Osmotic Adjustment in Expanding and Fully Expanded Leaves of Sunflower in Response to Water Deficits

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Jones ◽  
NC Turner

Sunflower plants were grown in large volumes of soil and slowly water-stressed by withholding water. The tissue water relationships of leaves at various stages of stress and of leaves of equivalent well watered controls were studied by the pressure chamber technique. Plants were stressed either when leaf 17 was expanding or when it was fully expanded. When expanding leaves reached a moderate level of stress (predawn leaf water potential of -0.9 MPa), the osmotic potentials at full turgor and zero turgor were lower than the control values by 0.1 MPa and 0.2 MPa, respectively. When fully expanded leaves were stressed to a similar degree (predawn leaf water potential of - 1.1 MPa), the osmotic potentials at full turgor and zero turgor were lower than the control values by 0.2 MPa and 0.3 MPa, respectively. The development of more severe stress in the fully expanded leaves was not accompanied by any further osmotic adjustment. However, when the expanding leaves reached a predawn leaf water potential of -2.3 MPa, the values of leaf osmotic potential at full turgor and zero turgor were lower than the values for the well watered plants by 0.4 MPa and 0.6 MPa, respectively. In expanding leaves prestressed to a predawn leaf water potential of -2.3 MPa, the osmotic potential at full turgor was significantly less than the control values for at least 7 days after rewatering. Stress had no effect on the bulk modulus of elasticity. It is concluded that both expanding and fully expanded sunflower leaves show osmotic adjustment.

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
NC Turner ◽  
JE Begg ◽  
ML Tonnet

The soil and plant water status of irrigated and unirrigated sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. TX610] and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Hysun 30) crops were compared on several days from the late vegetative to the early grain-filling stages of development. Additionally, the stems of plants from the irrigated and unirrigated plots of both species were cut near their base; this caused the plants to quickly dry until the stomata closed. The leaf water potential and leaf osmotic potential were measured when the stomatal resistance reached 6 s cm-� to give the water potential for stomatal closure and to provide osmotic potentials at equal turgor. Carbohydrate and potassium levels of leaves were also monitored. The mean daily minimum leaf water potentials in the irrigated sorghum and sunflower did not decrease below - 1 7 MPa and - 2.0 MPa, respectively, but decreased to - 2.1 MPa in the unirrigated sorghum and -2.6 MPa in the unirrigated sunflower. The osmotic potential at stomatal closure in the rapidly dried plants decreased with increasing leaf water deficit in both sunflower and sorghum: in both species the osmotic potential decreased approximately 0.6 MPa for each megapascal decrease in leaf water potential. The results indicate that both sorghum and sunflower adjusted osmotically in response to water deficits and that adjustment occurred at a rate of at least 0.1 MPa per day. The lowering of osmotic potential persisted less than 9 days after the relief of stress in both sunflower and sorghum. The soluble sugar concentration increased linearly in both sunflower and sorghum with osmotic adjustment: the rate of increase of soluble sugars was significantly greater in sunflower than sorghum. No changes in potassium concentration were observed during osmotic adjustment. The water potential at which the stomata closed varied from - 1.5 to -2.6 MPa in sorghum and - 1.7 to -2.7 MPa in sunflower: the water potential that induced stomatal closure decreased as the osmotic potential decreased. Stomatal closure occurred at a mean turgor of -0-5 MPa in both species: systematic error in the measurement of osmotic potential on frozen and thawed leaf tissue is considered the reason for the low turgor potentials at stomatal closure. The adaxial stomatal closed before the abaxial stomata in the sorghum and unirrigated sunflower but, since the leaf water potential initially fell rapidly and then became stable before the adaxial stomata closed, both the adaxial and abaxial stomata closed at the same leaf water potential.


1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Jones ◽  
CB Osmond ◽  
NC Turner

The influence of water deficits on the concentrations of major solutes in fully expanded sorghum leaves and fully expanded and partly expanded sunflower leaves was studied in order to assess their contribution to osmotic adjustment. The decreased osmotic potential at full turgor in fully expanded sorghum leaves at a moderate level of stress (predawn leaf water potential of -0.85 MPa) was fully accounted for by increases in sugars, potassium and chloride. The contributions of total inorganic ions and sugars (glucose and sucrose) were approximately equal. In fully expanded sunflower leaves stressed to a predawn leaf water potential of - 1.4 MPa, only half of the decrease in leaf osmotic potential was accounted for by changes in the concentrations of the solutes studied: increases in the concentrations of the inorganic ions, potassium, magnesium, calcium and nitrate, together with free amino acids were approximately equal to the decrease in leaf osmotic potential at full turgor, but the contributions of these solutes were offset by a decrease in the concentration of total carboxylic acids. Sugars did not contribute to the decrease in leaf osmotic potential at full turgor in fully expanded sunflower leaves. The major solutes responsible for the changes in leaf osmotic potential at full turgor in partly expanded sunflower leaves exposed to severe stress treatment (predawn leaf water potential of -2.3 MPa) were the inorganic anions, chloride and nitrate, and to a lesser extent carboxylic acids (principally aconitate). Free amino acids made a significant contribution (18%) to the decrease in leaf osmotic potential at full turgor, but there was a decrease in the level of soluble sugars.


1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 747 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Tangpremsri ◽  
S Fukai ◽  
KS Fischer ◽  
RG Henzell

Development of genotypic variation in osmotic adjustment was examined in two glasshouse experiments using two sets of sorghum material. In the first experiment, 47 S2 lines extracted from a randomly mated population were used, whereas in the other, inbred parents and their 15 hybrids were compared. In both experiments, water deficit was induced in two periods, one before anthesis and the other after anthesis for most genotypes. In both experiments osmotic potential at the beginning of the first drying period was similar among genotypes and therefore osmotic potential obtained under water deficit was used for the comparison of osmotic adjustment among genotypes. In the first drying period of both experiments, when stress was milder, about 40% of the variation in osmotic adjustment was accounted for by difference in leaf water potential. When the effect of water potential was removed by covariance analysis, there was significant genotypic variation in osmotic adjustment in the second experiment, but not in the first experiment. On the other hand, in the second drying period, when stress was more severe, the effect of leaf water potential on osmotic adjustment was small. There was significant genotypic variation in osmotic adjustment in both experiments after the water potential effect was removed by covariance analysis. Osmotic adjustment in the second drying period was also negatively correlated with grain sink/source ratio (number of grains/leaf area) in the first set of materials. The comparison of osmotic adjustment among hybrids and their parents showed that, in this particular set of genotypes, the female parents were more important than the male in determining osmotic adjustment of the hybrids. The genotypic variation was associated with performance under water deficit in the field. It is concluded that there is considerable genotypic variation in osmotic adjustment in the genetic material examined. Osmotic adjustment is, however, correlated with water potential and grain sink/source balance, and hence the selection for osmotic adjustment needs to ensure that high value is not due simply to low water potential or small head size.


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 823-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
H W Cutforth ◽  
S V Angadi ◽  
B G McConkey ◽  
M H Entz ◽  
D Ulrich ◽  
...  

Understanding the drought physiology of alternate crops is essential to assess the production risks of new cropping systems. We compared the water relations of dry (field) pea (Pisum sativum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.) with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different moisture availabilities in field trials conducted in 1997 and 1998 at Swift Current, SK. Stress experience and stress responses varied with crop type. In general, there were similarities in drought physiology between the two pulse crops and between the two oilseed crops. The mean predawn leaf water potential of pea was frequently lowest, while the mean midday leaf water potential of wheat was at least -0.40 MPa lower than for any other crop. The crops exhibited different strategies to overcome water stress. Wheat had the lowest osmotic potential at full turgor, except under drought when turgor was lowest for chickpea and wheat; the highest values were observed in Brassica spp. Mean midday pressure potentials were lowest in wheat (and mostly negative, indicating loss of turgor) and highest for the pulse crops. Mean midday pressure potential for canola was positive when well-watered, otherwise it was near 0. Despite lowering osmotic potential, wheat could not maintain positive turgor much of the time at midday. Pulse crops, with the contributions from both osmotic adjustment and cell elasticity, maintained positive turgor over a wider range of water potentials compared with the other crops. With regard to both osmotic adjustment and tissue elasticity, we ranked the crops from high to low ability to adjust to moderate to severe water stress as pulses > wheat > Brassica oilseeds. Key words: Leaf water, osmotic, turgor potentials, wheat, pulse, canola, semiarid prairie


1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay F. Brown ◽  
M. McGowan ◽  
M. J. Armstrong

SummaryFor many field-grown crops, including sugar beet, there is little information on the seasonal changes in leaf water potential and its components as the soil dries. Therefore, seasonal changes in leaf water, osmotic and turgor potentials of sugar beet were measured in two seasons, in crops that experienced differing degrees of soil moisture stress. In 1983 potentials of crops exposed to early and late droughts were compared with those of irrigated crops, and in 1984 measurements were made in a non-irrigated crop. In the irrigated crop the midday leaf water potential changed little during the season, except in response to fluctuating evaporative demand. In the drought and non-irrigated treatments there was a sharp fall in leaf water potential as soon as the soil water potential decreased. The size of the midday leaf water potential was primarily determined by soil dryness. However, the leaf water potential did not decrease below about — 1·5 MPa in either year. The leaf osmotic potential declined at the same time as the leaf water potential, but the extent to which this happened differed in the two years. Only in the 1984 non-irrigated crop did the osmotic potential continue to decrease as the soil dried, suggesting that osmotic adjustment had taken place in 1984 but not in 1983. Thus higher turgor was maintained in the 1984 crop than in the 1983 drought-affected crops. Some turgors were recorded as apparently negative in 1983.Since the leaf water potential declined to a minimum of about — 1·5 MPa, the soil water potential minima were also about — 1·5 MPa. However, deeper soil was not dried to this extent, suggesting that the extra resistance for water uptake from deep soil was limiting or the rooting density was too low.The pattern of recovery of leaf water potential overnight suggested that the rhizosphere resistance to water movement was small, even as the soil dried. However, measurement of stem water potentials in 1984 indicated that a significant resistance to water flow existed within the aerial part of sugar beet plants. This shows that the use of the water potential in leaves as an estimate of that in stems or roots can be misleading.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Dwyer ◽  
D. W. Stewart

Leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and leaf conductance were measured on corn (Zea mays L.) under water stress in the field and the greenhouse. Field-grown plants were subjected to several cycles of moderate water stress during vegetative growth, while greenhouse plants were well watered until just before the measurement period began following tasselling. In both the field and the greenhouse, leaf water potential declined at midday. Comparison of leaf water potential and osmotic potential measurements indicated that in both environments, the midday decline in leaf water potential was accompanied by a decline in osmotic potential. Since the decline in osmotic potential was greater than that accounted for by predicted volume changes resulting from normal daily dehydration, it was assumed to indicate osmotic adjustment. Despite these similarities, field-grown plants showed a greater response to water stress. Field plants underwent larger daily changes in leaf water potential and these were accompanied by larger changes in osmotic potential. As a result of this greater osmotic adjustment in the field, conductivity was higher at equivalent leaf water potentials and the critical leaf water potential was lower than in greenhouse-grown plants. In both environments, osmotic adjustment maintained leaf turgor (or pressure potential) in a narrow positive range. Although there was no direct relation between turgor potential and leaf conductivity, we hypothesize that the maintenance of a positive turgor potential during daylight hours is significant for growth since it may allow the moisture- and temperature-sensitive process of leaf expansion to proceed during the warmer daylight hours, even under moderate water stress.


1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Nulsen ◽  
GW Thurtell

Nutrient solutions with osmotic potentials of -70, -190 and -380 kPa were supplied to maize plants whose roots were enclosed in a pressure chamber. The plants were stressed and then rewatered with the same nutrient solution. Sap flow rate from the detopped root system was measured at 400 kPa applied pressure. The lower was the osmotic potential of the pretreatment solution, the lower was the initial flow rate. Flow rates rapidly decreased to zero and did not recover for up to 90 min. Different responses in leaf water potential of unstressed, intact plants occurred when the nutrient solution bathing the root was replaced by either a more concentrated nutrient solution or a solution of sucrose or polyethylene glycol 6000. For nutrient solution replacement the change in leaf water potential was less than the difference in solution osmotic potentials; for sucrose the difference was greater, and for polyethylene glycol the change was equal to the osmotic potential difference. Osmotic effects observed were due to differential accumulations at different barriers in the root. The zero-flow periods seen during recovery of severely stressed plants may have been due to a decrease in the osmotic potential of the solution external to the plasmalemma of root cortical cells.


HortScience ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.E. Dudeck ◽  
C.H. Peacock ◽  
J.C. Wildmon

Salt tolerance in grasses is needed due to increased restrictions on limited fresh water resources and to saltwater intrusion into groundwater. St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] is used widely as a lawngrass in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. We describe the response of four St. Augustinegrass cultivars to solution cultures differentially salinized with synthetic seawater. A sea salt mixture was added to half-strength Hoagland's No. 2 nutrient solution to provide six salinity treatments ranging from 1.1 to 41.5 dS·m-1. Adjustments in leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential, and leaf turgor potential were measured as salt levels were increased gradually at 2-day intervals over 10 days. Salinity effects on growth of top, crown, and root of each cultivar were measured over 3 months. Turfgrasses differed in their response, but were consistent in adjustment in leaf water potential and in leaf turgor potential as salinity increased. Leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential, and leaf turgor potential decreased linearly with increased salinity, but a positive turgor of 0.1 MPa was maintained at a salt concentration equal to that of seawater. `Seville', the most salt-tolerant St. Augustinegrass cultivar, exhibited a 50% reduction in top growth at 28.1 dS·m-1, while `Floratam', `Floratine', and `Floralawn' St. Augustinegrasses showed the same reduction in top growth at 22.8 dS·m-1. Differences between cultivars were greatest at salinity levels <10 dS·m-1, where `Seville' was twice as salt-tolerant compared to other cultivars. The grasses did not die, although top growth of all cultivars was severely reduced at a salt level equal to seawater.


1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Alvino ◽  
M Centritto ◽  
FD Lorenzi

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were grown in 1 m2 lysimeters under two different water regimes in order to investigate differences in the spatial arrangements of the leaves and to relate this to daily assimilation rates of leaves of the canopy. The control regime (well-watered (W) treatment) was irrigated whenever the accumulated 'A' pan evaporation reached 4 cm, whereas the water-stressed (S) treatment was watered whenever the predawn leaf water potential fell below -1 MPa. During the growing cycle, equal numbers of sun and shade leaves were chosen from the apical, middle and basal parts of the canopy, corresponding to groups of leaves of increasing age. The CO2 exchange rate (CER) was measured at 0830, 1230 and 1530 hours on 8 days along the crop cycle, on leaves in their natural inclination and orientation. Leaf water potentials were measured on apical leaves before dawn and concurrently with gas exchange measurements. Control plants maintained predawn leaf water potential at -0.3 MPa, but S plants reached values lower than -1.2 MPa. Midday leaf water potentials were about twice as low in the S plants as in the controls. Water stress reduced LA1 during the period of crop growth, and dry matter production at harvest. Stressed apical leaves appeared to reduce stress by changing their inclination. They were paraheliotropic around midday and diaheliotropic at 0830 and 1530 hours. The CER values of the S treatment were significantly lower than those of the W treatment in apical and middle leaves, whereas the CER of basal leaves did not differ in either treatments. In the S treatment, reduction in the CER values of sunlit apical leaves was more evident in the afternoon than at midday or early in the morning, whereas basal leaves were less affected by water than basal stress leaves if sunlit, and negligibly in shaded conditions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Fares ◽  
Fabio Vasconcelos ◽  
Joao Mendes-Moreira ◽  
Carlos Ferreira

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