Photosynthesis and metabolic changes in leaves of rapeseed grown under long‐term sulfate deprivation 1

The effect of prolonged sulfur (S) deficiency on photosynthesis and S‐containing compounds in leaves of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) plants, grown in nutrient solution, was studied under greenhouse conditions. The rate of photosynthetic activity and stomatal conductance of water and CO₂ in treated plants decreased significantly after 3 months of treatment. The total chlorophyll content decreased after one month of S deprivation, after which it remained constant. The total S. content and both the water‐soluble and non‐protein soluble S fractions in the leaves showed a marked decrease. Whereas, the total protein soluble S remained unaffected during the period of observation. In the treated plants, the content of two major S compounds, e.g., cysteine and glutathione, were as a result of deprivation, although in the control it showed a trend to increase. Sulfur deficiency also decreased appreciably the activity of ATP sulfurylase. After the three‐month period of S deprivation, this enzymatic activity was about four times lower than that in the control plants. The data reported in this paper suggested that plants grown under S deficiency were capable of adjusting their S metabolism to maintain a sufficient protein and glutathione synthesis by lowering their photosynthetic activity.     

Sodium‐calcium interactions with growth,water, and photosynthetic parameters in salt‐treated beans

Calcium (Ca²⁺) amelioration of the plant's growth response to salinity depends on genetic factors. In this work, supplemental Ca²⁺ did not improve growth in Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender under high‐saline conditions and negatively affected several physiological parameters in nonsalinized plants. The response to supplemental Ca²⁺ was examined using plants grown in 25% modified Hoagland solution at different Na⁺ : Ca²⁺ ratios. In control plants (1 mM Ca²⁺; 1 mM Na⁺) surplus Ca²⁺ (4 or 10 mM) was associated with stomatal closure, decrease of hydraulic conductivity, sap flow, leaf specific dry weight, leaf K⁺ and leaf Mg²⁺ concentrations, and inhibition of CO₂ assimilation. Leaf water content was enhanced, while water‐use efficiency and dry matter were unaffected during the 15 d experimental period. The Ca²⁺ effect was not cation‐specific since similar results were found in plants supplied with high external Mg²⁺ or with a combination of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Relative to control plants, salinization (50 and 100 mM NaCl) caused a decrease in dry matter, hydraulic conductivity, sap flow, leaf Mg²⁺ activity, and inhibition of stomatal opening and CO₂ assimilation. However, NaCl (50 and 100 mM NaCl) enhanced leaf K⁺ concentration and water‐use efficiency. At 100 mM NaCl, leaf water content also significantly increased. Supplemental Ca²⁺ had no amelioration effect on the salt‐stress response of this bean cultivar. In contrast, the 50 mM–NaCl treatment improved stomatal conductance and CO₂‐assimilation rate in plants exposed to the highest Ca²⁺ concentration (10 mM). Phaseolus vulgaris is classified as a very NaCl‐sensitive species. The similarities in the effects caused by supplemental Ca²⁺, supplemental Mg²⁺, and NaCl salinity suggest that P. vulgaris cv. Contender has a high non‐ion‐specific salt sensitivity. On the other hand, the improvement in gas‐exchange parameters in Ca²⁺‐supplemented plants by high NaCl could be the result of specific Na⁺‐triggered responses, such as an increase in the concentration of K⁺ in the leaves.     

Physiological studies on salinity and nitrogen interaction in alfalfa. II. Photosynthesis and transpiration

The interaction between salinity and nitrogen (N) forms and concentration was studied with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in pots with fine sand under greenhouse conditions. Salinity (0–100 mM NaCl) caused a substantial reduction in carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and leaf area, while transpiration rate was least affected. Salinity effects were considerably moderated by additional N supply, varied with form, concentration, and stage of plant growth. The photosynthesis was reduced more in ammonium‐ than in nitrate‐fed plants, while the transpiration rate was relatively lower in nitrate‐fed plants grown either with or without NaCl. The plants also responded differently to salinity and N levels at two harvests. This indicated a change in plant behaviour with age. The promotive effect of N on photosynthesis and other parameters in saline as well as in non‐saline conditions may be attributed to the enhanced synthesis and availability of carbon assimilatory enzymes and cofactors required for optimal photosynthesis.     

Effects of sulfur nutrition on photosynthesis in cadmium‐treated barley seedlings

The effects of sulfur (S) nutrition at 0.1 or 1 mM S on cadmium (Cd) toxicity measured by photosynthesis in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. UC 476) seedlings were studied. Eight‐day‐old seedlings were treated with 25 μM Cd by adding cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) to the nutrient solution. Then photosynthetic carboxylation efficiency (ACi curve) and stomatal conductance of the primary and second leaves were measured at four and eight days after Cd treatment. Fluorescence parameters were measured every 24 h for eight days after two days of Cd treatment. At 20 days, plant growth parameters were measured and dry biomass determined. The results showed that ACi was significantly reduced by Cd, but more in the low (0.1 mM) S than in the high (1 mM) S‐treated plants. Stomatal conductance of plants was also decreased by Cd, but more in the low S‐treated plants. Low S‐treated plants exposed to Cd showed an increase in Fo and Fq, and a decrease in Fv/Fm and T_1/2, indicating photoinhibitory damage to PSII. Analysis of the growth parameters showed that Cd decreased plant size and biomass, but the reduction was more severe in the low S‐treated plants. These results support the hypothesis that S is a critical nutritional factor in plants which is important for the reduction of Cd toxicity.     

Growth stage-based response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to kinetin under water-deficit environment: pigments and gas exchange attributes

Plant growth regulator, kinetin, is known to modulate the key physiological processes under abiotic stresses in different crops. However, kinetin-mediated response at different growth stages of crop plants is lagging behind. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to appraise the potential role of exogenously applied kinetin in alleviating the effects of water scarcity on wheat. Three levels of kinetin (0, 75, and 150 mg/L) were used either as seed treatment or foliar spray at the vegetative or the post-anthesis stage. Water deficit markedly reduced shoot fresh mass, plant chlorophyll level, flag leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Degradation of chlorophyll a was greater in plants subjected to post-anthesis water-deficit conditions. However, plants growing under continuous water-deficit conditions had significantly lower concentration of chlorophyll b than those treated with water scarcity at the post-anthesis stage or receiving normal irrigation. Inhibited photosynthesis of wheat in response to post-anthesis water-deficit conditions was largely due to non-stomatal factors. In contrast, stomatal factors were the main constraints for photosynthesis in plants growing under continuous scarcity of water. Plants subjected to continuous water starvation had markedly lower grain yield than those subjected to water-deficit conditions at post-anthesis stage. Application of kinetin before seed sowing or at the post-anthesis stage significantly reduced the negative effects of drought on flag leaf chlorophyll and stomatal conductance. Lower level of kinetin (75 mg/L) was found to be more effective in mitigating the inhibitory effects of water shortage on photosynthesis and growth, and improved grain yield under water scarcity.     

Response of Hibiscus Rosa‐Sinensis L. to varying levels of potassium fertilization: Growth,gas exchange and mineral element concentration

Little is known about the effect of varying levels of potassium (K) on the mineral element concentration, growth, and gas exchange, characteristics of woody ornamental plants. The commercially important woody ornamental species Hibiscus rosa‐sinensis L. cv. Leprechaun was evaluated for K response in a series of three experiments with full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution, which supplied 0 to 10 mM K. Plants grown with 4 mM K in nutrient solution (2.4% leaf tissue K) had the greatest shoot growth and root extension. Gas exchange rates (net photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance) were also highest at 4 mM K compared to the control (0 mM K /0.6% leaf tissue K), 0.2, 2.0 and 10 mM K treatments. The application of 4 mM K increased net photosynthesis and tranpiration by 2.1 fold and stomatal conductance by 4.5 fold over 0 mM K controls. Increasing K in nutrient solution correlated positively with tissue K, manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn), but negatively with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). There was a stronger sink for K in yonger leaves (the first to fourth fully expanded leaf from the shoot apex) which had higher K concentration than older leaves (the eighth to twelfth fully expanded leaf from the shoot apex). However, with increasing K in nutrient solution, K concentration in leaf tissue increased regardless of leaf age, and the difference between the younger and older leaf was constant. Daily application of 10 mM K resulted in 6.9% leaf tissue K and caused a decrease in plant total dry matter, net photosynthesis, compared to 4 mM K treated plants. However, these parameters remained higher in 10 mM K plants, which retained high ornamental quality than in 0 mM controls. Plants fertilized with 10 mM K, had the highest leaf tissue K and Zn, but lowest P, Ca, Mg, iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and boron (B). Nevertheless, the 10 mM K treated plants exhibited no morphological differences or deficiency symptoms; rather those plants had similar vegetative vigor and flower bud formation rate as those at 4 mM K.     

Water status and stomatal behaviour of cowpea,Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp,plants inoculated with two Glomus species at low soil moisture levels

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on water status and stomatal behaviour of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. B89-504, under water-stressed conditions in the greenhouse were studied. The 3 × 2 experimental design included two levels of mycorrhizal colonisation (Glomus mosseae, Glomus versiforme) and non-mycorrhizal control treatment and two soil moisture levels (well-watered pots and pots allowed to dry). Relative water content and leaf water potential values were higher in well-watered mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants than in water-stressed mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. AM species had no significant effect on leaf osmotic potential, stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration in both well watered and water-stressed plants. The values of stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration were high during the vegetative stage and low during the flowering stage. These responses which can be related to the age of the plant suggest that mycorrhizal colonisation did not affect stomatal closure of cowpea plants during water stress. The decrease in plant growth and dry matter production in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants shows that drought resistance in cowpea was unaffected by mycorrhiza in the vegetative phase.     

不同土壤水分供应与施锌对玉米水分代谢的影响

采用盆栽试验研究不同土壤水分状况下及施锌对玉米植株水分状况、水分生理特征的影响。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,玉米叶片含水量和水势降低,植株体内自由水分的含量减少,而束缚水含量略有增加,离体叶片失水速率小;叶片气孔阻力增加,导度下降,蒸腾作用和光合速率受到抑制。施锌后玉米叶片的水势和鲜重含水量没有明显变化,但玉米叶片气孔阻力降低,气孔导度增加,叶片蒸腾速率和光合作用速率加大。干旱胁迫下,施锌对玉米植株体内水分生理代谢有一定的调节作用,但是在土壤水分供应充足时,施锌更能增强玉米水分生理代谢,提高水分利用效率。     

Nitrogen forms affect root growth,photosynthesis, and yield of tomato under alternate partial root‐zone irrigation

To increase efficiency of water and nitrogen (N) fertilizer use, this study was conducted with a split‐root pot experiment to investigate the effects of different forms of N fertilizer on root growth, photosynthesis, instantaneous water use efficiency (IWUE), and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under alternate partial root‐zone irrigation (APRI). Three irrigation modes comprised conventional irrigation (CI) and two kinds of APRI, i.e., APRI with water content in the drying soil compartment controlled at ≥ 60% or 40% of the water‐holding capacity (APRI‐60, APRI‐40). Two N forms included ammonium‐N and nitrate‐N supplied as calcium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, respectively. The results show that APRI‐60 enhanced root growth and increased leaf IWUE with a slight yield reduction compared with CI regardless of the N form supplied. In contrast, APRI‐40 significantly decreased root growth and inhibited photosynthesis, thereby resulting in a significant yield loss. In addition, at the flowering stage tomato plants grew better with ammonium‐N than nitrate‐N supply; however, at the fruit expansion stage and maturity stage, the tomato plants had a higher biomass accumulation and yield with nitrate‐N than ammonium‐N supply. Therefore, the application of APRI should consider the soil water condition coupled with an appropriate N form. In the present study, APRI controlled at ≥ 60% of the water‐holding capacity (WHC) for the drying soil side with nitrate‐N supply was the best water‐fertilizer supply for tomato cultivation.     

Effect of nitrogen supply on leaf traits related to photosynthesis during grain filling in two maize genotypes with different N efficiency

In the present study, plant traits related to the photosynthetic capacity at the whole plant level were compared during grain filling in two maize genotypes with different nitrogen (N) efficiency. The plants were grown in a greenhouse in large root containers and supplied either with suboptimal or optimal rates of N fertilizer. Suboptimal N supply reduced total plant biomass at maturity (47 days (d) after flowering) by 29 % for the efficient genotype and by 36 % for the inefficient genotype. Suboptimal N supply reduced leaf growth of both genotypes. The reduction of leaf area was less severe in the N‐efficient genotype, despite of lower N content in the leaves. This indicates lower sensitivity of leaf growth towards internal N limitation in the efficient genotype. At low N supply, the green leaf area per plant gradually decreased after flowering in both genotypes, because of loss of chlorophyll during leaf senescence. The rate of net photosynthesis per unit leaf area (A) was reduced at low in comparison with high N supply. The ratio of A/leaf N content or leaf chlorophyll content was higher in the efficient genotype, indicating more efficient utilization of internal N for photosynthesis. At the end of grain filling, low N supply led to enhanced intercelluar CO₂ concentrations (Ci) in the leaves, indicating limitation of CO₂ assimilation by carboxylation rather than by stomatal resistance. The N deficiency‐induced increase of Ci was less pronounced in the efficient genotype. Furthermore, higher photosynthetic rate of the efficient genotype at suboptimal N supply was associated with lower contents of reducing sugars and sucrose in the leaves, whereas starch content was higher than in the inefficient genotype. The ability to avoid excessive sugar accumulation in the leaves under N deficiency might be related to higher photosynthetic N efficiency.     

Response of Two Olive Cultivars to Salt Stress and Potassium Supplement

ABSTRACT

The effects of saline water containing 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), and 100 mM NaCl + 100 mM potassium (K) on photosynthesis, water relations, and ion and carbohydrate content of olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Mastoidis’ were studied on five-year-old trees. Salinity increased sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) in tissues of both cultivars, but more so in ‘Koroneiki’ than in ‘Mastoidis.’ Salt-toxicity symptoms were observed at 100 and 150 mM, but not in plants receiving extra K. In salt-stressed plants, leaf water potential declined, whereas turgor potential remained positive due to a rapid decrease in osmotic potential. Salinity increased mannitol content up to 41.3% in ‘Mastoidis’ and 15.8% in ‘Koroneiki’, but reduced starch content in leaves. Photosynthetic rates fell significantly with increasing salinity in both cultivars, but more so in ‘Koroneiki’ than in ‘Mastoidis’. Potassium supplements reduced the concentration of Na⁺ and increased the concentrations of K⁺ in leaves, but decreased photosynthesis.     

Kaolin influences tomato response to salinity: physiological aspects

Environmental stress as salinity can negatively affect the physiology of tomato plants. Conditions leading to a reduction of transpiration can contribute to greater tolerance to salinity. Use of kaolin-based particle film technology (PFT) may be an effective tool to control stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, thus mitigating the detrimental effect of salinity. The present three-year study has investigated the effects of kaolin application on leaf gas exchange, leaf water potential, leaf and canopy temperature of field-grown tomato, irrigated with brackish water by drip method, in southern Italy. Treatments were: (1) three salinity levels of irrigation water (electrical conductivity of water = 0.5, 5 and 10 dS m^?1); (2) tomato plants treated or not with kaolin; and (3) two cultivars in each year. The increase in salinity caused the reduction of leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis and transpiration rate, and the increase of leaf and canopy temperature. Kaolin has resulted in an improvement of leaf water potential, and the reduction in gas exchange variables in low-salinity conditions. Under high salinity, kaolin was effective in limiting the reductions in net photosynthesis and reducing leaf and canopy temperature. These latter variables were slightly affected by kaolin, in different ways in respect to the saline treatments; while in non-saline conditions were 0.2–0.5°C higher in the kaolin-treated plants, the situation was reversed in more saline treatment. The variation of leaf and canopy temperature shows that kaolin influences the thermal balance mainly for the dual effect of reflection of the incident radiation and partial occlusion of the stomata. Kaolin mitigated detrimental effects of salinity also on yield, contributing to the improvement of income for the farmers. The use of kaolin-based PFT may be an effective tool to alleviate salinity stress in tomato production under arid and semi-arid conditions.     

Effect of silicon on photosynthetic gas exchange,photosynthetic pigments,cell membrane stability and relative water content of different wheat cultivars under drought stress conditions

This study aims to explain the effects of silicon (Si) foliar application on gas exchange characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, membrane stability and leaf relative water content of different wheat cultivars in the field under drought stress conditions. The experiment was arranged as a split-split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation regime (100%, 60%, and 40% F.C.), silicon (control and Si application) and wheat cultivars (Shiraz, Marvdasht, Chamran, and Sirvan) were considered as main, sub and sub-sub plots, respectively. This study was carried out at the Research Farm of the Collage of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran, during 2012–2013 growing season. The results showed that foliar application of silicon increased the leaf relative water content, photosynthesis pigments (chlorophyll a, b and total chl and carotenoids), chlorophyll stability index (CSI) and membrane stability index (MSI) in all wheat cultivars, especially in Sirvan and Chamran (drought tolerant cultivars), under both stress and non-stress conditions. However, more improvement was observed under drought stress as compared to the non-stress condition. In contrast, these parameters decreased under drought stress. Si significantly decreased electrolyte leakage in all four cultivars under drought stress conditions. Furthermore, the intercellular carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration (C_i) increased under drought stress. Si application decreased C_i especially under drought stress conditions. Net photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (g_s) were significantly decreased under drought conditions. Under drought, Si applied plants showed significantly higher leaf photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance. Intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) and carboxylation efficiency (C_E) decreased in all cultivars under drought stress. However, the silicon-applied plants had greater WUEi and C_E under drought stress. The stomatal limitation was found to be higher in stressed plants compared to the control. Exogenously applied silicon also decreased stomatal limitation. Overall, application of Si was found beneficial for improving drought tolerance of wheat plants.     

Protective Role of Putrescine Against Salt Stress is Partially Related to the Improvement of Water Relation and Nutritional Imbalance in Cucumber

Polyamines play a variety of physiological roles in plant growth and development. To investigate whether exogenous putrescine (Put) has roles in protecting plants against salt stress, Put (100 μ M) was added to nutrient solution three days before cucumber (Cucumis sativusL. cv. “Jinyan No.4') seedlings were exposed to 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment. Putrescine treatment significantly ameliorated the detrimental effects of NaCl on root growth and this was associated with a decrease of Na uptake and an increase in potassium accumulation in roots. Manganese (Mn) content in roots was decreased by salinity stress but increased by Put pretreatment. Furthermore, osmotic stress associated with NaCl treatment decreased leaf water potential and water content, while these effects were alleviated by Put pretreatment. The decreases in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) by NaCl were also diminished by Put treatment. The results indicate that Put may play an important role in protecting cucumber plants against salt stress.     

Effect of nitrogen on the growth and photo‐synthetic activity of salt‐stressed barley

Pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse to study the effect of nitrogen (N) nutrition on photosynthesis and water relations of barley plants under salinity conditions. Nitrogen decreased the sodium (Na) content and increased the potassium (K) content in shoots. The net photosynthetic rate of leaves increased significantly with added N increasing from 0 to 100 mg N/kg soil. The activity of ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC_ase) in leaves of high‐salt plants was lower, and in leaves of the low‐salt plants higher than that in control plants. The photosynthetic rate was reduced by sodium chloride (NaCl) and was significantly correlated with total soluble protein per unit leaf area. At each N level, stomatal conductance in leaves was reduced considerably by salt. Proline content of leaves increased with increasing N level. It was higher in leaves of salt‐treated plants than in those of control plants. The osmotic potential of leaves decreased with increasing N applied, and the turgor pressure of high N plants remained higher under salt treatment condition.     

Impact of a biochar or a biochar-compost mixture on water relation, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis of Phragmites karka

Soil water and nutrient status are both of major importance for plant appearance and growth performance. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of biochar (1.5%) and a biochar-compost mixture (1.5% biochar + 1.5% compost) on the performance of Phragmites karka plants grown on a synthetic nutrient-poor sandy clay soil (50% sand, 30% clay, and 20% gravel). Indicators of plant performance, such as growth, lignocellulosic biomass, water status (leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potential), mineral nutrition status, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence, and soil respiration (carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux) were assessed under greenhouse conditions. Biochar-treated plants had higher growth rates and lignocellulosic biomass production than control plants with no biochar and no compost. There was also a significant increase in soil respiration in the treatments with biochar, which stimulated microbial interactions. The increase in soil water-holding capacity after biochar amendment caused significant improvements in plant water status and plant ion (K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) contents, leading to an increase in net photosynthesis and a higher energy-use efficiency of photosystem II. Biochar-treated plants had lower oxidative stress, increased water-use efficiency, and decreased soil respiration, and the biochar-compost mixture resulted in even greater improvements in growth, leaf turgor potential, photosynthesis, nutrient content, and soil gas exchange. Our results suggest that biochar and compost promote plant growth with respect to nutrient uptake, water balance, and photosynthetic system efficiency. In summary, both the soil amendments studied could increase opportunities for P. karka to sequester CO₂ and produce more fodder bio-active compounds and biomass for bio-energy on nutrient-poor degraded soils.     

玉米毛状根再生植株对水分胁迫的响应

为研究玉米根系对水分胁迫的响应,以玉米毛状根再生植株为材料,在水分胁迫下,测量其生育时期的植株生长和生理指标。结果表明,水分胁迫下玉米毛状根再生植株光合速率、蒸腾速率、细胞间隙CO2浓度、气孔导度均较高。水分胁迫下,毛状根再生植株的根系水导降幅最小,为13.2%,对照品种H99下降了84.7%。各营养器官含水率最高,叶渗透调节能力增强。这说明由于毛状根再生植株强大的根系,保证了植株生长发育过程中的水分供应和光合能力。     

Interactive effects of salinity and iron deficiency on different rice genotypes

Salinity adversely affects plant growth, photosynthesis, and availability of nutrients including iron. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is susceptible to soil salinity and highly prone to iron (Fe) deficiency due to lower release of Fe‐chelating compounds under saline conditions. In order to investigate the effects of salinity and low iron supply on growth, photosynthesis, and ionic composition of five rice genotypes (KS‐282, Basmati Pak, Shaheen Basmati, KSK‐434 and 99417), a solution culture experiment was conducted with four treatments (control, 50 mM NaCl, Fe‐deficient, and 50 mM NaCl + Fe‐deficient). Salinity and Fe deficiency reduced shoot and root growth, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, chlorophyll concentration, and stomatal conductance. The reduction in all these parameters was more in the interactive treatment of salinity and low Fe supply. Moreover, a significant increase in shoot and root Na⁺ with corresponding decrease in K⁺ and Fe concentrations was also observed in the combined salinity and Fe‐deficiency treatment. Among the tested genotypes, Basmati Pak was the most sensitive genotype both under salt stress and Fe deficiency. The genotype KS‐282 performed better than other genotypes under salinity stress alone, whereas Shaheen Basmati was the best genotype under Fe deficiency in terms of all the studied parameters.     

Volatile losses of sulfur by intact alfalfa plants

An apparatus was developed for the quantitative collection of volatile sulfur compounds released by intact plants and was used to study the effects of leaf temperature and stomatal aperture on the amount and pattern of release.

An air stream sweeps volatiles released by the plants through a water‐cooled condenser system in which the air is dried prior to trapping the volatile sulfur compounds on activated carbon. Tests with ³⁵S‐labelled 1‐butanethiol gave a mean recovery of 95.8 ± 4.3%.

The yield of volatile sulfur compounds increased greatly when air flow rate increased from 1 to 2 1 min^‐1 , but was independent of flow rate over the range 2 to 6 1 min^‐1. About 93% of the trapped activity originated from plant shoots, about 1% from stem bases and roots and about 4% from culture solutions.

Release of volatile sulfur compounds from intact plants followed a diurnal pattern, maximum rates occurring around midday and minimum rates overnight. Maximum rates of release ranged from 30 to 41 ng S g dry weight of shoots^‐1 2 hr ^‐1, while minimum rates ranged from 1.5 to 2.1 ng S g dry weight of shoots^‐1 2hr^‐1. Leaf temperature rather than stomatal aperture seemed to be the major factor controlling rate of release of volatile sulfur compounds. The rate of release was almost doubled by an increase of 7–9°C in leaf temperature.     

Effect of drought pretreatment before anthesis and post-anthesis waterlogging on water relation,photosynthesis, and growth of tomatoes

The effect of drought preconditioning before anthesis and post-anthesis waterlogging on water relation, photosynthesis, and growth was studied in tomatoes. Tomatoes were grown in pots and exposed to four treatments, whereby the plants were irrigated to 80% field capacity in T1 (control) and T2, 70% of the control (T3), and 50% of the control (T4). Drought was maintained for 30 days from 14 days after transplanting (DAT), and then the plants under T2, T3, and T4 were subjected to waterlogging at 60 and 80 DAT and lasted for 2 days. The results showed that drought pretreatments induced a decrease in leaf water potential, leaf insertion angle, photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate. The stomatal closure and epinasty observed in response to drought pretreatment represented adaptive mechanisms to the followed waterlogging. The soil redox potential, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of un-pretreatment were dramatically decreased by post-anthesis waterlogging; however, T3 was found to effectively enhance tolerance to a waterlogging event by decreasing leaf insertion angle and increasing photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Fruit quality and yield were deteriorated considerably by waterlogging. However, T3 caused less damage to fruit quality and yield by post-anthesis waterlogging compared to T2.