Root hydraulic conductivity and oepip2.1 aquaporin as possible physiological and molecular markers of vegetative growth potential in olive (Olea europaea L.)

Recovery from water stress in laurel plants: influence of short term potassium fertilization

Plant xylem hydraulic conductance varies with changes in sap solute concentrations, particularly potassium, a phenomenon known as 'ionic effect'. In well-watered Laurus nobilis plants, short term potassium fertilization increased xylem sap potassium concentration, resulting in an increase in plant hydraulic conductance (Kplant), leaf-specific conductivity of the shoot (kshoot) and transpiration rate (Eplant). The ionic effect is enhanced in embolized stems, where it can compensate the cavitation-induced loss of hydraulic conductance. The aim of this work was to test if water-stressed potassium-starved laurel plants could recover earlier from stress when irrigated with a potassium solution i…

Effect of potassium fertilization on the hydraulic conductance of laurel plants

The effect of potassium fertilization on hydraulic conductance was tested in 2-year-old potted laurel seedlings, grown in a greenhouse at the Botanical Garden of Palermo. Plants were divided into a control group (+K) and a potassium starved group (-K). A set of randomly chosen -K plants received irrigation with 25 mM KCl (KCl plants) 24 hours before measurements, to test the short term effect of potassium fertilization. Measurements were carried out in July and October 2008. Whole-plant hydraulic conductance was measured by the evaporative flux method; root and shoot hydraulic conductance were measured by the vacuum chamber. Potassium availability or season did not significantly affect leaf…