Water and plant life : problems and modern approaches

1 Fundamentals of Plant Water Relations.- Preface.- A. The Structure of Water in the Biological Cell.- I. Introduction.- II. Evidence for Structured Aqueous Boundary Layers.- III. Thermal Anomalies in Biological Tissues.- IV. Properties of Aqueous Electrolyte Layers.- V. Conclusions.- References.- B. The States of Water in the Plant-Theoretical Consideration.- I. Introduction.- II. Physiological Importance of Processes and Properties Involving Water.- III. Metabolism and Water Relations.- IV. Conclusions.- References.- C. The Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum.- I. Introduction.- II. Description of the Turgor Pressure as a Function of Environmental Variables.- III. Water Flow in the SPAC as a Link Between Plant and Environment.- IV. The Solute-free Transport System.- V. Effects of Solutes in the SPAC.- VI. Changes in Resistances or Potential Differences.- VII. Conclusions.- References.- D. The Water Status in the Plant-Experimental Evidence.- I. Introduction.- II. Current Methods for the Determination of Total Water Potential and Its Components.- III. The Range of Water Potentials Hitherto Determined and the Continuum Conditions Favoring Extreme Values.- IV. The Component Potentials Adjusting Total Water Potential in the Plant Body: Ranges and Changes.- V. Why does Water Potential in a Plant Change?.- VI. Conclusions.- References.- 2 Water Uptake and Soil Water Relations.- Preface.- A. Root Extension and Water Absorption.- I. Introduction.- II. Water Movement Through the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum: Limitations in the Liquid Phase.- III. Root Extension and Facilitation of Water Uptake in Unexplored Soil Regions.- IV. Root Extension Within the Rooted Zone: A Case for Avoidance of Localized Rhizospheric Resistances.- V. Conclusions.- References.- B. Resistance to Water Flow in the Roots of Cereals.- I. Introduction.- II. Anatomy of Cereal Roots.- III. Zone of Water Absorption.- IV. Forces Causing Flow of Water.- V. Resistance to Flow.- VI. Effect of Root Resistance on Withdrawal of Water from the Soil.- VII. Conclusions.- References.- C. Soil Water Relations and Water Exchange of Forest Ecosystems.- I. Introduction.- II. Water Balance.- III. Fundamental Equations and Principles.- IV. Simulation of Evapotranspiration and Percolation.- V. Conclusions.- References.- 3 Transpiration and Its Regulation.- Preface.- A. Energy Exchange and Transpiration.- I. Introduction.- II. Gas Diffusion.- III. Energy Balance.- IV. Transpiration.- V. Wind Speed Influence.- VI. Leaf Temperature Affected by Transpiration.- VII. Conclusions.- References.- B. Water Permeability of Cuticular Membranes.- I. Introduction.- II. Cuticular Transpiration-Early Observations and Hypotheses.- III. The Concept of the Polar Pathway Through Lipid Membranes.- IV. Conclusions.- References.- C. Physiological Basis of Stomatal Response.- I. Introduction.- II. Biochemical Processes Leading to Movement.- III. Conclusions: Ability of the Mechanism to Explain the Known Facts.- References.- D. Current Perspectives of Steady-state Stomatal Responses to Environment.- I. Introduction.- II. Measurement of Stomatal Responses to Environment.- III. Steady-state Stomatal Responses to Environment.- IV. Stomatal Responses to Diurnal Changes in Environment.- V. Conclusions and Future Research Directions.- References.- E. Water Uptake, Storage and Transpiration by Conifers: A Physiological Model.- I. Introduction.- II. Description of the Model.- III. Applications.- IV. Conclusions.- References.- 4 Direct and Indirect Water Stress.- Preface.- A. Water Stress, Ultrastructure and Enzymatic Activity.- I. Introduction.- II. Effects of Water Stress on Hydrolytic Enzymatic Activity.- III. Effects of Water Stress on the Ultrastructure of the Cell.- IV. Relationships of Ultrastructural Alteration and Hydrolytic Enzyme Decompartmentation and Activation, with Alteration of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria Metabolism.- V. Conclusions.- References.- B. Water Stress and Hormonal Response.- I. Introduction.- II. Endogenous Hormonal Changes Due to Water Stress.- III. The Physiological Significance of Hormonal Effects.- IV. A Hypothetical Model for the Role of Hormones in Plant Adaptation to Water Stress.- V. Conclusions.- References.- C. Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism Under Water Stress.- I. Introduction.- II. Carbon Metabolism Under Water Stress.- III. Nitrogen Metabolism Under Water Stress.- IV. Biochemical Aspects of Desiccation Resistance.- V. Conclusions.- References.- D. Water Stress During Freezing.- I. Introduction.- II. Frost Injury.- III. Frost Resistance.- IV. Conclusions.- References.- E. Cell Permeability and Water Stress.- I. Introduction.- II. Principles of Cell Permeability.- III. Quantitative Determination of Permeability.- IV. Alterations of Cell Permeability by the Plant Water Deficit.- V. Possible Mechanisms for Changes in Cell Permeability by Plant Water Stress.- VI. Conclusions.- References.- F. Water Stress and Dynamics of Growth and Yield of Crop Plants.- I. Introduction.- II. Overview of Growth and Yield as Affected by Water.- III. Some Behavior Observed in the Field.- IV. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 5 Water Relations and CO2 Fixation Types.- Preface.- A. Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM): CO2 and Water Economy.- I. Introduction.- II. Carbon Metabolism of CAM Plants.- III. Gas Exchange of CAM Plants.- IV. Ecological Aspects of CAM.- V. Conclusions.- References.- B. Balance Between C3 and CAM Pathway of Photosynthesis.- I. Introduction.- II. Adaptation to Salinity.- III. Environmental Control of Photosynthetic Pathways.- IV. Regulation of the Balance between C3 and CAM.- V. Ecological Aspects.- References.- C. C4 Pathway and Regulation of the Balance Between C4 and C3 Metabolism.- I. Introduction.- II. Carbon Metabolism of C4 Plants.- III. General Characteristics of C4 Plants.- IV. Factors Affecting Shift.- V. Natural C3-C4 Intermediates.- VI. Ecological Implications.- VII. Conclusions.- References.- D. Ecophysiology of C4 Grasses.- I. Introduction.- II. Environmental Conditions.- III. Physiological Responses to Environmental Conditions.- IV. Ecological Implications.- V. Conclusions: Future Research.- References.- 6 Water Relations and Productivity.- Preface.- A. The Use of Correlation Models to Predict Primary Productivity from Precipitation or Evapotranspiration.- I. Introduction.- II. Construction of Correlation Models and Geographical Patterns (Surfaces).- III. Some Examples of Correlation Models of Net Primary Productivity versus Water Factor.- IV. Accuracy of Correlation Models.- V. Conclusions.- References.- B. The Use of Simulation Models for Productivity Studies in Arid Regions.- I. Introduction.- II. The Structure of the Model.- III. Description of the Model ARID CROP.- IV. Validation of the Model.- V. Application of the Model.- VI. Conclusions.- References.- C. Irrigation and Water Use Efficiency.- I. Introduction.- II. Efficiency of Water Supply.- III. Transpiration/Photosynthesis Relationships.- IV. Some Agronomic Aspects.- V. Conclusions.- References.- D. Estimating Water Status and Biomass of Plant Communities by Remote Sensing.- I. Introduction.- II. Water Stress, Reflectance, and Temperature of Single Leaves.- III. Reflectance and Biomass of Communities.- IV. Conclusions.- References.- E. Plant Production in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas.- I. Introduction.- II. Survey of Phytomass, Net Annual and Relative Annual Production of Some Main Vegetation Units of the Globe.- III. Phytomass and Production of Some Arid and Semi-Arid Vegetation Units and their Annual Fluctuations.- IV. Permanent Phytomass.- V. Potential Production.- VI. Recovery.- VII. Conclusions.- References.- F. Water Content and Productivity of Lichens.- I. Introduction.- II. Productivity of Lichens.- III. Water Relations of Lichens.- IV. Thallus Water Content and Physiological Response.- V. Conclusions: Water Relations and Productivity-a Synthesis.- References.- 7 Water and Vegetation Patterns.- Preface.- A. Water Relations and Alpine Timberline.- I. Introduction.- II. Water Relations of Trees at the Timberline.- III. Causes of Winter Desiccation of Trees at Timberline.- IV. Conclusions: Ecophysiological Analysis of the Alpine Timberline and its Dynamics.- References.- B. The Water Factor and Convergent Evolution in Mediterranean-type Vegetation.- I. Introduction.- II. Environmental Stresses in Mediterranean-type Climates.- III. Ecological Significance of Leaf Structure.- IV. Seasonal Patterns of Photosynthesis, Water Relations and Productivity.- V. Evolutionary Consequences of Mediterranean-type Environmental Stresses.- VI. Conclusions.- References.- C. The Water-Photosynthesis Syndrome and the Geographical Plant Distribution in the Saharan Deserts.- I. Introduction.- II. The Floristic and Physiognomic Aspects of the Sahara.- III. The Water-Photosynthesis Syndrome in the Northern and in the Southern Sahara.- IV. Holarctic and Palaeotropic Constitution Types.- V. Conclusions.- References.- Index of Plant Species.