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Regulation of Water Loss by Citrus Leaves
Author(s) -
HALL ANTHONY E.,
CAMACHOB SAUL E.,
KAUFMANN MERRILL R.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1975.tb03766.x
Subject(s) - transpiration , humidity , horticulture , acclimatization , relative humidity , botany , biology , air temperature , photosynthesis , physics , climatology , geology , thermodynamics
The factors responsible for the low transpiration rates of citrus were investigated. Leaf resistance to water vapor exchange by orange seedlings ( Citrus sinensis L. cv. Koethen) including a substantial boundary layer resistance, was as low as 1 s cm −1 in humid air. Leaf resistance of well watered plants increased to values as large as 5 s cm −1 when the difference in absolute humidity between leaf and air was increased. Leaf resistance was only slightly influenced by temperature between 20 and 30°C providing the humidity difference between leaf and air was kept constant. Leaf resistance increased when leaf temperature was increased between 20 and 30°C when the absolute humidity external to the leaf was kept constant. Increased humidity differences resulted in greater increases in leaf resistance during initial experiments than when the experiments were repeated with the same leaves indicating acclimation by the plant. It was concluded that the effects of humidity differences on leaf resistance are partially responsible for the low transpiration rates of citrus.