Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine if the two surfaces of a leaf had different, or the same, water potentials. Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Cargill 805) was the test plant. During an 11 day period, the water potentials of the upper and lower surfaces of the maize leaves were measured daily with anin situ thermocouple psychrometer under growth-room conditions. Plants were grown in pots with a well-watered, commercial greenhouse soil. Stomatal resistance also was measured. The water potential of the upper surface was less negative (more wet) than that of the lower surface. The overall average of the water potential of the upper and lower surfaces was −1.48 and −2.07 MPa, respectively. The stomatal resistance of the upper surface was greater than that of the lower surface. The average stomatal resistance during the experiment was 780 and 600 s m−1 for the upper and lower surfaces, respectively. Since the upper and lower surfaces were not at the same water potential, the results indicated that the parallel-resistance equation, used to combine resistances on the two surfaces of a leaf, was not strictly valid when applied to the maize leaves, as the law assumes equal potentials on the two surfaces.
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Contribution No. 85-186-J, Evapotranspiration Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, Kansas.
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Kirkham, M.B. Water relations of the upper and lower surfaces of maize leaves. Biol Plant 28, 249–257 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02902287
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02902287