Leaf tensity: a method for rapid determination of water requirement information in Brassica napus L.

• Main Authors: Deke Xing, Xiaojian Xu, Yanyou Wu, Yujing Liu, Yansheng Wu, Jiheng Ni, Ahmad Azeem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Plant Interactions
• Subjects: Carbonic anhydrase; irrigation time; photosynthetic characteristics; plant dry weight; water potential
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2018.1478006

Water regulation caused by enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrase (CA), changes the water status, making it difficult to diagnose water deficit using leaf water potential (ψL) or stomatal conductance (gs). Therefore, new methods for timely and accurately determining plant water status should be established. In this study, CA activity, ψL, leaf tensity (Td), photosynthetic characteristics and plant growth of Brassica napus L. seedlings under drought and subsequent rewatering were analysed. Results indicated that Td could reflect the plant water status better than ψL or gs and played an important role in the photosynthesis of B. napus. B. napus exhibited good restorability at the 40 g L−1 polyethylene glycol level. The rewatering strategy for B. napus was excellent at 40 g L−1 (−0.15 MPa) →20 g L−1 (−0.11 MPa). Td could be used for the rapid determination of water requirement information in B. napus during winter drought period.