
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chu, ACP 
A1  - Mcpherson, HG 
T1  - Sensitivity to Desiccation of Leaf Extension in Prairie Grass
JF  - Functional Plant Biology
JO  - Functional Plant Biol.
Y1  - 1977
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
SP  - 381
EP  - 387
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/PP9770381 
N2  - The short-term response of leaf extension rates and leaf water potential (&#936;1) to controlled diurnal changes in the environment of a pasture species, prairie grass (Bromus catharticus) was followed over a soil drying cycle.   Consistent relationships between rates of leaf extension and leaf water status were found only when measurements had been made under a common environment or when the effects of the environmental differences were allowed for by comparing the response of desiccated plants to that of well watered control plants under the same conditions.   In the early stages of desiccation, leaf extension rates were extremely sensitive to reduction in &#936;1. Water potentials of only 2-3 bars below that of well watered control plants were sufficient to depress leaf extension rates by 50%. However, as desiccation became more severe, leaf extension rates became much less responsive to further reductions in &#936;1.   We infer that it will be possible to resolve some of the apparent discrepancies among various reports on the sensitivity of leaf extension rates to desiccation when allowance can be made for the actions of other important influences, such as temperature in this experiment, and when &#936;1 at the site of measurement can be related unequivocally to &#936;1 at the region of elongation. 
ER  -

