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Stomatal Response to Leaf Water Potential as Affected by Preconditioning Water Stress in the Field 1
Author(s) -
Thomas J. C.,
Brown K. W.,
Jordan W. R.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800050003x
Subject(s) - water stress , agronomy , gossypium hirsutum , water potential , soil water , sorghum , sorghum bicolor , fiber crop , horticulture , stress (linguistics) , biology , environmental science , ecology , linguistics , philosophy
Abstract Previous research has shown that stomatal response to decreasing soil water potential of chamber‐grown sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. ‘Oro’) and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘Stoneville 213’) is altered by exposure to previous water stress. This work was undertaken to determine if stomatal response of field‐grown plants is also altered by previous water stress. Stoneville 213 cotton was grown in the field under movable rainshelters and was subjected to three treatments: control — well watered, one period of water stress, and two periods of water stress. After this preconditioning period, all plants underwent a final stress during which stomatal response to leaf water potential was measured. The periods of preconditioning water stress were characterized by decreased cumulative growth as measured by leaf area per plant. Leaf areas for the control, one soil water stress plants, and two soil water stress plants were 5,200, 2,200, and 1,200 cm 2 , respectively. Lower stomates of preconditoned field‐grown plants remained open to lower leaf water potentials (—28 to —30 bars) during the final stress than those of plants which were not preconditioned (—22 bars). These results were similar to those found previously on chamber‐grown plants which had been exposed to more frequent but shorter stresses. The 6 to 8 bar adjustment in leaf water potential vs. stomatal resistance as a result of previous water stress indicates a need for caution in interpreting data from plants of unknown water stress history.