Nutrient availability moderates transpiration in Ehrharta calycina.
Transpiration-driven 'mass-flow' of soil-water can increase nutrient flow to the root surface. Here it was investigated whether transpiration could be partially regulated by nutrient status. Seeds of Ehrharta calycina from nine sites across a rainfall gradient were supplied with slow-release fertilizer dibbled into the sand surrounding the roots and directly available through interception, mass-flow and diffusion (dubbed 'interception'), or sequestered behind a 40-microm mesh and not directly accessible by the roots, but from which nutrients could move by diffusion or mass-flow (dubbed 'mass-flow'). Although mass-flow plants were significantly smaller than interception plants as a consequence of nutrient limitation, they transpired 60% faster, had 90% higher photosynthesis relative to transpiration (A/E), and 40% higher tissue P, Ca and Na concentrations than plants allowed to intercept nutrients directly. Tissue N and K concentrations were similar for interception and mass-flow plants. Transpiration was thus higher in the nutrient-constrained 'mass-flow' plants, increasing the transport of nutrients to the roots by mass-flow. Transpiration may have been regulated by N availability, resulting in similar tissue concentration between treatments. It is concluded that, although transpiration is a necessary consequence of photosynthetic CO(2) uptake in C(3) plants, plants can respond to nutrient limitation by varying transpiration-driven mass-flow of nutrients.
Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.|School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, WA 6009, Australia.
Michael D
MD
Cramer
Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
Vera
V
Hoffmann
Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
G Anthony
GA
Verboom
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001692:Biological Transport; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005308:Fertilizers; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
D005308:Fertilizers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008274:Magnesium; D009584:Nitrogen