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Environmental and Stress Physiology

Alteration of Components of Leaf Water Potential and Water Content in Velvetleaf under the Effects of Long-Term Humidity Difference ¹

Department of Botany, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27706

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) was grown in growth chambers set at 45 or 85% relative humidity at 30°C, CO₂ 350 microliters per liter and 1000 micromoles per square meter per second of photosynthetically active radiation. Soil water potential was maintained at –0.05 megapascal by subirrigation with half strength Hoagland solution. The third, fourth, and fifth leaves from the base of 21- and 25-day-old plants were used for pressure-volume measurements. Components of leaf water status including water potential (osmotic and potential associated with the apoplast), leaf water content (apoplasmic and symplasmic water), and elastic modulus of leaf tissue were determined. Results indicate: (a) persistent dry air generated leaves with lower water potential at a given relative water content than did humid air; (b) the higher total leaf water content in plants grown in dry air was related to an increase in apoplasmic water, whereas symplasmic water remained similar in both humidity treatments; (c) difference in leaf water potential between low and high humidity treatments was related to decreased potential associated with the apoplast but not to a change in cell wall elasticity.

¹ This study was supported by contract No. DE-FGO5-87ER60575 from the CO₂ Research Office, Department of Energy, and by National Science Foundation grant No. BSR87-06429 for the Duke University Phytotron.