Short-term and long-term effects of plant water deficits on stomatal response to humidity in Corylus avellana L.

Abstract

Short-term (hours) changes in plant water status were induced in hazel (Corylus avellana L.) by changing the evaporative demand on a major portion of the shoot while maintaining a branch in a constant environment. Stomatal conductance of leaves on the branch was influenced little by these short-term changes in water status even with changes in leaf water potential as great as 8 bars. Long-term (days) changes in plant water status were imposed by soil drying cycles. Stomatal conductance progessively decreased with increases in long-term water stress. Stomata still responded to humidity with long-term water stress but the range of the conductance response decreased. Threshold responses of stomata to leaf water potential were not observed with either short-term or long-term changes in plant water status even when leaves wilted. It is suggested that concurrent measurements of plant water status may not be sufficient for explaining stomatal and other plant responses to drought.