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Environmental control of gas exchange in some savanna woody species

I. Controlled environment studies of Terminalia sericea and Grewia flavescens

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Summary

The effects of temperature, radiation, water stress and humidity on net photosynthesis, transpiration and leaf resistances of the two savanna woody species, Grewia flavescens and Terminalia sericea were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Both species have developed morphological and physiological features resulting in low rates of transpiration even under non-stress conditions and are able to tolerate quite severe water stress. Grewia seemed particularly well adapted in this regard and prestressed plants of Grewia were able to photosynthesise down to leaf water potentials of-42 bars. The photosynthetic responses of both species to all the environmental parameters studied were predominantly under stomatal control. The mechanisms employed for maintaining production and conserving water are examined.

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Author notes

  1. Pamela J. Ferrar

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, LAI 4YQ, Lancaster, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of the Witwatersrand, 2001, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Pamela J. Ferrar

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  1. Pamela J. Ferrar
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Additional information

This work was undertaken as part of the South African Savanna Ecosystem Project (SASEP) and was supported by a CSIR grant to Prof. C.F. Cresswell

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Ferrar, P.J. Environmental control of gas exchange in some savanna woody species. Oecologia 47, 204–212 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346822

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346822

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