Leaf Transpiration Efficiency Research Articles

Morfofisiologia de gravioleira sob estresse salino e aplicação de H2O2 na fase de pré-floração

ABSTRACT In the semi-arid region of the Brazilian Northeast, water sources generally have high levels of salts, standing out as one of the abiotic stresses that restrict the growth and development of plants. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of foliar applications of hydrogen peroxide on the morphophysiology of soursop under salt stress in the pre-flowering phase. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using a randomized block design and a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, with four values of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water - ECw (0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 dS m-1) and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0, 10, 20, and 30 μM), with three replicates. An increase in water electrical conductivity from 0.8 dS m-1 reduced stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate, instantaneous carboxylation efficiency, and leaf water saturation deficit. It inhibited the growth of soursop plants at 370 days after transplanting. Hydrogen peroxide at concentrations of up to 10 μM increased leaf transpiration and water use efficiency of soursop plants irrigated with 1.8 dS m-1 water in the pre-flowering phase.

Differential roles of abscisic acid in maize roots in the adaptation to soil drought

AbstractMaize yield reduction occurs frequently due to soil drought. Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormonal signal indicating drought. However, it remains unclear about the specific roles of root ABA in the adaptation to soil drought in maize. This study applied five different soil water potentials (SWP), referring to maintaining SWP at −15, −30, −45, −60, and −75 kPa, respectively, and investigated the ABA content in roots and the activities and gene expression levels of key enzymes involved in the ABA biosynthesis, the leaf photosynthetic properties, root traits, and kernel yield. The results showed that maize root ABA content, the activities and gene expressions of key enzymes involved in the ABA biosynthesis were increased with the decrease of SWP. The leaf transpiration rate, and root dry weight, length, volume, surface area, and activity, and kernel yield of maize were increased first and then decreased with the severity of soil drying. The leaf photosynthetic rate was not significantly reduced with ABA accumulation at a low ABA content in roots. Root ABA content was significantly positively correlated with leaf transpiration efficiency and root activity when ABA content was relatively low (9.03–22.02 nmol g−1 DW), whereas root ABA content was negatively correlated with leaf photosynthetic rate, leaf transpiration efficiency, root volume, and root activity when ABA content was high (28.32–39.23 nmol g−1 DW). The results indicate that maize root ABA exhibit differential roles in the adaptation to soil drought, and can positively regulate the drought‐resistance of maize at an appropriate level.

An Insight Into the Effect of Organic Amendments on the Transpiration Efficiency of Wheat Plant in a Sodic Duplex Soil.

Transpiration efficiency, the shoot biomass produced per unit of transpired water, is generally considered to be a constant property for a given crop in a given environment. To determine whether deep-banded organic amendments affect the transpiration efficiency (TE) of wheat plants and to provide a possible explanation for any changes in the TE, two-column experiments were carried out under controlled environment conditions. A Sodosol soil with physically constrained subsoils and a well-structured Vertosol were subjected to treatments including a control, fertilizer nutrients alone, and fertilizer-enriched organic amendments. The addition of fertilizer-enriched organic amendments in Sodosol consistently increased the canopy TE compared to the control and inorganic fertilizer treatments. The instantaneous TE, at the leaf level, was also increased by the organic-based amendments due to greater reductions in stomatal conductance and transpiration rates during periods of moderate water-deficit stress and the subsequent recovery from this stress. Shoot nitrogen (N) status could not explain the increases in TE following the addition of organic amendments relative to inorganic amendments. The increases in canopy TE were directly associated with increases in the absolute abundance of indigenous Bacillus (R2 = 0.92, p <0), a well-known genus comprising many strains of plant beneficial rhizobacteria, in subsoil below the amendment band. In contrast, there were no differences in the canopy TE and instantaneous leaf TE between the organic and fertilizer amendments in the Vertosol with a well-structured subsoil. The positive effect of organic amendments on TE in the Sodosol should be attributed to their direct or indirect effect on improving the physical structure or biological properties of the subsoil.

Partial root zone drying irrigation, planting methods and nitrogen fertilization influence on physiologic and agronomic parameters of winter wheat

The effectiveness of water-saving irrigation strategies such as partial root zone drying (PRD) should be explored to ensure food security as the availability of water for irrigation declines and population increases. PRD is easily performed by localized irrigation method; however very small percentage of irrigated area is under this irrigation method and main irrigation method is furrow irrigation that should be adapted to PRD. In this respect, present study was conducted to explore the effects of PRD in furrow irrigation strategies on physiological and agronomic behavior of winter wheat. The field experiment included two irrigation strategies (variable alternate furrow irrigation (VAFI) as PRD and ordinary furrow irrigation (OFI), two different planting method (in-furrow planting and on-ridge planting) and three nitrogen rates (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha−1) over 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. Results showed that decreasing leaf water potential (LWP) during the stem elongation stage resulted in increasing the sensitivity of winter wheat to water stress and yield reduction. The leaf photosynthesis rate (An) was not significantly lowered in VAFI (PRD) in comparison with that obtained in OFI. The VAFI strategy reduced the stomatal conductance (gs) about 12% and 7% in comparison with that obtained in OFI in the first and second year, respectively that were statistically significant. The lower slope of linear relationship between leaf transpiration efficiency (An/Tr) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in VAFI strategy indicated that with increasing VPD, leaf transpiration efficiency was higher than that obtained in OFI. As a consequence, VAFI strategy as PRD was effective in increasing An/Tr and can be an alternative irrigation management in winter wheat farms with limited water supplies. Although, in-furrow planting showed higher efficiency in increasing yield in comparison with that obtained in on-ridge planting, on-ridge planting showed higher effects on leaf transpiration efficiency. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between two application rates of nitrogen (150 kg N ha−1 and 300 kg N ha−1) for different parameters; therefore, application of 150 kg N ha−1 can be suggested as an effective rate to increase winter wheat yield. Consequently, in areas with scarce water and furrow irrigation, combination of VAFI, in-furrow planting and 150 kg N ha−1 is recommended to achieve optimum yield with possibility of saving water during the winter wheat growing season.

Deep root growth, ABA adjustments and root water uptake response to soil water deficit in giant reed.

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a deep-rooted crop that can survive prolonged dry periods probably as a result of its capacity to uptake water from below ground, but specific information on the functioning of deep/shallow roots is missing. The objective of this study was to understand the dynamic interrelationships of root water acquisition, canopy water conservation and abscisic acid (ABA) signals from both shallow and deep roots. In transparent split top-bottom rhizotron systems (1-m-high columns), where hydraulically isolated and independently watered layers were created with the aid of calibrated soil moisture sensors, water uptake trends were monitored. Rooting patterns were traced on the walls of the rhizotrons. Leaf gas exchange was determined using a portable infrared gas analyser. Leaf and root ABA concentrations were monitored. Under well-watered conditions, water uptake from both upper and deeper soil layers was similar. Water uptake from deeper soil layers increased gradually by up to 2.2-fold when drought stress was imposed to upper layers compared to the control conditions. Despite the significant increase in water uptake from deeper layers, surface root length density of drought-treated plants remained unchanged, suggesting increased root water uptake efficiency by these roots. However, these adjustments were not sufficient to sustain photosynthesis and therefore biomass accumulation, which was reduced by 42 %. The ABA content in shallower drought-treated roots increased 2.6-fold. This increase closely and positively correlated with foliar ABA concentration, increased intrinsic water use efficiency and leaf water potential (LWP). Giant reed is able to change its water sources depending on water availability and to maximize water uptake efficiency to satisfy canopy evapotranspirative demands. The regulation of deep root functioning and distribution, adjustment of canopy size, and root/foliar synthesized ABA play a central role in controlling LWP and leaf transpiration efficiency.

Stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance, and transpiration efficiency in relation to leaf anatomy in rice and wheat genotypes under drought.

Increasing leaf transpiration efficiency (TE) may provide leads for growing rice like dryland cereals such as wheat (Triticum aestivum). To explore avenues for improving TE in rice, variations in stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm) and their anatomical determinants were evaluated in two cultivars from each of lowland, aerobic, and upland groups of Oryza sativa, one cultivar of O. glaberrima, and two cultivars of T. aestivum, under three water regimes. The TE of upland rice, O. glaberrima, and wheat was more responsive to the gm/gs ratio than that of lowland and aerobic rice. Overall, the explanatory power of the particular anatomical trait varied among species. Low stomatal density mostly explained the low gs in drought-tolerant rice, whereas rice genotypes with smaller stomata generally responded more strongly to drought. Compared with rice, wheat had a higher gm, which was associated with thicker mesophyll tissue, mesophyll and chloroplasts more exposed to intercellular spaces, and thinner cell walls. Upland rice, O. glaberrima, and wheat cultivars minimized the decrease in gm under drought by maintaining high ratios of chloroplasts to exposed mesophyll cell walls. Rice TE could be improved by increasing the gm/gs ratio via modifying anatomical traits.

Responses of transpiration and transpiration efficiency of almond trees to moderate water deficits

The majority of world almond acreage is grown under rainfed conditions but most of the production is obtained under irrigation. Increased water scarcity is reducing water availability for irrigation thus the need to characterize the responses of almond to water deficits. Several works have defined well the stomatal closure in almond leaves under water deficits, but the behavior at the canopy level is not well understood. A field experiment was conducted in an almond (cv. Guara) orchard in Córdoba (Spain) under four different levels of irrigation supply to investigate the responses of almond tree transpiration (T) and transpiration efficiency (TE) to water stress. Stem water potential (Ψx), whole tree transpiration (T) and leaf gas-exchange were periodically measured throughout the 2013 growing season. Tree T decreased linearly as midday Ψx decreased below a threshold value of about −1.1MPa, and declined to about 50% of the Control value when midday Ψx reached −1.6MPa. The quick decline in T in response to the lowering of ψx suggests a high sensitivity of almond T to water deficits. The instantaneous transpiration efficiency (TE) of almond leaves was unaffected by water and varied essentially with vapor pressure deficits. On a daily scale, the leaf TE of stressed trees followed the same pattern as in the non-stressed trees. Then, contrary to the behavior observed in olive and citrus, there were no instantaneous or daily TE increments in almond trees in response to water deficits.

Canopy evapotranspiration, leaf transpiration and water use efficiency of an Andean pasture in SE-Ecuador – a case study

Canopy evapotranspiration, leaf transpiration and water use efficiency of an Andean pasture in SE-Ecuador – a case study

Physiological and protein profiling response to drought stress in KS141, a Korean maize inbred line

Understanding the complex response mechanism of a crop to drought is the major step in the developing of tolerant genotypes. In our study, to investigate physiological traits and proteome dynamics, an inbred maize (Zea mays L.) line (KS141) was subjected to 10 days of water-withholding at the V5 or V6 leaf stage. The subsequent analysis of their physiological parameters revealed a decreased relative leaf water content, Fv/Fm, stomatal conductance, net CO2 assimilation rate, leaf transpiration, and water use efficiency, resulting in severe growth retardation of leaf area, stem length and width, aerial part, and root dry matter at 3 and 10 days after withholding water. However, aerial part and root dry matter were little changed during drought stress for 3 days. To understand the proteome dynamics during the 10-day drought stress in maize leaves, comparative proteome analysis was carried out between the well-watered and drought-treated leaves. Proteins were extracted using phenol extraction method from leaves with/without drought stress, and then separated by 2-DE. After 2-DE gel analyses, 14 differentially expressed protein spots were identified by MALDITOF mass spectrometry. Out of 14, eleven and three protein spots were found to be up- or down-regulated, respectively. Interestingly, stress-related proteins such as glutathione S-transferase, abscisic stress-ripening proteins, and pathogenesis-related proteins were increased by drought stress. Our study may provide molecular mechanisms and selective markers for drought tolerant maize genotypes.

Vapour pressure deficit during growth has little impact on genotypic differences of transpiration efficiency at leaf and whole-plant level: an example from Populus nigra L.

Poplar genotypes differ in transpiration efficiency (TE) at leaf and whole-plant level under similar conditions. We tested whether atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) affected TE to the same extent across genotypes. Six Populus nigra genotypes were grown under two VPD. We recorded (1) (13)C content in soluble sugars; (2) (18)O enrichment in leaf water; (3) leaf-level gas exchange; and (4) whole-plant biomass accumulation and water use. Whole-plant and intrinsic leaf TE and (13)C content in soluble sugars differed significantly among genotypes. Stomatal conductance contributed more to these differences than net CO2 assimilation rate. VPD increased water use and reduced whole-plant TE. It increased intrinsic leaf-level TE due to a decline in stomatal conductance. It also promoted higher (18)O enrichment in leaf water. VPD had no genotype-specific effect. We detected a deviation in the relationship between (13)C in leaf sugars and (13)C predicted from gas exchange and the standard discrimination model. This may be partly due to genotypic differences in mesophyll conductance, and to its lack of sensitivity to VPD. Leaf-level (13)C discrimination was a powerful predictor of the genetic variability of whole-plant TE irrespective of VPD during growth.

Coordination of Leaf Photosynthesis, Transpiration, and Structural Traits in Rice and Wild Relatives (Genus Oryza)

The genus Oryza, which includes rice (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) and wild relatives, is a useful genus to study leaf properties in order to identify structural features that control CO(2) access to chloroplasts, photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and drought tolerance. Traits, 26 structural and 17 functional, associated with photosynthesis and transpiration were quantified on 24 accessions (representatives of 17 species and eight genomes). Hypotheses of associations within, and between, structure, photosynthesis, and transpiration were tested. Two main clusters of positively interrelated leaf traits were identified: in the first cluster were structural features, leaf thickness (Thick(leaf)), mesophyll (M) cell surface area exposed to intercellular air space per unit of leaf surface area (S(mes)), and M cell size; a second group included functional traits, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, M conductance to CO(2) diffusion (g(m)), stomatal conductance to gas diffusion (g(s)), and the g(m)/g(s) ratio.While net photosynthetic rate was positively correlated with gm, neither was significantly linked with any individual structural traits. The results suggest that changes in gm depend on covariations of multiple leaf (S(mes)) and M cell (including cell wall thickness) structural traits. There was an inverse relationship between Thick(leaf) and transpiration rate and a significant positive association between Thick(leaf) and leaf transpiration efficiency. Interestingly, high g(m) together with high g(m)/g(s) and a low S(mes)/g(m) ratio (M resistance to CO(2) diffusion per unit of cell surface area exposed to intercellular air space) appear to be ideal for supporting leaf photosynthesis while preserving water; in addition, thick M cell walls may be beneficial for plant drought tolerance.

Leaf Transpiration Efficiency in Four Corn Cultivars Grown at Elevated Carbon Dioxide

ABSTRACTHigh leaf transpiration efficiency (TE) occurs in some cultivars of corn (Zea mays L.) and could be a useful trait to improve yield under water deficits. The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere continues to increase rapidly, and it is not certain that cultivar differences in leaf TE occurring at the current CO2 concentration would still occur at elevated CO2. Two cultivars of sweet corn with high leaf TE and two with low TE were grown for two seasons in plots with free‐air CO2 enrichment systems to determine whether elevated CO2 altered the ranking of the cultivars in leaf TE. Measurements were also made at ambient CO2 2 h and 5 d after termination of the CO2 application. The results indicated that growth at 1.4 times the current CO2 concentration resulted in one cultivar having about 25% higher leaf TE than the other three cultivars, which had similar values of TE. The changed ranking of one cultivar was a result of growth at elevated CO2 and not the elevated measurement concentration. Thus, in one cultivar, the high leaf TE trait was stable across growth CO2 conditions, but in another cultivar, the high TE trait was no longer evident when the plants were grown at elevated CO2. Screening of corn genotypes for high leaf TE at projected future CO2 concentrations may be more efficiently accomplished at those concentrations.

The role of stomatal conductance for water and radiation use efficiency of durum wheat and triticale in a Mediterranean environment

Stomatal conductance has proven to be important in determining the amount and efficiency with which water is used by cereal crops and the productivity of those crops. We designed a series of field experiments in Sardinia, Italy that were aimed at comparing the stomatal conductance and stomatal conductance-related traits (i.e., carbon-isotope discrimination and infrared canopy temperature) of durum wheat and triticale on different environments to evaluate the differences between these two species and the impacts of these differences on leaf transpiration efficiency and on water- and radiation-use efficiency at the crop level. A large variation in stomatal conductance was observed between species, although differences decreased as development proceeded. The greater stomatal conductance of triticale before anthesis did not imply a greater soil water depletion because the good water availability allowed the development of dense canopies exerting a relevant aerodynamic resistance on water vapor fluxes. The greater radiation-use-efficiency of triticale associated with its greater stomatal conductance in pre-anthesis resulted in a greater biomass than durum wheat in correspondence with similar amounts of radiation intercepted and of water used. Transpiration efficiency of triticale was also higher at the crop level, in spite of similar transpiration efficiency at the leaf level. The remarkable greater stomatal conductance of triticale confers an advantage to this species in terms of both water and radiation use-efficiency in spite of the typical terminal drought affecting winter cereal crops in this Mediterranean environment.

Leaf Transpiration Efficiency of Sweet Corn Varieties from Three Eras of Breeding

ABSTRACTWhen measured under midday field conditions, modern varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) often have substomatal carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) values in excess of those required to saturate the photosynthetic carbon dioxide assimilation rate (A). This results in lower leaf transpiration efficiency (TE), the ratio of photosynthesis to transpiration, than potentially achievable for a given rate of photosynthesis. In some other crops, breeding has indirectly resulted in a large increase in stomatal conductance (gs), which would decrease TE. I tested whether this occurred in sweet corn by comparing five open‐pollinated varieties released before 1903 with four standard hybrid varieties released in the mid‐1900s and four varieties released after 1990. Leaf gas exchange of each variety was measured under ambient midday field conditions on eight sunny days over two seasons in Beltsville, MD. Although there were significant differences among varieties in gs, A, Ci, and TE, no effect of era was significant for any variable except A. Of the four modern varieties tested, two had the highest gs and two had the lowest gs of any of the varieties compared, with high gs associated with low TE. These four varieties were further compared in a third year and were found to differ consistently in leaf TE but not in A. It is concluded that breeding over the last century has not increased gs or decreased leaf TE in sweet corn but that there is significant variation in TE among modern sweet corn varieties.

Relationship between acorn size and seedling morphological and physiological traits of Quercus ilex L. from different climates

Effects of Quercus ilex acorn size on seedling morphological and physiological traits were analysed. The study was carried out with five populations from different geographical areas and covering an aridity gradient. Seedling morphological traits (height and total leaf area) were analyzed during the first growing year. Physiological traits (net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, and intrinsic water-use efficiency) were analysed at different air temperatures during spring, summer, and winter months, and in response to water stress. There were significant correlations among the considered acorn (volume, fresh mass) and seedling traits. Differences in growth and physiological traits among the considered populations were found. The larger differences in the growth parameters were observed during the first growing season, and they could be justified by the significant differences among acorn size. On the contrary, the physiological response to air temperature and aridity was more related to the geographical origin of the considered populations than to acorn size. Q. ilex acorn and seedling traits more tolerant to drought might have a high potential for vegetation recovery in afforestation projects and restoration programmes particularly under water-limited environments or in degraded areas.

Transpiration efficiency of the grapevine cv. Semillon is tied to VPD in warm climates

Water-use efficiency in grapevines is dependent on the aerial and below-ground environment of the plant. Specifically, transpiration efficiency, the ratio of net carbon fixation to water loss, may be influenced by soil moisture and the leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. The interactive effect of these abiotic parameters, however, has not been suitably investigated in field-grown grapevines. Accordingly, gas exchange of an anisohydric variety, Semillon, was assessed across a number of vineyards in two warm grape-growing regions of New South Wales (NSW) to ascertain how soil moisture and VPD interact to affect transpiration efficiency at the leaf level. Leaf gas exchange measurements demonstrated that the rate of transpiration (E) was driven by VPD, particularly under high soil moisture. Both high VPD and low soil moisture decreased photosynthesis (A) and instantaneous leaf transpiration efficiency (A/E). Increased intrinsic leaf transpiration efficiency (A/g) in response to drying soil was limited to vines growing in a non-irrigated vineyard. In this site, A/g was negatively related to vine water status. VPD did not have a substantial influence on A/g in any vineyard. While VPD is the main driver for A/E, soil moisture is an important determinant of A/g. Under high VPD, stomatal closure in Semillon leaves was not substantial enough to suitably curtail transpiration, and as a consequence A/E declined. These data indicate that in warm climates, irrigation scheduling of anisohydric varieties must take into account both VPD and soil moisture so that vine water status can be maintained.

Reduced irrigation and rootstock effects on vegetative growth, yield and its components, and leaf physiological responses of Shiraz

Background and Aims: The study investigated whether rootstocks can modify grapevine responses to reduced irrigation. Methods and Results: Drip-irrigated Shiraz vines on eight rootstocks were subjected to industry standard and 30% reduced irrigation regimes over four seasons. Reducing irrigation decreased pruning weights and yield, but did not consistently affect irrigation water use index (IWUI). It increased leaf Δ13C. Reduced irrigation and elevated vapour pressure deficit (VPD) were associated with decreases in leaf water potential (ψl), leaf stomatal conductance and assimilation rate. Reducing irrigation raised leaf transpiration efficiency, whereas elevated VPD lowered it. These effects of reduced irrigation were independent of rootstock. Vines grafted to 101-14 had a higher ψl and achieved the highest yield and IWUI. The yields of vines grafted to Ramsey, Schwarzmann and 140 Ruggeri were also high. Vines grafted to 101-14, Ramsey and 1103 Paulsen had the higher rates of leaf assimilation. Rootstock did not affect Δ13C. Conclusion: The gain in leaf transpiration efficiency caused by reducing irrigation was not associated with a gain in IWUI. Rootstocks 101-14, Ramsey, Schwarzmann and 140 Ruggeri achieved higher yields and IWUI under both standard and reduced irrigation regimes. Significance of the Study: Among grafted vines growing on saline soil but receiving non-saline irrigation water and subject to a 30% reduction in irrigation, the yield responses of vines grafted on rootstocks rated as having good drought tolerance were the same as those of vines grafted on rootstocks rated as having poor drought tolerance.

Leaf Transpiration Efficiency of Some Drought‐Resistant Maize Lines

Field measurements of leaf gas exchange in maize (Zea mays L.) often indicate stomatal conductances higher than required to provide substomatal carbon dioxide concentrations saturating to photosynthesis. Thus maize leaves often operate at lower transpiration efficiency (TE) than potentially achievable for species with C4 metabolism. I tested whether several maize lines described as drought resistant or drought tolerant operated with higher leaf TE than less drought‐adapted lines. Field measurements of leaf TE were conducted over two seasons for five reputedly drought‐resistant lines of maize and three locally grown lines not regarded as drought resistant. Midday photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and substomatal carbon dioxide concentration measurements were made under the ambient field conditions of air temperature and humidity in Beltsville, MD. Soil moisture was not limiting. Consistent and significant differences among the lines occurred for stomatal conductance, substomatal carbon dioxide concentration, and TE, but no significant differences among the lines occurred in photosynthesis. One drought‐tolerant line had higher TE than all others tested, and one of the local lines had the lowest TE, but the drought‐tolerant lines as a group did not have significantly higher TE. It is concluded that significant genotypic variation in leaf TE exists in maize, and that TE could be improved without reducing photosynthesis.

Variability in mesophyll conductance between barley genotypes, and effects on transpiration efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination

Leaf internal, or mesophyll, conductance to CO(2) (g(m)) is a significant and variable limitation of photosynthesis that also affects leaf transpiration efficiency (TE). Genotypic variation in g(m) and the effect of g(m) on TE were assessed in six barley genotypes (four Hordeum vulgare and two H. bulbosum). Significant variation in g(m) was found between genotypes, and was correlated with photosynthetic rate. The genotype with the highest g(m) also had the highest TE and the lowest carbon isotope discrimination as recorded in leaf tissue (Delta(p)). These results suggest g(m) has unexplored potential to provide TE improvement within crop breeding programmes.

Sensing of tomato plant response to hypoxia in the root environment

A severe drawback in hydroponic production systems and irrigated field cultivation arises due to the risk of hypoxia, provoked by water logging in the root environment. The effects of hypoxia become temporarily visible when plants are irreversibly damaged. For this reason, non-invasive methods are required for detecting hypoxia in good time. In five experiments, tomato plants at two stages of development were grown in containers in aerated nutrient solution. Aeration was interrupted to trigger hypoxic conditions in the root environment. Whereas young plants were able to adapt to hypoxia in the root environment and survived, mature plants wilted two days after aeration interruption and died rapidly. A decrease in leaf photosynthesis, leaf transpiration rates and efficiency of the photosystem II was observed in older plants, while leaf diffuse reflectance changed slowly. On the other hand, if young plants were able to adapt to hypoxia in the root environment and survived, no clear reduction of leaf photosynthesis and the efficiency of the photosystem II arose, although the dry matter growth was decreased by 50%. Changes in leaf colour and reflectance spectra occurred. The latter indicated changes in the profile of the carotenoids. The ratio of intensities at 550 and 455 nm in particular provided a sensitive and diagnostic parameter for hypoxia in the root zone of adapted plants which, nevertheless, displayed severe growth limitation.