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Pulvinus activity, leaf movement and leaf water-use efficiency of bush bean (Phaseplus vulgaris L.) in a hot environment

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Abstract

Pulvinus activity of Phaseolus species in response to environmental stimuli plays an essential role in heliotropic leaf movement. The aims of this study were to monitor the continuous daily pulvinus movement and pulvinus temperature, and to evaluate the effects of leaf movements, on a hot day, on instantaneous leaf water-use efficiency (WUEi), leaf gas exchange, and leaf temperature. Potted plants of Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Provider were grown in Chicot sandy loam soil under well-watered conditions in a greenhouse. When the second trifoliate leaf was completely extended, one plant was selected to measure pulvinus movement using a beta-ray gauging (BRG) meter with a point source of thallium-204 (204Tl). Leaf gas exchange measurements took place on similar leaflets of three plants at an air temperature interval of 33–42°C by a steady-state LI-6200 photosynthesis system. A copper-constantan thermocouple was used to monitor pulvinus temperature. Pulvinus bending followed the daily diurnal rhythm. Significant correlations were found between the leaf-incident angle and the stomatal conductance (R 2 = 0.54; P < 0.01), and photosynthesis rate (R 2 = 0.84; P < 0.01). With a reduction in leaf-incidence angle and increase in air temperature, WUEi was reduced. During the measurements, leaf temperature remained below air temperature and was a significant function of air temperature (r = 0.92; P < 0.01). In conclusion, pulvinus bending followed both light intensity and air temperature and influenced leaf gas exchange.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. D. Smith, Department of Plant Science, McGill University, for lending us the photosynthetic measuring system. We also wish to thank Mrs. Sanaz Moshaver for reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Irrigation, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sari University of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Mahmoud Raeini-Sarjaz

  2. Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sari University of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, P.O. Box 578, Sari, Iran

    Vida Chalavi

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  1. Mahmoud Raeini-Sarjaz
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  2. Vida Chalavi
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Correspondence to Vida Chalavi.

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Raeini-Sarjaz, M., Chalavi, V. Pulvinus activity, leaf movement and leaf water-use efficiency of bush bean (Phaseplus vulgaris L.) in a hot environment. Int J Biometeorol 52, 815–822 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0175-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0175-2

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