We characterized the effect of water stress on cell division rates within the meristem of the primary root of maize (Zea mays 1.) seedlings. As usual in growth kinematics, cell number density is found by counting the number of cells per small unit length of the root; growth velocity is the rate of displacement of a cellular particle found at a given distance from the apex; and the cell flux, representing the rate at which cells are moving past a spatial point, is defined as the product of velocity and cell number density. l h e local cell division rate is estimated by summing the derivative of cell density with respect to time, and the derivative of the cell flux with respect to distance. Relatively long (2-h) intervals were required for time-lapse photography to resolve growth velocity within the meristem. Water stress caused meristematic cells to be longer and reduced the rates of cell division, per unit length of tissue and per cell, throughout most of the meristem. Peak cell division rate was 8.2

No abstract

Potassium is involved in regulation of multiple developmental, physiological, and metabolic processes in plants, including photosynthesis and water relations. We lack information about the response of medical cannabis to mineral nutrition in general, and K in particular, which is required for development of high-grade standardized production for the medical cannabis industry. The present study investigated the involvement of K nutrition in morphological development, the plant ionome, photosynthesis and gas-exchange, water relations, water use efficiency, and K use efficiency, comparatively for two genotypes of medical cannabis, under a long photoperiod. The plants were exposed to five levels of K (15, 60, 100, 175, and 240 ppm K). Growth response to K inputs varied between genotypes, revealing genetic differences within the Cannabis sativa species to mineral nutrition. Fifteen ppm of K was insufficient for optimal growth and function in both genotypes and elicited visual deficiency symptoms. Two hundred and forty ppm K proved excessive and damaging to development of the genotype Royal Medic, while in Desert Queen it stimulated rather than restricted shoot and root development. The differences between the genotypes in the response to K nutrition were accompanied by some variability in uptake, transport, and accumulation of nutrients. For example, higher levels of K transport from root to the shoot were apparent in Desert Queen. However, overall trends of accumulation were similar for the two genotypes demonstrating competition for uptake between K and Ca and Mg, and no effect on N and P uptake except in the K-deficiency range. The extent of accumulation was higher in the leaves > roots > stem for N, and roots > leaves > stem for P. Surprisingly, most micronutrients (Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cl) tended to accumulate in the root, suggesting a compartmentation strategy for temporary storage, or for prevention of access concentrations at the shoot tissues. The sensitivity of net-photosynthetic rate, gas exchange, and water use efficiency to K supply differed as well between genotypes. The results suggest that growth reduction under the deficient supply of 15 ppm K was mostly due to impact of K availability on water relations of the tissue and transpiration in Royal Medic, and water relations and carbon fixation in Desert Queen.

No abstract

No abstract