ISHS Acta Horticulturae 616: I International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NINE-MONTH OLD EUCALYPTUS GRANDIS x NITENS PLANTS PRODUCED THROUGH MICROPROPAGATION AND MACROPROPAGATION |
| Authors: | M.E.O. Mokotedi, N.W. Pammenter, M.P. Watt, F.C. Blakeway |
| Keywords: | High-pressure flow meter, photosynthesis, root and shoot hydraulic conductivity |
| Abstract:
This study was designed to ascertain whether roots and shoots of micropropagated and macropropagated Eucalyptus grandis x nitens plants are equally efficient in conducting water, and how such hydraulic characteristics affect photosynthesis and biomass allocation. There were no significant differences between micropropagated and macropropagated plants grown either in 1 L or 25 L pots with respect to shoot and root leaf specific hydraulic conductivity. Although root and shoot dry masses and leaf area all increased with increased pot size, both plant types exhibited significantly higher shoot and root leaf specific hydraulic conductivities in small pots. When considering whole plant (root to leaf) hydraulic characteristics the major resistance was found in the roots of each type of plant, with the leaf lamina being the major source of shoot resistance. Maximum photosynthetic rates were lower in small pots, but differences between plants propagated by the two methods were not significant. | |
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