Change in Hydraulic Resistance and Shoot Morphology of Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) under Shaded Condition

Abstract

Acclimation to light condition is associated with change in water transport system in napiergrass. In this study, the effects of shading on shoot hydraulic resistance and morphology of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) were investigated. In the plants under shading (to 30% of full sunlight) for 30 days (S plants), total hydraulic resistance of a shoot (Rshoot) increased from that of full sunlight (control). In the plants grown under shade condition for 24 d followed by full sunlight conditions for 6 d (SF), the Rshoot value was intermediate between that of control and S plants. A similar response to shading was found in total hydraulic resistance of a stem (Rstem), which accounted for more than 60% of Rshoot, but the total hydraulic resistance of the leaves was not significantly affected by shading. Leaf length, leaf area and stem length were larger, but the stem cross-sectional area (SA) was smaller in S and SF plants than in the control plants. SF plants showed similar leaf length, leaf area and stem length to those in S plants, but the SA in SF plants was slightly larger. Normalization of Rstem by SA and stem length decreased the difference among the treatments, indicating the increase of Rshoot and Rstem under shading resulted from the decrease of SA and the increase of stem length.