Chilling responses of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings: root hydraulic conductance, abscisic acid, and stomatal conductance

Stomatal conductance, leaf and soil water status, transpiration, and apparent root hydraulic conductance were measured during soil drying cycles for three sugarcane cultivars growing in containers in a greenhouse. At high soil moisture, transpiration and apparent root hydraulic conductance differed considerably among cultivars and were positively correlated, whereas leaf water potential was similar among cultivars. In drying soil, stomatal and apparent root hydraulic conductance approached zero over a narrow (0.1 MPa) range of soil water suction. Leaf water potential remained nearly constant during soil drying because the vapor phase conductance of the leaves and the apparent liquid phase conductance of the root system declined in parallel. The decline in apparent root hydraulic conductance with soil drying was manifested as a large increase in the hydrostatic pressure gradient between the soil and the root xylem. These results suggested that control of stomatal conductance in sugarcane plants exposed to drying soil was exerted primarily at the root rather than at the leaf level.

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Abscisic acid and the response of the roots of Zea mays L. seedlings to gravity

Planta ◽

10.1007/bf00389356 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 126 (1) ◽

pp. 19-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Henry Wilkins ◽

R. L. Wain

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Abscisic Acid ◽

Zea Mays L

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Membrane stabilization by abscisic acid under cold aids proline in alleviating chilling injury in maize (Zea mays L.) cultured cells

Plant Cell & Environment ◽

10.1046/j.1365-3040.2002.00874.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 955-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

W. P. Chen ◽

P. H. Li

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Abscisic Acid ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Cultured Cells ◽

Chilling Injury ◽

Membrane Stabilization

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The effect of ectomycorrhizae on water relations in aspen (Populus tremuloides) and white spruce (Picea glauca) at low soil temperatures

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b02-047 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (6) ◽

pp. 684-689 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Simon M Landhäusser ◽

Tawfik M Muhsin ◽

Janusz J Zwiazek

Keyword(s):

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Water Uptake ◽

Water Relations ◽

Populus Tremuloides ◽

Picea Glauca ◽

White Spruce ◽

Hydraulic Conductance ◽

Root Hydraulic Conductance ◽

Soil Temperatures

Low soil temperatures, common during the growing season in northern forests, have the potential to impede plant growth. In this study, water uptake, water relations, and growth characteristics were examined in aspen (Populus tremuloides) and white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings that were inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi and grown at 20°C daytime air temperatures and low soil temperatures of 4°C and 8°C. Mycorrhizal associations had little effect on root and shoot biomass at both soil temperatures. Root hydraulic conductance (Kr) was higher in both mycorrhizal plant species compared to nonmycorrhizal plants, but there was no soil temperature effect on Kr in either species. Mycorrhizae also increased shoot water potential (Ψw) in Populus tremuloides but had no effect on Ψw in Picea glauca. The increases in Kr and Ψw were not reflected by changes in stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rates (E), suggesting that the reduction of water flow in seedlings exposed to low soil temperature was not likely the factor limiting gs in both plant species.Key words: boreal forest, root hydraulic conductance, root growth, stomatal conductance, water uptake.

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