scholarly journals Comparison of Water Potentials in Leaves as Measured by Two Types of Thermocouple Psychrometer

1965 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
HD Barrs

A comparison of water potentials as measured by two types of miniature thermocouple psychrometer, when used in vapour pressure equilibration chambers containing leaf material, has been made. Significant differences were observed.

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (17) ◽  
pp. 1997-1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. T. McDonough

Seeds of smooth brome grass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cultivar Ladak) were allowed to imbibe in water or solutions of polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 1540), mannitol, or sodium chloride. Seed water potentials were determined over a 72-h period after transfer of seeds to thermocouple psychrometer chambers. Seed water potentials were lower than osmotic potentials of the media, but these two potentials were not clearly related to each other. Possible reasons for the lack of gradation in response are discussed.


Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
IM Wood ◽  
IK Dart ◽  
HB So

This study examined two polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers (PEG 6000 and PEG 10000) and compared measurements of water potential obtained with a thermocouple osmometer and thermocouple psychrometers at three temperatures (15, 25 and 35�C) and five osmdalities (50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/1000 g water). These were then compared with estimates of matric potential of three soils brought to equilibrium with PEG solutions of the same osmolalities. At the same osmolality and temperature the two PEG polymers gave essentially the same water potential. There was a significant effect of temperature on water potential which corresponded closely with changes in specific gravity of the PEG solution. There was a close correlation between the measurements of water potential of the PEG solutions obtained with the osmometer and the psychrometers (R = 0.99). However, the psychrometer gave increasingly lower values than the osmometer as water potential decreased. The differences in the measurements between the two methods are thought to be the result of design and calibration differences. The ease of use of the osmometer is such that it is recommended for routine use. The water potentials of the soil cores brought to equilibrium with the PEG 10 000 solution were linearly related to the water potentials of the PEG solutions estimated from both the osmometer and psychrometers (R2 = 0.84). However, there were clear deviations from a 1:l relationship. It was concluded that the results from the soil cores could not be used to determine which of the two instruments gave the more accurate measurement of water potential of PEG solutions.


1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lloyd ◽  
H Howie

Diurnal patterns in stomatal conductance and bulk water potentials were measured over a 6-month period for spring flush leaves on 24-year-old Washington Navel orange trees that had been irrigated with water containing either 5 mol m-3 NaCl or 20 mol m-3 NaCl for 5 years prior to measurements. During summer and autumn, at early morning measurement times, stomatal conductances of leaves on trees irrigated with 20 mol m-3 were significantly below those on trees irrigated with 5 mol m-3 NaCl. Lower values on high salinity trees were not attributable to more negative water potentials or lower turgor pressures but were apparently due to an inability of stomata on leaves from salinised trees to open in response to low vapour pressure deficits (VPDs). There was little effect of salinity on stomatal conductances during afternoon measurements when high vapour pressure deficits prevailed. Laboratory studies confirmed that stomata on salinised trees are less responsive to VPD than those from unsalinised trees. When measurements were made during winter months there was no effect of salinity on diurnal patterns of stomatal conductances but leaf water potentials were less negative for leaves of salinised trees during daylight hours. Hydraulic conductance (G) of trees to liquid water flow was greater for trees irrigated with 5 mol m-3 NaCl in summer, but seasonal reductions in G for trees irrigated with 5 mol m-3 NaCl occurred to a far greater extent than for trees irrigated with 20 mol m-3 NaCl. This may have been a consequence of a reduction in leaf areas of salinised trees during summer and autumn without concomitant decreases in root length.


1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Yang ◽  
E. de Jong

The thermocouple psychrometer technique was used to measure plant water stresses of wheat. The usefulness of this technique is limited due to the many precautions that must be taken. The β-ray absorption and relative turgidity were highly correlated (P = 0.01) with plant water potential, but the correlation changed with age. Relative turgidity gave a slightly better estimate of leaf water potential than β-ray absorption (r2 of 0.88 to 0.99 and 0.81 to 0.96 respectively). The β-ray technique has great promise because of its non-destructive nature.At soil water potentials higher than −10 atm, plant water potentials remained nearly constant, indicating that soil water was equally available. Temporary wilting occurred at soil water potentials of −35 to −40 atm.


Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
IM Wood ◽  
IK Dart ◽  
HB So

This study examined two polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers (PEG 6000 and PEG 10000) and compared measurements of water potential obtained with a thermocouple osmometer and thermocouple psychrometers at three temperatures (15, 25 and 35�C) and five osmdalities (50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/1000 g water). These were then compared with estimates of matric potential of three soils brought to equilibrium with PEG solutions of the same osmolalities. At the same osmolality and temperature the two PEG polymers gave essentially the same water potential. There was a significant effect of temperature on water potential which corresponded closely with changes in specific gravity of the PEG solution. There was a close correlation between the measurements of water potential of the PEG solutions obtained with the osmometer and the psychrometers (R = 0.99). However, the psychrometer gave increasingly lower values than the osmometer as water potential decreased. The differences in the measurements between the two methods are thought to be the result of design and calibration differences. The ease of use of the osmometer is such that it is recommended for routine use. The water potentials of the soil cores brought to equilibrium with the PEG 10 000 solution were linearly related to the water potentials of the PEG solutions estimated from both the osmometer and psychrometers (R2 = 0.84). However, there were clear deviations from a 1:l relationship. It was concluded that the results from the soil cores could not be used to determine which of the two instruments gave the more accurate measurement of water potential of PEG solutions.


Author(s):  
Susan B.G. Debaene ◽  
John S. Gardner ◽  
Phil S. Allen

The coleorhiza is a nonvascular sheath that encloses the embryonic radicle in Poaceae, and is generally the first tissue to emerge during germination. Delicate hairlike extensions develop from some coleorhiza cells prior to radicle emergence. Similar to root hairs, coleorhiza hairs are extremely sensitive to desiccation and are damaged by exposure to negative water potentials. The coleorhiza of Lolium perenne is somewhat spherical when first visible, after which a knob forms at a right angle to the caryopsis due to inner pressure from the elongating radicle. This knob increases in length until the radicle finally punctures the coleorhiza. Standard fixation procedures cause severe desiccation of coleorhiza cells and hairs, making morphological study of the coleorhiza difficult. This study was conducted to determine a more successful process for coleorhiza preservation.


1963 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 52-55
Author(s):  
István Kiss ◽  
Lajos Matus ◽  
István Opauszky

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