scholarly journals Leaf Water Potentials of Perennial Grasses: Leaf Press and Pressure Chamber Evaluation

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry R. Cox ◽  
H. Glenn Hughes
1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Palta

SUMMARYIn the application of the Scholander pressure chamber technique to cassava water relations studies, the leaf water potential measured on central lobules was initially compared with that measured on entire leaves (including petiole). Measurements made using both a Campbell-Brewster hydraulic press and a pressure chamber of the leaf water potential in six different cassava clones were also compared. Although the central lobules showed a greater sensitivity to moisture loss after sampling than entire leaves, their leaf water potential was in close agreement with those measured on the entire leaves (r3 = 0·96). Therefore, for routine and field estimates in cassava, measurements made on the central lobules may be used to avoid the large reduction in total leaf area. The Campbell-Brewster hydraulic press satisfactorily estimated leaf water potential in M.Col. 1684 clone, which had the longest and narrowest lobules, but in other clones the leaf water potential was overestimated at high leaf potential (> -12·5) and underestimated at low water potentials (< -12·5). Over a wide range of leaf water potentials, a poor relationship between leaf water potentials estimated with hydraulic press and with the pressure chamber was observed for cassava because press estimates are influenced by lobule length and lobule width.


1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 527 ◽  
Author(s):  
NC Turner ◽  
MJ Long

In rapidly transpiring leaves, the water potentials of uncovered leaves measured in a pressure chamber were 0.2-0.7 MPa lower than the water potentials of leaves that were covered with a plastic sheath from just prior to their excision to the completion of the measurement. The error in the water potential of uncovered leaves arose from rapid water loss in the first 30 s after excision. The degree to which the water potentials were lowered depended on the rate of transpiration, the leaf water potential at the time of excision, the species, and whether the plants were grown in the glasshouse or field. It is suggested that the variation between species and between glasshouse-grown and field-grown plants arises from differences in water retention characteristics of plant tissue as well as to differences in the rates of transpiration at excision. The size of the error induced by the rapid water loss on diurnal changes in leaf water potential is demonstrated and the effect of the error in the calculation of turgor potentials and in the resistances to water flow through the plant is discussed.


1970 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
HD Barrs ◽  
B Freeman ◽  
J Blackwell ◽  
RD Ceccato

The rapidity and convenience of the pressure chamber technique for estimating leaf water potentials, especially under field conditions, has been remarked (Boyer 1967; Kaufmann 1968a, 1968b) and demonstrated (Klepper and Ceccato 1969). However, Kaufmann (1968a) showed that it is necessary to exercise caution .in using measurements made with the pressure chamber as direct estimates of leaf water potential. Instead, he recommended that calibration curves should be drawn up for each species, relating measurements of xylem pressure potential obtained with this technique to corresponding known leaf water potentials. The present communication reports such a relation for tomato leaves, which have not previously been studied in this way. Plant age is shown to affect the relation.


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.


1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Guobin ◽  
DR Kemp ◽  
GB Liu

The effect of water stress during summer and recovery after rain on herbage accumulation, leaf growth components, stomatal conductance and leaf water relations of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Australian Commercial) was studied in an established mixed pasture under dryland (dry) or irrigated (wet) conditions. Soil water deficits under dry conditions reached 150 mm and soil water potentials in the top 20 cm declined to nearly -2 MPa after 50 days of dry weather. Water stress severely restricted growth of both species but then after rain fell, white clover growth rates exceeded those of phalaris. Under irrigation, white clover produced twice the herbage mass of phalaris but under dry conditions herbage production was similar from both species. Leaf appearance rates per tiller or stolon were slightly higher for white clover than phalaris but were reduced by 20% under water stress in both species. Leaf or petiole extension rates were more sensitive to water stress than leaf appearance rates and declined by 75% in phalaris and 90% in white clover. The ratio of leaf or petiole extension rates on dry/wet treatments was similar for both species in relation to leaf relative water contents, but in relation to leaf water potentials phalaris maintained higher leaf growth rates. Phalaris maintained a higher leaf relative water content in relation to leaf water potentials than did white clover and also maintained higher leaf water potentials in relation to the soil water potential in the top 20 cm. Stomata1 conductances for both species declined by 80-90% with increasing water stress, and both species showed similar stomatal responses to bulk leaf water potentials and leaf relative water contents. It is suggested that the poorer performance of white clover under water stress may be due principally to a shallower root system than phalaris and not due to any underlying major physiological differences. The white clover cultivar used in this study came from the mediterranean region and showed some different responses to water stress than previously published evidence on white clover. This suggests genetic variation in responses to water stress may exist within white clover. To maintain white clover in a pasture under dry conditions it is suggested that grazing practices aim to retain a high proportion of growing points.


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