Abstract
The influence on the water relations of the third developing leaf of (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammoniumchloride, a synthetic growth regulator, applied to the roots of young wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) has been investigated. The tissue water potential and the pressure potential were found to be reduced by several bars in comparison to the untreated controls, whereas the osmotic potential remained unchanged. The content of soluble reducing sugars was considerably increased in the cell sap of CCC-treated leaves. With this accumulation, however, the turgor was not maintained. Additionally, CCC-treated leaves showed considerably lower transpiration rates and higher diffusive resistance than the controls. Thus, the application of CCC to the roots causes alterations in the water relations of developing wheat leaves, which resemble those induced by water deficiency.
