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The present study investigates the relationships between nitrogen uptake, transpiration, and carbon assimilation. Plants growing on nutrient solution were enclosed for 10-16d in a growth chamber, where temperature, photon flux density, vapour saturation deficit and CO[SUB2] concentration were controlled. One of these factors was modified every 4 to 5 d. Shoot photosynthesis and root and shoot respiration were recorded every half-hour. Nitrogen uptake from the root medium and plant transpiration were measured daily. In most cases, an increase in photon flux density led to increases in transpiration, net daily carbon assimilation, and nitrogen uptake. By modifying transpiration rate without changing photosynthesis (varying vapour saturation deflcit), or by modifying transpiration and carbon assimilation in opposite ways (varying CO[SUB2] air concentration), it was shown that nitrogen uptake does not follow transpiration, but is linked to the carbon uptake of the plant. When light was increased from low to interrnediate levels, the N uptake/C assimilation fatio remained constant. At higher photon flux density, this ratio declined markedly. It is proposed that in the first case, growth is limited by carbohydrate availability, thus any increase in carbon assimilation leads to a proportional increase in nitrogen uptake, in contrast to the second situation where carbohydrates may accumulate in the plant without further nitrogen requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal parenchyma of the leaf and rhizome in 36 species of Sansevieria is made of dead cells and living cells arranged in a regular pattern. Intercellular spaces are lacking. The walls of dead cells consist of an inner amorphous layer positive to the fluorescence test for callose, a middle suberin-like layer and an outer fibrillar layer. In about half of the species examined, the inner layer forms distinctive thickenings. Detached leaves of Sansevieria lose water very slowly, and are able to recover it quickly. The pattern of leaf dehydration appears to be related to leaf morphology, whereas no relation is evident between the pattern of leaf rehydration and leaf morphology. Neither leaf dehydration nor leaf rehydration pattern is affected by the presence of wall thickenings in the dead parenchyma cells. The fresh weight per unit volume of both turgid and droughted leaves is nearly I, denoting that the dead cells are filled with water and do not undergo substantial cavitation during drought. The data indicate that the dead parenchyma cells of Sansevieria are a specialized water-storing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for the distribution of radiation incident on leaves in an isolated apple tree is presented. The simulated area of shadow cast by a tree compared well with measured values. The radiation model is combined with leaf models of photosynthesis and stomatal behaviour to simulate diurnal variations in the exchanges of carbon dioxide and water by the tree. Satisfactory correspondence was obtained when observed rates of transpiration and photosynthesis were compared with simulations. Further simulations indicated the diurnal patterns of transpiration and photosynthesis to be expected for trees with various shapes and leaf areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cheap CO2 enrichment system was designed to perform continuous gas exchange measurements of branches of mature European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.). Branches were grown at ambient (350 cm3 m-3) and elevated CO2 (700cm3 m-3) during the whole 1992 leafy period. Leaks resulting from airtightness defaults in the system appeared to be low enough to measure accurately net CO2 assimilation and transpiration rates during the day. However, the CO2 exchange rates during the night (respiration) were too low to allow accurate measurements. Elevated CO2 had a great effect on the net assimilation rate of branches via its influence on both the C3 photosynthetic pathway and the shade-tolerance of beech trees (85% increase). The A/Ca curves showed no acclimation effect to high CO2, both control and enriched branches increasing their net assimilation in the same way. The decrease of net assimilation rates in mature leaves was similar for both control and enriched branches, The pattern of daily transpiration rates remained the same for both control and enriched branches, hence we can assume that there was no visible CO2 effect on stomata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]