Diurnal variation in extension growth of leaves of Salix viminalis

Diurnal variation in leaf extension and biophysical parameters of leaf growth were measured in young leaves from a stand of Salix viminalis L. in southern Sweden over a two-day period of clear skies during late July. Leaf growth rate (irreversible extension) was greatest during the late afternoon and early evening, falling to negligible values during the night and early morning.Leaf water potential and leaf osmotic potential showed declining values in the morning with subsequent recovery in the late afternoon. Diurnal variation in osmotic potential (-1.3 to -1.7 MPa) was small compared with that of leaf water potential (-0.1 to -1.2 MPa). Calculated values of leaf turgor pressure during the night (1.2 MPa) were double the midday values. Growth rate correlated poorly with turgor, which (except on one occasion) was always above a calculated value of yield turgor at 0.53 MPa.Diurnal variation in extension growth rate was large compared with that in plastic extensibility of leaf tissue as measured by an Instron technique. Values of extensibility were low and showed little diurnal variation, which is consistent with a proposed negative feedback of expansive growth rate on extensibility. Extension growth rate correlated well with air temperature, suggesting that the rate of leaf expansion may have been limited by a temperature-dependent rate of cell wall loosening.