Register      Login
Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hydraulic conductance of intact plants of two contrasting sorghum lines, SC15 and SC1205

Sunita Choudhary A , Thomas R. Sinclair A C and P. V. Vara Prasad B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, USA.

B Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5501, USA.

C Corresponding author. Email: trsincla@ncsu.edu

Functional Plant Biology 40(7) 730-738 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12338
Submitted: 9 November 2012  Accepted: 29 January 2013   Published: 5 April 2013

Abstract

Low plant hydraulic conductance has been hypothesised as an approach to decrease the rate of soil water use, resulting in soil water conservation for use during late season water deficits. The impact of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) on water use characteristics was explored by comparing two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes that had been found to differ in Kleaf. Genotype SC15 had a much lower leaf conductance than genotype SC1205. Four sets of experiments were undertaken to extend the comparison to the impact of differences in Kleaf on the plant water budget. (1) Measurements of hydraulic conductance of intact plants confirmed that leaf conductance of SC15 was lower than that of SC1205. (2) The low leaf conductance of SC15 was associated with a decrease in transpiration during soil drying at a higher soil water content than that of SC1205. (3) SC15 had a restricted transpiration rate at vapour pressure deficits (VPD) above 2.1 kPa, whereas SC1205 did not. (4) Treatment with aquaporin inhibitors showed substantial differences in the sensitivity of the transpiration response between the genotypes. These results demonstrated that low Kleaf in SC15 was associated with conservative water use by restricting transpiration at higher soil water content during soil drying and under high VPD. Tests with inhibitors indicate that these differences may be linked to differences between their aquaporin populations. The differences between the two genotypes indicated that the traits exhibited by SC15 would be desirable in environments where soil water deficits develop.

Additional keywords: aquaporin inhibitors, drought, transpiration, vapour pressure deficit.


References

Boyer JS (1974) Water transport in plants: mechanism of apparent changes in resistance during absorption. Planta 117, 187–207.
Water transport in plants: mechanism of apparent changes in resistance during absorption.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brodribb TJ, Holbrook NM, Gutierrez MV (2002) Hydraulic and photosynthetic coordination in seasonally dry tropical forest trees. Plant, Cell & Environment 25, 1435–1444.
Hydraulic and photosynthetic coordination in seasonally dry tropical forest trees.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brodribb TJ, Field TS, Jordan GJ (2007) Leaf maximum photosynthetic rate and venation are linked by hydraulics. Plant Physiology 144, 1890–1898.
Leaf maximum photosynthetic rate and venation are linked by hydraulics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXpsVOgs7s%3D&md5=0f0bcc31dbcd41cfef4c9194f51ea13dCAS | 17556506PubMed |

Cochard H, Nardini A, Coll L (2004) Hydraulic architecture of leaf blades: where is the main resistance? Plant, Cell & Environment 27, 1257–1267.
Hydraulic architecture of leaf blades: where is the main resistance?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Devi MJ, Sinclair TR, Vadez V (2010) Genotypic variability among peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to soil drying. Plant and Soil 330, 139–148.
Genotypic variability among peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to soil drying.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktFequ7g%3D&md5=abe6823369ac50fa664df5234fa02dcbCAS |

Devi MJ, Sadok W, Sinclair TR (2012) Transpiration response of de-rooted peanut plants to aquaporin inhibitors. Environmental and Experimental Botany 78, 167–172.
Transpiration response of de-rooted peanut plants to aquaporin inhibitors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XisFGisbo%3D&md5=dabf5f8da0484b388ba19a35e71de8f4CAS |

Fletcher AL, Sinclair TR, Allen LH (2007) Transpiration responses to vapor pressure deficit in well watered ‘slow wilting’ and commercial soybean. Environmental and Experimental Botany 61, 145–151.
Transpiration responses to vapor pressure deficit in well watered ‘slow wilting’ and commercial soybean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXpvF2qtb8%3D&md5=2f99c27966e6fa1cc682beb099cb9a41CAS |

Gholipoor M, Prasad PVV, Mutava RN, Sinclair TR (2010) Genetic variability of transpiration response to vapor pressure deficit among sorghum genotypes. Field Crops Research 119, 85–90.
Genetic variability of transpiration response to vapor pressure deficit among sorghum genotypes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gholipoor M, Sinclair TR, Prasad PVV (2012) Genotypic variation within sorghum for transpiration response to drying soil. Plant and Soil 357, 35–40.
Genotypic variation within sorghum for transpiration response to drying soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhtVegt7jJ&md5=10b2fdaa2a3979b7fe6e742e1f84a45aCAS |

Gholipoor M, Choudhary S, Sinclair TR, Messina CD, Cooper M (2013) Transpiration response of maize hybrids to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science in press.

Gilbert ME, Holbrook NM, Zwieniecki MA, Sinclair TR (2011) Field confirmation of genetic variation in soybean transpiration response to vapor pressure deficit and photosynthetic compensation. Field Crops Research 124, 85–92.
Field confirmation of genetic variation in soybean transpiration response to vapor pressure deficit and photosynthetic compensation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kholova J, Hash CT, Kakkera A, Kocova M, Vadez V (2010) Constitutive water conserving mechanisms are correlated with the terminal drought tolerance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.). Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 369–377.
Constitutive water conserving mechanisms are correlated with the terminal drought tolerance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktlGnsg%3D%3D&md5=255b5857da23965b7460ab71a3d4e701CAS | 19861657PubMed |

Martre P, Cochard H, Durand JL (2001) Hydraulic architecture and water flow in growing grass tiller (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Plant, Cell & Environment 24, 65–76.
Hydraulic architecture and water flow in growing grass tiller (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nardini A, Tyree MT (1999) Root and shoot hydraulic conductance of seven Quercus species. Annals of Forest Science 56, 371–377.
Root and shoot hydraulic conductance of seven Quercus species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nardini A, Salleo S (2003) Effect of experimental blockage of the major veins on hydraulics and gas exchange of Prunus Lavrocerasus L. leaves. Journal of Experimental Botany 54, 1213–1219.
Effect of experimental blockage of the major veins on hydraulics and gas exchange of Prunus Lavrocerasus L. leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXivFCju7k%3D&md5=04f53b0077ed6361439d98acf783e192CAS | 12654872PubMed |

Nardini A, Salleo S (2005) Water stress-induced modifications of leaf hydraulic architecture in sunflower: co-ordination with gas exchange. Journal of Experimental Botany 56, 3093–3101.
Water stress-induced modifications of leaf hydraulic architecture in sunflower: co-ordination with gas exchange.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXht1GlsbbO&md5=17590d968758405fb1107ab5defa1b22CAS | 16246857PubMed |

Ocheltree TW, Nippert JB, Kirkham MB, Prasad PVV (2013) Partitioning hydraulic resistance in grass leaves reveals unique correlations to stomatal conductance during drought. Functional Plant Biology

Passioura JB, Munns R (1984) Hydraulic resistance of plants. II. Effects of the rooting medium, and time of the day, in barley and lupin. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 11, 341–350.
Hydraulic resistance of plants. II. Effects of the rooting medium, and time of the day, in barley and lupin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sack L, Frole K (2006) Leaf structural diversity is related to hydraulic capacity in tropical rainforest trees. Ecology 87, 483–491.
Leaf structural diversity is related to hydraulic capacity in tropical rainforest trees.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16637372PubMed |

Sack L, Holbrook NM (2006) Leaf hydraulics. Annual Review of Plant Biology 57, 361–381.
Leaf hydraulics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XosVKhtrs%3D&md5=3f502b84989933bacc5535c1045bdb19CAS | 16669766PubMed |

Sack L, Cowan PD, Jaikumar N, Holbrook NM (2003) The “hydrology” of leaves: co-ordination of structure and function in temperate woody species. Plant Cell & Environment 26, 1343–1356.
The “hydrology” of leaves: co-ordination of structure and function in temperate woody species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sack L, Streeter CM, Holbrook NM (2004) Hydraulic analysis of water flow through leaves of sugar maple and red oak. Plant Physiology 134, 1824–1833.
Hydraulic analysis of water flow through leaves of sugar maple and red oak.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjsFKmtrY%3D&md5=b1e95c6fb92ab6c48927d46b96be5d8bCAS | 15064368PubMed |

Sadok W, Sinclair TR (2010) Transpiration response of ‘slow-wilting’ and commercial soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genotypes to three aquaporin inhibitors. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 821–829.
Transpiration response of ‘slow-wilting’ and commercial soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genotypes to three aquaporin inhibitors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhsVSrtbY%3D&md5=d19da63b337bbb76f8d8211c5b0bed9cCAS | 19969533PubMed |

Sadras VO, Milroy SP (1996) Soil-water thresholds for the responses of leaf expansion and gas exchange: A review. Field Crops Research 47, 253–266.
Soil-water thresholds for the responses of leaf expansion and gas exchange: A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Salleo S, Raimondo F, Trifilo P, Nardini A (2003) Axial-to-radial water permeability of leaf major viens: a possible determinant of the impact of vein embolism on leaf hydraulics? Plant, Cell & Environment 26, 1749–1758.
Axial-to-radial water permeability of leaf major viens: a possible determinant of the impact of vein embolism on leaf hydraulics?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sinclair TR, Ludlow MM (1986) Influence of soil water supply on the plant water balance of four tropical legumes. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 13, 329–341.
Influence of soil water supply on the plant water balance of four tropical legumes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sinclair TR, Hammer GL, van Oosterom EJ (2005) Potential yield and water-use efficiency benefits in sorghum from limited maximum transpiration rate. Functional Plant Biology 32, 945–952.
Potential yield and water-use efficiency benefits in sorghum from limited maximum transpiration rate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sinclair TR, Zwieniecki MA, Holbrook NM (2008) Low leaf hydraulic conductance associated with drought tolerance in soybean. Physiologia Plantarum 132, 446–451.
Low leaf hydraulic conductance associated with drought tolerance in soybean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXksFWktb4%3D&md5=47d8b0752057897d1ff441203c1fa497CAS | 18333998PubMed |

Tsuda M, Tyree MT (2000) Plant hydraulic conductance measured by the high-pressure flow meter in crop plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 51, 823–828.
Plant hydraulic conductance measured by the high-pressure flow meter in crop plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjtF2jsLY%3D&md5=19854ec3a656993197ecd43e60ce4188CAS | 10938875PubMed |

Tyree MT, Cheung YNS (1977) Resistance to water flow in Fagus grandifolia leaves. Canadian Journal of Botany 55, 2591–2599.
Resistance to water flow in Fagus grandifolia leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tyree MT, Nardini A, Salleo S (2001) Hydraulic architecture of whole plants and single leaves. In ‘L’arbre 2000: the tree’. (Ed M Labrecque) pp. 215–221. (Isabelle Quentin: Montreal)

Yang SD, Tyree MT (1994) Hydraulic architecture of Acer saccharaum and A. rubrum: comparison of branches to whole trees and the contribution of leaves to hydraulic resistance. Journal of Experimental Botany 45, 179–186.
Hydraulic architecture of Acer saccharaum and A. rubrum: comparison of branches to whole trees and the contribution of leaves to hydraulic resistance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zaman-Allah M, Jenkinson DM, Vadez V (2011) Chickpea genotypes contrasting for seed yield under terminal drought stress in the field differ for traits related to the control of water use. Functional Plant Biology 38, 270–281.
Chickpea genotypes contrasting for seed yield under terminal drought stress in the field differ for traits related to the control of water use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zwieniecki MA, Melcher PJ, Boyce CK, Sack L, Holbrook NM (2002) Hydraulic architecture of leaf venation in Laurus nobilis L. Plant, Cell & Environment 25, 1445–1450.
Hydraulic architecture of leaf venation in Laurus nobilis L.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |