment. Leaf osmotic adjustment was observed for bean, pepper, and tomato following water-deficit stress. Root osmotic adjustment was significant in bean, okra, pea, and tomato. Furthermore, differences in leaf and root osmotic adjustment were also observed among five tomato cultivars. Leaf osmotic adjustment was not associated with the maintenance of leaf growth following water-deficit stress, since leaf expansion of water-stressed bean and pepper, two species capable of osmotic adjustment, was similar to that of spinach, which exhibited no leaf osmotic adjustment.
Osmotic adjustment in response to decreasing media water availability was observed for in vitro Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. cultivars Bright Golden Anne, Deep Luv, and Lucido. Water stress was induced by increasing sorbitol (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 M), mannitol (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 M), and sucrose (30, 45, 60, 75, 90 g·l-1) concentrations in modified MS media (2 mg·l-1 BA and 0.1 mg·l-1 NAA). Osmotic adjustment was evidenced by a significant reduction in measured cell sap osmotic potential (R2 = 0.78, 0.96, 0.91 for sucrose, sorbitol, and mannitol respectively) in all cultivars. Shoot length, weighted density (apparent mass), and proliferation were significantly reduced by sorbitol and mannitol treatments. Sucrose reduced shoot proliferation, increased length, and had an inconsistent effect on weighted density. Cultures grown on media without hormones showed tremendous increase in root number up to 60 g·l-1 sucrose. Sorbitol had a negligible effect on rooting at 0.1 M but no roots developed at higher sorbitol concentrations or in any mannitol treatments. Plants transferred to a non-water-stress media after they had experienced in vitro water stress exhibited no change in osmotic properties from the stress treatments.
Abbreviations: A, apoplastic water percentage; ∈ avg , average elastic modulus; E max , maximum value of elastic modulus; PV, pressure-volume; RDW, relative dry weight; ROWC, relative osmotic (or symplastic) water content; ROWC 0 , relative osmotic
Abstract
Seedlings of ‘Halford’ peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] maintained in a growth chamber and exposed to leaf water deficits as low as – 38 bars exhibited slight osmotic adjustment before turgor potential reached zero. This adjustment was inadequate to maintain high turgor potential, which decreased until reaching zero at a total leaf water potential of ca. —20 bars. Stomatal conductance was linearly related to total leaf water potential and independent of the average turgor potential of the leaf.
Six-year-old trees were repeatedly conditioned by withholding irrigation until Ψpd (predawn) thresholds of either –0.9 (“mild”) or –1.4 MPa (“moderate”) were attained. After conditioning, trees were exposed to severe drought (Ψpd –2.0 MPa) and then to 10 days of well-watered conditions. Throughout the investigation, osmotic potential (Ψπ), leaf RWC, transpiration, and total water potential (Ψx) were measured. Water stress was quantified by integrating Ψx. Conditioning caused a significant, but modest, degree of osmotic adjustment (0.08 to 0.28 MPa), which persisted after a brief relief from stress and transpiration rates were reduced 35% to 50%. Osmotic adjustment was not significantly enhanced by more than one stress exposure or conditioning beyond the mild threshold of stress. During severe drought, the moderate group maintained less negative Ψx and lower transpiration rates (38%). After prolonged stress relief, Ψx was similar among all treatments and daily transpiration rates and Ψx gradually recovered. Thuja occidentalis appears to rely on increased stomatal resistance more than osmotic adjustment to tolerate drought stress.