Phenotypic plasticity and growth temperature: understanding interspecific variability.

The subject of this review is the impact of long-term changes in temperature on plant growth and its underlying components. The discussion highlights the extent to which thermal acclimation of metabolism is intrinsically linked to the plasticity of a range of biochemical and morphological traits. The fact that there is often a trade-off between temperature-mediated changes in net assimilation rates (NAR) and biomass allocation [in particular the specific leaf area (SLA)] when plants are grown at different temperatures is also highlighted. Also discussed is the role of temperature-mediated changes in photosynthesis and respiration in determining NAR values. It is shown that in comparisons that do not take phylogeny into account, fast-growing species exhibit greater temperature-dependent changes in RGR, SLA, and NAR than slow-growing plants. For RGR and NAR, such trends are maintained within phylogenetically independent contrasts (i.e. species adapted to more-favourable habitats consistently exhibit greater temperature-mediated changes than their congeneric counterparts adapted to less-favourable habitats). By contrast, SLA was not consistently more thermally plastic in species from favourable habitats. Interestingly, biomass allocation between leaves and roots was consistently more plastic in slow-growing species within individual phylogenetically independent contrasts, when plants were grown under contrasting temperatures. Finally, how interspecific variations in NAR account for an increasing proportion of variability in RGR as growth temperatures decrease is highlighted. Conversely, SLA played a more dominant role in determining interspecific variability in RGR at higher growth temperatures; thus, the importance of SLA in determining interspecific variation in RGR could potentially increase if annual mean temperatures increase in the future.

Salinity effects on the stomatal behaviour of grapevine.

An investigation of the time-course of inhibition of photosynthesis in salt-stressed grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) leaves revealed two types of stomatal behaviour. Up to tissue concentrations of 165 mM chloride the inhibition was due to a uniform decrease in stomatal conductance, as indicated from autoradiograms of 14 CO2 fixation and no change in the relationship of assimilation to calculated intercellular partial pressure of CO2 (A-C1 ) compared with control plants. The occurrence of non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis at higher levels of leaf chloride, suggested by a decline in the slope of the calculated (A-C1 ) relationship, was associated with non-uniform 14 CO2 uptake over the leaf surface similar to that previously observed for ABA-treated and water-stressed grapevine leaves where non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis was shown to be an artifact arising from non-uniform stomatal behaviour. These observations also provide an explanation for the stimulation of photorespiration during salt stress.

Stomatal closure fully accounts for the inhibition of photosynthesis by abscisic acid.

The partial pressure of intercellular CO2 calculated from gas exchange data for abscisic acid-treated leaves of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) does not indicate the average intercellular CO2 of the leaf. The latter can be determined from chlorophyll fluorescence quenching information and accurately modelled from gas exchange data. Stomatal closure can fully account for previously assumed non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis. Autoradiograms show that abscisic acid induces non-uniform gas exchange over small areas of the leaf.

A monoclonal antibody to (S)-abscisic acid: its characterisation and use in a radioimmunoassay for measuring abscisic acid in crude extracts of cereal and lupin leaves.

A monoclonal antibody produced to abscisic acid (ABA) has been characterised and the development of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for ABA using the antibody is described. The antibody had a high selectivity for the free acid of (S)-cis, trans-ABA. Using the antibody, ABA could be assayed reliably in the RIA over a range from 100 to 4000 pg (0.4 to 15 pmol) ABA per assay vial. As methanol and acetone affected ABA-antibody binding, water was used to extract ABA from leaves. Water was as effective as aqueous methanol and acetone in extracting the ABA present. Crude aqueous extracts of wheat, maize and lupin leaves could be analysed without serious interference from other immunoreactive material. This was shown by measuring the distribution of immunoreactivity in crude extracts separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or by comparing the assay with physicochemical methods of analysis. Analysis of crude extracts by RIA and either, after TLC purification, by gas chromatography using an electron-capture detector or, after HPLC purification, by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) gave very similar ABA concentrations in the initial leaf samples. However, RIA analysis of crude aqueous extracts of pea seeds resulted in considerable overestimation of the amount of ABA present. Determinations of ABA content by GC-MS and RIA were similar after pea seed extracts had been purified by HPLC. Although the RIA could not be used to analyse ABA in crude extracts of pea seeds, it is likely that crude extracts of leaves of several other species may be assayed successfully.

DIURNAL CHANGES IN THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF FIELD-GROWN GRAPE VINES.

Field studies of the gas exchange of Riesling grape vines (Vitis vinifera L.) showed large diurnal changes in net photosynthesis during the period of rapid sugar accumulation by fruit. The onset of the decline in photosynthesis occurred earlier in the day for vines without fruit. Decreases in photosynthesis were approximately proportional to changes in stomatal conductance. Despite the accompanying large changes in stomatal conductance, changes in intercellular CO2 concentration were small and mathematical analysis showed that stomatal changes accounted for only 20 to 40% of the change in assimilation rate. The CO2 compensation point, oxygen enhancement of photosynthesis, light and temperature responses of the leaf did not vary throughout the day. Stimulation of photorespiration was therefore not responsible for the non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis. No obvious correlation existed between the decline in leaf photosynthesis and daily changes in leaf water potential. A field study of Colombard grape vines revealed that frequently watered vines which had received irrigation 2 d prior to measurement showed little change in photosynthetic rate over the day compared with vines subjected to a more usual watering cycle, which had last been irrigated 18 d prior to measurement. Possible non-stomatal factors responsible for the reduction in photosynthesis during the day are discussed.

The effect of fruit-removal on cytokinins and gibberellin-like substances in grape leaves.

Removal of fruit from potted cuttings of Vitis vinifera L. increased the concentration of a cytokininglucoside in leaf tissue extracts and decreased the level of extractable gibberellin-like substances. The glucoside (of zeatin riboside) is not present in xylem exudate of V. vinifera L., and appears to be synthesized in the leaves. Berry extracts contain zeatin-riboside and smaller amounts of cytokinin-glucoside. The changes in the level of these hormones are discussed in relation to previous results on abscisic acid and phaseic acid levels in grape leaves.

The Incorporation of Photosynthates by Meloidogyne javanica.

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, incorporated (1)C from its host after exposure of the plant to (1)CO. This uptake was relatively slow and was not detected in nematodes exposed to a labelled plant for periods of 2 and 4 h, but was after 24 h. Nematodes were grown in plants previously infected at weekly intervals to provide animals at various stages of growth. Plants were harvested 24 h after exposure to the label and the rate of incorporation per unit area of nematode was measured. This rate was found to be related to the nematode's physiological age and reached its peak at the time egg-laying commenced, after which it started to decline. The results support the hypothesis that the nematode functions as a metabolic sink.

Abscisic Acid and stomatal regulation.

The closure of stomata by abscisic acid was examined in several species of plants through measurements of CO(2) and H(2)O exchange by the leaf. The onset of closure was very rapid, beginning at 3 minutes from the time of abscisic acid application to the cut base of the leaf of corn, or at 8 or 9 minutes for bean, Rumex and sugarbeet; rose leaves were relatively slow at 32 minutes. The timing and the concentration of abscisic acid needed to cause closure were related to the amounts of endogenous abscisic acid in the leaf. Closure was obtained in bean leaves with 8.9 picomoles/cm(2). (+)-Abscisic acid had approximately twice the activity of the racemic material. The methyl ester of abscisic acid was inactive, and trans-abscisic acid was likewise inactive. The effects of stress on levels of endogenous abscisic acid, and the ability of very small amounts of abscisic acid to cause rapid closure suggests that stomatal control is a regulatory function of this hormone.

The red light controlled production of gibberellin in etiolated wheat leaves.

Most of the gibberellin activity detectable in extracts of etiolated wheat leaf tissue occurs in a bound form. There is a rapid increase in extractable gibberellin-like substances following exposure of the tissue to red light with a concomitant fall in the amount of bound gibberellin. Actinomycin-D and AMo 1618 do not inhibit this initial phase of red light stimulated gibberellin production.It is concluded that red light stimulated gibberellin production in etiolated wheat leaf tissue is due to release from a bound form and to synthesis.

The hormonal control of wheat leaf unrolling.

The unrolling of etiolated wheat leaf sections in the dark is stimulated by the application of gibberellic acid (GA3). GA3 is most effective if applied for a short time at the beginning of incubation. Kinetin also stimulated leaf unrolling in the dark. AMO1618 and CCC inhibit red light and kinetin-stimulated unrolling. Gibberellin-like substances extracted from red light-treated leaf tissue are effective in stimulating leaf unrolling.Ethylene production in leaf sections is stimulated by IAA, GA3 and kinetin and inhibited by ABA. A brief exposure to red light decreases the ability of the tissue to produce ethylene. It is concluded that ethylene plays no important role in the control of leaf unrolling by red light or by the application of hormones.