Transpiration efficiency and apparent cuticular transpiration in some c₃ and c₄ plants

Abstract

Amphistomatous C₃ (Nicotiana tabacum L., Datura stramonium L.) and C₄ (Sorghum saccharatum Pers. and Zea mays L.) species were examined to find how (if at all) their inherent differences in water-use economy are reflected in apparent cuticular transpiration or vice versa. Transpiration efficiency (TE) was calculated from steady state photosynthesis (A) and transpiration (E) rates estimated for the upper side of the leaf after light induction of stomata opening. Apparent cuticular transpiration (’E_c) was measured as the part of transpiration which was not eliminated by convective counteraction of the air stream passing across the amphistomatous leaf: total pressure difference (AP) across the leaf was increased and the minimal value of E_ΔPτ0 was taken as the apparent cuticular transpiration rate (’E_c). ’E_c was treated relative to E at AP equal to zero (E_GDP=0), E’_cr. Measurements were carried out under two leaf-air vapour pressure differences (VPD).

E_r (i.e. E_GDPτ0/E_GDP=0) versus GDP patterns differed qualitatively between the investigated C₃ and C₄ plants. TE increased and ’E_cr decreased from tobacco, stramony, maize to sorghum for both VPD of air. ’E_cr and TE were approximately linearly related, the slope being dependent on VPD. The increase in VPD resulted in larger E and slightly smaller epidermal conductance (g) at GDP equal to zero. Both E’_cr and E’_cr decreased markedly at the same time especially, for species with high TE. The results were considered as an indirect confirmation that E’_c values estimated by the technique used reflect species-specific differences in external peristomatal and cuticular vapour loss, at least in a relative sense.