Main description:

Water is essential for life and without water no life exists. The liquid sur- rounding of an aqueous solution is the conditio sine qua non for most of the physiological responses and as such, water is as decisive for the occurrence of a single enzymatic reaction as it is for the global zonation of world vegetation. It is no wonder that scientists since early times have made every effort to describe and understand the functional interrelationships between water and the phe- nomenon of life. During the past half of this century, these endeavours in the field of botany have been marked by steps which might be symbolized by a series of books such as "The plant in relation to water" (1. Maximov, 1929), and "Die Hydratur der Pflanze in ihrer physiologisch-6kologischen Bedeutung" (H. Walter, 1931), then "Pflanze und Wasser" (Vol. III of the Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, edited by O. Stocker, 1956), and "Plant-water relations" (R. O. Slatyer, 1967), or the treatment of "Displacement of water and its control of biochemical reactions" (S. Levin. 1974).

Contents:

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.