NET CO2 EXCHANGE RATE AS A SENSITIVE INDICATOR OF PLANT WATER STATUS IN CORN (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

With the objective to evaluate and compare different physiological plant parameters as indicators of water stress, net CO2 exchange rate (NCER), leaf temperature, predawn and daytime leaf water potential were monitored diurnally on last fully expanded leaves of corn (Zea mays L.) plants under two different soil water treatments (stressed and nonstressed) during a 10-d period at anthesis in a semi-arid region in South Africa. Profile available water capacity (PAWC) was used to express the soil water contents during the experiments. A significant decrease in NCER was noticed as soon as 30% of PAWC was extracted, i.e. 2 or 3 d after irrigation. Although the results were limited to a short, well-defined measuring period, NCER, and especially NCER at noon, seemed to be a more sensitive and more reliable indicator of corn water stress than, for example, predawn or daytime leaf water potential, at least under the conditions studied here. This reduction in NCER might have a significant impact on total biomass, rooting density, flower and ear formation.Key words: Corn, irrigation scheduling, photosynthesis, leaf water potential, profile available water capacity, soil water content