ISSN:
1432-2285
Keywords:
Leaf growth
;
Root distribution
;
Water relations
;
Eucalyptus globulus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Seedlings of Eucalyptus globulus growing in soil columns were subjected to a 24 day soil drying treatment. Water and solute potentials of both young expanding and fully expanded leaves declined under reduced soil water availability, while slightly higher turgor was sustained by the fully expanded leaves. Although leaf area of unwatered seedlings was smaller, the corresponding leaf dry weight was quite similar to that of well-watered seedlings. Soon after rewatering, leaf area of plants experiencing water shortage was comparable to that of well-watered plants. It seems that a difference in wall properties between juvenile and mature leaves allows for an effective pattern of water use by eucalypt plants growing in drying soil. Some stomatal opening is sustained and therefore, presumably, some carbon may be fixed, keeping the carbon balance of the whole plant positive, and allowing a continuous cell division despite the limited water supply. The highest root density of both well-watered and unwatered plants was found in the upper soil layers. However, root growth of unwatered seedlings was gradually increased in the deeper soil layers, where thicker root apices and higher soil water depletion rates per unit root length were recorded. As a consequence, root absorbing surface area was as large in unwatered plants as in well-watered plants.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00240975
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