Abstract
Potassium deficient (−K) and potassium sufficient (+K) plants were exposed to four days of water stress. Well watered −K and +K plants had comparable rates of transpiration. But +K plants had a larger leaf area and depleted the soil moisture to a greater extent on day 1 of stress. For days 2 and 3 their transpiration rate, leaf water potential and relative water content fell below those of −K plants. Well watered −K plants had a significantly lower rate of photosynthesis than +K plants. Photosynthesis of −K plants was more sensitive to reduction in plant water potential than that of +K plants. Reduction of photosythesis in −K leaves was due to impairment of photosynthetic capacity and not to stomatal closure. Growth was significantly reduced in −K plants.
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Behboudian, M.H., Anderson, D.R. Effects of potassium deficiency on water relations and photosynthesis of the tomato plant. Plant Soil 127, 137–139 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010846
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010846