Water relations of cucumber, tomato, and sweet pepper

The ever increasing importance of water as a critical resource for agricultural production has encouraged more research on water relations in recent years. Most attention has been paid to field crops and less information is available for horticultural crops, especially vegetables. The results of studies on water relations of cucumber, tomato, and pepper are reported and discussed in this thesis.Drying cycle experiments were carried out with tomato, cucumber, and sweet pepper at two temperatures and three light intensities in order to: (1) examine suitability of some plant parameters as criteria for expression of plant water status; (2) investigate which parameter is most suitable as a basis for timing of irrigation; and (3) observe the change of various parameters during a drying cycle as affected by environment. Measurements were carried out on transpiration rate, stomatal diffusive resistance ( rs ), leaf temperature, plant and soil water potentials, and relative water content. The transpiration rate at 25°C was in general higher than that at 21°C due to the higher vapour pressure deficit (vpd) at the former temperature. For all the three species, a more pronounced stomatal closure was demonstrated at 25°C as compared to that at 21°C when drought was imposed on the plants. This result could be due to the fact that at 25°C the vpd and/or the internal CO 2 concentration was higher. Various levels of irradiance did not invoke different responses of stomata or transpiration rates throughout the drying cycles. The difference among the three light intensities used are thought to have been too small to show distinct responses. Moreover, relatively low intensities were used in this series of experiments. The measured rs , values did not always correlate significantly with soil water potentials because rs , measurements were carried out on single leaves at only one point in the photoperiod and the measurements were also affected by other environmental factors, such as humidity, prevailing during the measurements. Calculated rs , values showed better correlations with soil water potential, presumably because transpiration rates of the whole plants over the entire photoperiod were used for their calculation. Relative water content and leaf water potential correlated significantly with soil water potential. Among the plant parameters studied, the plant water potential as measured with the pressure chamber, was judged as the most suitable parameter expressing plant water status.Some physical aspects of the internal plant water relations were considered for the three species. The measured parameters were relative water content, sap electrical conductivity, and leaf water potential and its components (osmotic, pressure, and matric potentials). The contribution of matric potential to the total plant water potential was considerable. Neglecting the matric component would result in unrealistically low levels of pressure potential for the three species. Tomato was considered to have the best osmotic and matric adjustments, followed by cucumber and pepper. Sap osmotic potential and electrical conductivity were found to be significantly correlated with leaf water potential. Electrical conductivity was considered as an easy and accurate method to determine the osmotic potential indirectly. From the regression of relative water content on leaf water potential, cucumber, tomato, and pepper showed, in this order, decreasing drought resistance. Examination of some other parameters, however, such as osmotic and matric adjustments and reduction of photosynthesis in stress conditions, confirmed a better drought resistance property to tomato, followed by cucumber and pepper. Relative position of cucumber and tomato in drought resistance was discussed. For all the criteria examined, pepper was considered to be the least drought resistant. It was concluded that a better understanding of the drought resistance mechanisms in plants is required.Carbon dioxide exchange and transpiration rates were measured in a gas exchange assembly in two series of experiments. In the first series, measurements were carried out on cucumber and pepper at light saturation and in darkness. In the second series, photosynthesis-light curves for cucumber, tomato, and pepper were obtained. For both series, well-watered as well as stressed plants were used. Both photosynthesis and transpiration were reduced as stress set in. It was shown that both stomatal and nonstomatal mechanisms were involved in the reduction of photosynthesis. For all the three species, an increase in mesophyll resistance was observed as a result of water stress. In experiments with different levels of irradiance, it was observed that the stressinduced reduction of photosynthesis was more pronounced at light saturation compared to low light. After showing some initial opening reaction to light, the stomata of stressed plants showed a closing pattern, especially for cucumber and pepper, regardless of irradiance levels. It was proposed that the closing effect of drought overrode the opening effect of light. Severely stressed plants of cucumber and pepper were rewatered to study their recovery. Photosynthesis did not reach the pre-stress level one day after rewatering, this was due to an aftereffect of drought on stomata in cucumber and pepper and a damage to the photosynthetic system in pepper.Diurnal changes in water relations parameters were measured in a glasshouse for tomato and pepper. In a constant environmental condition, gas exchange rates were monitored throughout the photoperiod for cucumber, pepper, and two cultivars of tomato. Both well-watered and stressed plants were used for the above measurements. In the glasshouse, transpiration, leaf water potential, stomatal diffusive resistance, as well as the diurnal changes in environmental factors such as radiation, temperature, vpd, and evaporation were measured. It was observed that the diurnal variation in leaf water potential followed that of transpiration. Changes in the whole plant transpiration were not necessarily accounted for by the rs values measured on single leaves. Multiple regression relationships were obtained for plant water potentials on radiation and temperature and suggestions were made to their use in timing of irrigation. In a constant environmental condition, all species showed maximum rates of transpiration and photosynthesis during the first hour of the photoperiod. The rates steadily declined thereafter, and the decline was more pronounced in stressed plants. A decrease in leaf water potential could not account for these diurnal phenomena, and other internal control mechanisms were thought to be involved. It has been suggested that photorespiration increased under the high irradiance employed. Internal CO 2 levels then increased, causing stomatal closure, leading to a decline in transpiration. Photosynthesis also decreased through both stomatal closure and a decrease in the CO 2 gradient. Increases in mesophyll. resistance in the case of cucumber and pepper also occurred.