The effect of temperature of the root medium and of the growing point of the shoot on growth, water content and sugar content of maize leaves.

Abstract

Maize seedlings were grown in nutrient solution under 18-h daylength and the temperatures of the root medium and of the growing points of the leaves were varied independently between 20 degrees and 5 degrees C; leaf growth rate and leaf water content were continuously recorded. The effect of root temperature on leaf growth was influenced by the plant water balance and was subject to osmotic adaptation which proceeded faster and was more complete at favourable growth temperatures.-G.M.H. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)