INDICATORS OF WATER STRESS IN CORN (Zea mays L.)

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. DWYER ◽  
D. W. STEWART
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Stomatal Resistance ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Predawn Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Diurnal Patterns ◽  
Potential Transpiration

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to monitor the response of corn (Zea mays L.) to water stress conditions during and following tasselling, and to compare several indicators of water stress. Daily measurements of soil water content and of evaporative demand were made. The degree of plant water stress was indicated by estimates of minimum daily stomatal resistance, comparison of estimated actual and potential transpiration rates, diurnal patterns of leaf water potential and predawn leaf water potentials taken on lower leaves. Analysis of the series of measurements necessary to estimate minimum daily stomatal resistance, actual to potential transpiration rate ratios, and diurnal patterns of leaf water potential identified periods of relative water stress. The simpler and less time-consuming measurement of predawn leaf water potential compared favorably with these other indicators of water stress. We therefore suggest that predawn leaf water potential is an appropriate diagnostic measurement of water stress with promise for irrigation scheduling, particularly for crops in which irrigation is important for a short but critical period.Key words: Leaf water potential, stomatal resistance, transpiration, vapor pressure deficit, soil water deficit

NET CO2 EXCHANGE RATE AS A SENSITIVE INDICATOR OF PLANT WATER STATUS IN CORN (Zea mays L.)

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 597-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. CEULEMANS ◽  
I. IMPENS ◽  
M. C. LAKER ◽  
F. M. G. VAN ASSCHE ◽  
R. MOTTRAM
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Available Water Capacity

With the objective to evaluate and compare different physiological plant parameters as indicators of water stress, net CO2 exchange rate (NCER), leaf temperature, predawn and daytime leaf water potential were monitored diurnally on last fully expanded leaves of corn (Zea mays L.) plants under two different soil water treatments (stressed and nonstressed) during a 10-d period at anthesis in a semi-arid region in South Africa. Profile available water capacity (PAWC) was used to express the soil water contents during the experiments. A significant decrease in NCER was noticed as soon as 30% of PAWC was extracted, i.e. 2 or 3 d after irrigation. Although the results were limited to a short, well-defined measuring period, NCER, and especially NCER at noon, seemed to be a more sensitive and more reliable indicator of corn water stress than, for example, predawn or daytime leaf water potential, at least under the conditions studied here. This reduction in NCER might have a significant impact on total biomass, rooting density, flower and ear formation.Key words: Corn, irrigation scheduling, photosynthesis, leaf water potential, profile available water capacity, soil water content

scholarly journals Growth and Water Relations of Littleleaf Linden Trees Established in Irrigated Buffalograss and Kentucky Bluegrass

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1529-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ryan Stewart ◽  
Roger Kjelgren ◽  
Paul G. Johnson ◽  
Michael R. Kuhns
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Predawn Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
Second Year

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.

Emerging effects of selected rhizosphere properties on transpiration and leaf water potential of two Zea mays L. genotypes in semi-arid environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Köhler ◽  
Daniel-Sebastian Moser ◽  
Ákos Botezatu ◽  
Jana Kholova ◽  
Andrea Carminati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Root Hairs ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Soil Drying ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Stomatal Regulation ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Understanding the mechanisms that control water use of plants exposed to soil drying and increasing vapour pressure deficit (VPD) has important implications for crop growth in semi-arid regions with low-input agriculture. In particular, the effect of belowground processes on transpiration and stomatal regulation remains controversial. Objective of this study was to understand the role of soil properties and root hairs (as an example of rhizosphere traits) on transpiration and leaf water potential. We hypothesize that root hairs facilitate the water extraction from drying soils, particularly at high VPD, and that this impacts the relation between transpiration rate and leaf water potential. We further hypothesize that stomatal regulation attenuates the drop in leaf water potential when the soil water flow cannot match the transpiration demand and thus emphasizes the importance of root hairs on transpiration rates during soil drying.</p><p>We compared maize (Zea mays L.) with (wild-type) and without (mutant) root hairs in three different soil substrates (Alfisol, Vertisol and Sandy Soil). Transpiration and leaf water potential were monitored at varying VPD and soil moistures during soil drying. The hairless mutant showed a higher transpiration in wet soils but declined transpiration at greater water contents as compared to the wild-type. Under well-watered conditions, both genotypes had the highest transpiration rates in Vertisol. In Vertisol, both genotypes closed their stomata at relatively higher water content levels. The relation between transpiration and soil moisture strongly varied between soils. No obvious differences between the genotypes were visible in the relationship between leaf water potential and transpiration. This is explained by the prompt closure of stomata. This study provides experimental evidence of the strong link between stomatal regulation and soil-root hydraulic properties.</p>

WATER EXTRACTION PATTERNS AND DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT WATER DEFICITS IN CORN

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. DWYER ◽  
D. W. STEWART
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Plant Water

Water extraction patterns and plant water deficits for corn (Zea mays L.) were measured and related to development of aboveground biomass, leaf area and root density under different irrigation schedules in controlled chambers. A multi-layer transpiration model, based on an Ohm’s Law analogy, simulated the water uptake processes and predicted leaf water potential and soil water content through time. Comparison of measurements and model predictions of plant and soil water status tested our understanding of the principles involved in plant water use which resulted in growth differences. The experiment involved 48 planted cylinders plus controls; half were well-watered and maintained at or above field capacity and half were allowed to dry to near the wilting point. Over 6 wk, water stress reduced above-ground biomass and leaf area, but enhanced root growth over that of well-watered plants. This reflected the preferential allocation of photosynthate to the root when soil water became limiting. Measured leaf water potentials fell below the level for stomatal closure of the chamber population. The model also predicted a degree of water stress (midday leaf water potential of −1.48 MPa) that would increase stomatal resistance and restrict transpiration and photosynthesis. Measurements and predictions of soil water content over time were generally in good agreement. The model is therefore considered useful in describing water use patterns under controlled conditions.Key words: Zea mays L., transpiration, water use modelling, plant water stress, dry matter partitioning

COMPARATIVE WATER STRESS STUDIES ON DROUGHT RESISTANT AND SUSCEPTIBLE CORN GROWN IN CHAMBER AND FIELD ENVIRONMENTS

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. SKRETKOWICZ ◽  
G. W. THURTELL
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Stomatal Resistance ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Stress Studies ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Drought Resistant ◽  
Corn Plants

Drought resistant and drought susceptible corn plants were grown in both field and growth room environments in order to study differences in response to water stress attributable to their growth environments, including their prestress history.After 40–56 days of growth, field- and chamber-grown drought resistant and susceptible plants were placed in a growth cabinet for the drought stress experiments. There they underwent two stress cycles, during which time water was witheld. During the cycles, leaf water potential, transpiration, stomatal resistance and soil moisture content were monitored. The response differences due to water stress between the drought resistant and susceptible plants were first examined. Response differences due to their prestress growth environments were then considered.The responses of the field- and chamber-grown drought resistant plants to stress were found to be similar although there were differences in the absolute value of the responses measured. This was also true of the drought susceptible plants. The drought resistant plants were able to maintain their ability to extract water for a longer period of time than the susceptible plants. They maintained low stomatal resistance values for a large part of the drying cycle. The values of leaf water potential at which the stomatal resistances increased were lower than those of the drought susceptible plants. This enabled the drought resistant plants to extend their period of water utilization.During the drying cycles, the field-grown drought resistant and susceptible plants maintained low stomatal resistances and high transpiration rates for a longer period of time than their chamber counterparts. The values of leaf water potential at which stomatal resistance increased and transpiration decreased were lower than those of the chamber-grown plants, allowing the field-grown plants a slightly extended period of water utilization.The knowledge of prestress history of plants grown in different environments is shown to be of importance when comparative studies between field and controlled environments are undertaken. The similarity in response found between field- and chamber- grown plants is a useful factor as the chamber work with these particular cultivars is shown to be representative of field response at this location.Key words: Water stress, drought resistance, Zea mays L.

Water stress conditioning of corn (Zea mays) in the field and the greenhouse

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Dwyer ◽  
D. W. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Osmotic Adjustment ◽  
Osmotic Potential ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Pressure Potential ◽  
Response To Water

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.

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