Salt accumulation and depletion in the root-zone of the halophyte Atriplex nummularia Lindl.: influence of salinity, leaf area and plant water use

Mechanical conditioning can be used to control the height of vegetable and ornamental transplants. Previous research indicated that brushing plants increases cuticular water loss from detached leaves, which may be an indication of decreased drought resistance. This might decrease post-transplant survival of the plants. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of brushing on growth and gas exchange by tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and quantify whole-plant water use during a slow dry-down period. Tomato plants were grown from seed in a greenhouse during Fall 1995. The brushing treatment started 11 days after seeding and consisted of 40 strokes, twice each day. After 39 days of treatment, brushing reduced height 32%, leaf area 34%, and shoot dry mass 29% compared to control plants. Brushing did not affect leaf gas exchange. Brushed plants had a higher stem water flux than control plants during the first 3 days of a 6-day dry-down period. Stem water flux was lower than that of control plants later in the cycle, presumably because brushed plants used more of the available water during the first 3 days. On the third day of the dry-down period, leaf conductance of brushed plants was 35% higher than that of control plants, resulting in a 10% higher transpiration rate per unit leaf area. Because brushed plants had less leaf area than controls, differences in whole-plant water use were small. Time to wilting was similar for the brushed and unbrushed plants (6 days after withholding water). It seems unlikely that brushing would have a major effect on drought tolerance of plants.

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Relationship of Black Vine Weevil Egg Density and Damage to Two Cranberry Cultivars

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.47.6.755 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 755-761

Author(s):

Betsey Miller ◽

Denny J. Bruck ◽

Vaughn Walton

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Water Use ◽

Shoot Length ◽

Root Weight ◽

Plant Water ◽

Root Damage ◽

Plant Water Use ◽

Egg Density ◽

Black Vine Weevil ◽

Shoot Weight

Black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Fabricius), is a serious pest of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. Larvae feed undetected within the soil and cause damage to roots and underground vines. We correlated damage caused by feeding larvae from known BVW egg densities. Two cultivars of potted cranberry vines, ‘Stevens’ and ‘McFarlin’, were inoculated with 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 eggs per pot. Root damage and canopy health were assessed. ‘Stevens’ exceeded ‘McFarlin’ in dry shoot weight, total shoot length, total leaf area, and dry root weight before egg treatments. Damage to underground vines increased with increasing egg density and more damage was found in ‘Stevens’ than ‘McFarlin’ at the highest egg densities. In August, plant water use and total shoot length in ‘McFarlin’ were significantly greater in plants treated with 0–5 eggs per pot compared with plants treated with 40–80 eggs per pot. The effect on total shoot length was more pronounced in October. ‘Stevens’ showed no response to increasing BVW density for up to 24 weeks. Destructive measurements showed decreased root weight in ‘McFarlin’ but not ‘Stevens’. Both cultivars showed a similar decrease in dry shoot weight, total shoot length, and percent green leaf area with increasing BVW egg density. Root damage increased as BVW egg density increased and this damage resulted in reduced plant water use for ‘McFarlin’. Reduced shoot growth and leaf area was recorded for both cultivars, although these effects were more apparent in ‘McFarlin’ and at an earlier stage than in ‘Stevens’.

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