Plant Physiol.
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Plant Physiology 60:850-853 (1977)
© 1977 American Society of Plant Biologists

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Articles

Stomatal and Nonstomatal Regulation of Water Use in Cotton, Corn, and Sorghum 1

Robert C. Ackerson2 and Daniel R. Krieg

a Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Lubbock, Texas 79409

Stomata of corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) responded to changes in leaf water potential during the vegetative growth phase. During reproductive growth, leaf resistances were minimal and stomata were no longer sensitive to bulk leaf water status even when leaf water potentials approached –27 bars. Stomata of corn, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and sorghum appear to respond to changes in the humidity deficit between the leaf and air and in this manner, regulated transpirational flux to some degree. Distinct differences in water transport efficiency were observed in the three species. Under nonlimiting soil water conditions, sorghum exhibited the greatest efficiency of water transport while under limiting soil moisture conditions, cotton appeared most efficient. Corn was the least efficient with respect to nonstomatal regulation of water use. Differences in drought tolerance among the three species are partially dependent on stomatal regulation of water loss, but efficiency of the water transport system may be more related to drought adaptation. This is particularly important since stomata of all three species did not respond to bulk leaf water status during a large portion of the growing season.

2 Present address: Central Research and Development Department, Experimental Station, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Delaware 19898.

1 This investigation was supported by Grant 14-21-0001-5225 from the Office of Water Resource and Technology, United States Department of Interior.






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Copyright © 1977 by the American Society of Plant Biologists