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Root Temperature and Soil Water Potential Effects on Growth and Soluble Carbohydrate Concentration of Corn Seedlings¹

Nine-day-old corn (Zea mays L.) plants were grown at soil water potentials of –035 and –2.50 bars for 6 days using an osmotic-solution semipenneable-membrane technique. Leaf elongation, total dry matter accumulation, transpiration, soluble carbohydrate concentrations, and leaf water potentials were measured daily. When the soil water potential was decreased from –035 to –2.50 bars, leaf elongation rates decreased 44% and soluble carbohydrate concentrations increased 42%, while rates of total dry matter accumulation and transpiration decreased 26 and 24%, respectively. The increase hi the soluble carbohydrate concentration was inversely related to both the rates of leaf elongation and total dry matter accumulation. The plant maintains a positive carbon balance in the leaves partly in the form of an abundant supply of soluble carbohydrates during periods of mild water stress. The sensitivity of leaf elongation rate to mild water stress appears to be an important growth determining factor.

Key Words: Carbohydrate • Zea mays L • Leaf water potential • Leaf elongation • Dry matter accumulation

² Former research assistant (now lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, MacQuarie University, Sydney, Australia), professor, and research chemist of the ARS-USDA and associate professor, respectively.

Received for publication January 30, 1975.

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