Stomatal and growth responses to hydraulic and chemical changes induced by progressive soil drying.

ABSTRACT: A better understanding of physiological responses of crops to drought stress is important for ensuring sustained crop productivity under climate change. Here, we studied the effect on 15-day-old maize (Zea mays L.) plants of a 6 d non-lethal period of soil drying [soil water potential (SWP) decreased from -0.20 MPa to -0.81 MPa]. Root growth was initially stimulated during drying (when SWP decreased from -0.31 MPa to -0.38 MPa, compared with -0.29 MPa in well-watered pots), followed by inhibition during Days 5-6 (SWP from -0.63 MPa to -0.81 MPa). Abscisic acid (ABA) in the root began to accumulate as the root water potential declined during Days 2-3. Leaf elongation was inhibited from Day 4 (SWP less than -0.51 MPa), just after leaf ABA content began to increase, but coinciding with a decl

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5854116 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature