Water stress can induce quiescence in newly-germinated onion (Allium cepa L.) seedlings.
The effect of water stress on the early seedling growth of onions was studied by placing newly-germinated seedlings in vermiculite equilibrated at different water potentials. Roots and shoots elongated more at -0.29 than at -0.64 MPa, but did not elongate at -1.66 MPa. However, roots and shoots of seedlings that had been incubated in vermiculite at -1.66 MPa for up to 35 d resumed elongation when subsequently placed on wet filter boards. This suggests that water stress can induce quiescence in newly-germinated seedlings.
Whalley
W R
WR
Silsoe Research Institute, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS, UK. richard.whalley@bbsrc.ac.uk
Lipiec
J
J
Finch-Savage
W E
WE
Cope
R E
RE
Clark
L J
LJ
Rowse
H R
HR
D000490:Allium / Q000254:growth & development*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D018525:Germination; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D014867:Water; C003760:vermiculite