Water Relations of the Mistletoe, Amyema miquelii, and Its Host Eucalyptus fasciculosa

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Whittington ◽  
R Sinclair

Mistletoes have frequently been found to transpire more rapidly than their hosts, and usually maintain a more negative water potential. Leaf water potential and diffusive conductance were monitored from the end of a dry summer (March) through a wet winter (to August) on the mistletoe Amyema miquelii (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tieghem and its host Eucalyptus fasciculosa F. Muell. The calculated transpiration rate of the mistletoe was greater than that of its host, but water potential data showed two unusual features. Firstly, the parasite pre-dawn water potential always remained lower than that of the host, regardless of the host's water status. Secondly, the parasite water potential during the day was on one occasion less negative than that of the host, i.e. a reverse gradient. Tissue water relations studies showed that A. miquelii leaves had more negative solute potential and a larger water capacitance than E. fasciculosa leaves. The unusual features of the seasonal data were explained in terms of a large haustorial resistance to water flow and hysteresis in the relationship between transpiration and water potential in the mistletoe leaf. This hysteresis was thought to be due to the contribution of stored leaf water to transpiration.

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Rita de Souza ◽  
Luís Henrique Bassoi ◽  
José Moacir Pinheiro Lima Filho ◽  
Fabrício Francisco Santos da Silva ◽  
Leandro Hespanhol Viana ◽  
...  

There is an increased demand for high quality winegrapes in the São Francisco Valley, a new wine producing area in Brazil. As the grape quality is closely linked to the soil water status, understanding the effects of rootstock and irrigation management on grapevine water relations is essential to optimize yield and quality. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of irrigation strategies and rootstocks on water relations and scion vigour of field-grown grapevines in Petrolina, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The cultivars used as scions are Moscato Canelli and Syrah, both grafted onto IAC 572 and 1103 Paulsen rootstocks. The following water treatments were used: deficit irrigation, with holding water after veraison; and partial root-zone drying, supplying (100% of crop evapotranspiration) of the water loss to only one side of the root system after fruit set, alternating the sides periodically (about 24 days). In general, all treatments had values of pre-dawn leaf water potential higher than -0.2 MPa, suggesting absence of water stress. The vine water status was more affected by rootstock type than irrigation strategies. Both cultivars grafted on IAC 572 had the highest values of midday leaf water potential and stem water potential, measured on non-transpiring leaves, which were bagged with both plastic sheet and aluminum foil at least 1 h before measurements. For both cultivars, the stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration (E) and leaf area index (LAI) were also more affected by roostsotck type than by irrigation strategies. The IAC 572 rootstock presented higher g s, E and LAI than the 1103 Paulsen. Differences in vegetative vigor of the scion grafted onto IAC 572 rootstocks were related to its higher leaf specific hydraulic conductance and deeper root system as compared to the 1103 Paulsen, which increased the water-extraction capability, resulting in a better vine water status.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 982-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Brix ◽  
A. K. Mitchell

The sapwood cross-sectional area at breast height was reduced by 0 (control), 42, 69, and 100%, in 36-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees to study treatment effects on the water status in the crowns. Only the complete removal of breast-height sapwood affected the leaf water potential which decreased rapidly the 1st day, but then changed little for the next 38 days varying only from −2.3 to −2.6 MPa. Water use for those trees was limited to that stored above breast height, primarily in stem sapwood, and amounted to approximately 45 L. This corresponded to 6.5 mm of precipitation or 4% of potential transpiration. The finding that leaf water potential was not affected by partial sapwood reduction but rather by changes in soil water potential suggests that resistance to water flow in stems was small compared with that in other parts of the water-flow pathways of soil and trees.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. V. CARR

SUMMARYThe results of research on the water relations and irrigation needs of coconut are collated and summarized in an attempt to link fundamental studies on crop physiology to drought mitigation and irrigation practices. Background information on the centres of origin and production of coconut and on crop development processes is followed by reviews of plant water relations, crop water use and water productivity, including drought mitigation. The majority of the recent research published in the international literature has been conducted in Brazil, Kerala (South India) and Sri Lanka, and by CIRAD (France) in association with local research organizations in a number of countries, including the Ivory Coast. The unique vegetative structure of the palm (stem and leaves) together with the long interval between flower initiation and the harvesting of the mature fruit (44 months) mean that causal links between environmental factors (especially water) are difficult to establish. The stomata play an important role in controlling water loss, whilst the leaf water potential is a sensitive indicator of plant water status. Both stomatal conductance and leaf water potential are negatively correlated with the saturation deficit of the air. Although roots extend to depths >2 m and laterally >3 m, the density of roots is greatest in the top 0–1.0 m soil, and laterally within 1.0–1.5 m of the trunk. In general, dwarf cultivars are more susceptible to drought than tall ones. Methods of screening for drought tolerance based on physiological traits have been proposed. The best estimates of the actual water use (ETc) of mature palms indicate representative rates of about 3 mm d−1. Reported values for the crop coefficient (Kc) are variable but suggest that 0.7 is a reasonable estimate. Although the sensitivity of coconut to drought is well recognized, there is a limited amount of reliable data on actual yield responses to irrigation although annual yield increases (50%) of 20–40 nuts palm−1 (4–12 kg copra, cultivar dependent) have been reported. These are only realized in the third and subsequent years after the introduction of irrigation applied at a rate equivalent to about 2 mm d−1 (or 100 l palm−1 d−1) at intervals of up to one week. Irrigation increases female flower production and reduces premature nut fall. Basin irrigation, micro-sprinklers and drip irrigation are all suitable methods of applying water. Recommended methods of drought mitigation include the burial of husks in trenches adjacent to the plant, mulching and the application of common salt (chloride ions). An international approach to addressing the need for more information on water productivity is recommended.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1013-1072
Author(s):  
D. R. Smart ◽  
S. Cosby Hess ◽  
R. Plant ◽  
O. Feihn ◽  
H. Heymann ◽  
...  

Abstract. The geoscience component of terroir in wine grape production continues to be criticized for its quasi-mystical nature, and lack of testable hypotheses. Nonetheless, recent relational investigations are emerging and most involve water availability as captured by available water capacity (AWC, texture) or plant available water (PAW) in the root zone of soil as being a key factor. The second finding emerging may be that the degree of microscale variability in PAW and other soil factors at the vineyard scale renders larger regional characterizations questionable. Cimatic variables like temperature are well mixed, and its influence on wine characteristic is fairly well established. The influence of mesogeology on mesoclimate factors has also been characterized to some extent. To test the hypothesis that vine water status mirrors soil water availability, and controls fruit sensory and chemical properties at the vineyard scale we examined such variables in a iconic, selectively harvested premium winegrape vineyard in the Napa Valley of California during 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Geo-referenced data vines remained as individual study units throughout data gathering and analysis. Cartographic exercises using geographic information systems (GIS) were used to vizualize geospatial variation in soil and vine properties. Highly significant correlations (P < 0.01) emerged for pre-dawn leaf water potential (ΨPD), mid-day leaf water potential (ΨL) and PAW, with berry size, berry weight, pruning weights (canopy size) and soluble solids content (°Brix). Areas yielding grapes with perceived higher quality had vines with (1) lower leaf water potential (LWP) both pre-dawn and mid-day, (2) smaller berry diameter and weight, (3) lower pruning weights, and (4) higher °Brix. A trained sensory panel found grapes from the more water-stressed vines had significantly sweeter and softer pulp, absence of vegetal character, and browner and crunchier seeds. Metabolomic analysis of the grape skins showed significant differences in accumulation of amino acids and organic acids. Data vines were categorized as non-stressed (ΨPD ≥ −7.9 bars and ΨL ≥ −14.9 bars) and stressed (ΨPD ≤ −8.0 bars and ΨL ≤ −15.0 bars) and subjected to analysis of variance. Significant separation emerged for vines categorized as non-stressed versus stressed at véraison, which correlated to the areas described as producing higher and lower quality fruit. This report does not advocate the use of stress levels herein reported. The vineyard was planted to a vigorous, deep rooted rootstock (V. rupestris cv. St. George), and from years of management is known to be able to withstand stress levels of the magnitude we observed. Nonetheless, the results may suggest there is not a linear relationship between physiological water stress and grape sensory characteristics, but rather the presence of an inflection point controlling grape composition as well as physiological development.


1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Paez ◽  
H. Hellmers ◽  
B. R. Strain

SummaryIf atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration continues to increase, plant growth and crop yield could be affected. New Yorker and Better Boy cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were used to investigate possible intraspecific variation in the response of crop species to increased CO2. Because precipitation and temperature are predicted to change with the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, the response of the two cultivars to the interaction between CO2 and water stress was also examined. Seeds of the two cultivars were germinated and grown under controlled environmental conditions, in either 350 or 675 μ1 CO2/1.The plant water status of the two cultivars was inherently different but was little affected by the CO2 concentration when the plants were well watered. When water was withheld for 5 days the total leaf water potential and osmotic potential decreased in both CO2 treatments but less rapidly in high CO2 than in low. Under low CO2 total leaf water potential decreased to a lower value than osmotic potential. The differences were due, at least in part, to the reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration rate under high CO2.Increased CO2 ameliorated the detrimental effects of drought stress on plant growth. The results indicate that increased CO2 could differentially affect the relative drought resistance of species cultivars.


1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Graham

Leaf water potential, diffusive resistance, relative water content, weekly water use, yields and head bending were measured on wheat plants subjected to four copper levels (0, 0.4, 0.8 or 4.0 mg Cu per pot) and two water levels (6 or 12% soil water content). Severe copper deficiency (Cu 0) resulted in no grain yield, wilting, increased leaf diffusive resistance and, at the same time, increased leaf water potential relative to plants receiving 4.0 mg Cu (Cu 4.0). Water supply effects were observed but there was no interaction between copper and water treatments. Mild copper deficiency (Cu 0.4, Cu 0.8) resulted in small yield decreases, relative to Cu 4.0, and increased head bending towards maturity. It is concluded that wilting, characteristic of copper-deficient plants, is due to structural weakness (decreased lignification) and not to the water status of the plants; also, increased leaf diffusive resistance is due to a specific effect of copper deficiency on guard cells and not to decreased leaf water potential.


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