Distribution Profiles and Interrelations of Stomatal Conductance, Transpiration Rate and Water Dynamics in Young Maize Laminas under Nitrogen Deprivation

Abstract

Seven-day-old maize (Zea mays) plants were grown hydroponically for ten days in N-deprived nutrient solution. The distribution profiles according to the position on the stem of the –N laminas stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate (1st-group) were monitored, along with the corresponding profiles of dry mass, water amount, water content, length, surface area, and specific surface area (2nd-group), relative to control. In the uppermost –N laminas, the changes within a parameter of the 1st-group were significantly higher and of the 2nd-group significantly lower than the control, respectively. Correlations of the corresponding values among the parameters of the 1st-or 2nd-group were linear. The parameters between groups correlated non-linearly. Transpiration rate was divided by the lamina’s dry mass correlated with surface area in a power-type function. The slopes of the response ratios linear relations between the various pairs of parameters could be used for simulation of a lamina’s response to the deprivation.