Cell expansion rate, temperature and turgor pressure in growing leaves of Lolium temulentum L.

Abstract

Leaf growth rate and the turgor pressure of cells in the expanding zone of leaves of Lolium temulentum were measured simultaneously. Growth rate was reduced over a range from 30μm min−1 to zero by reducing the temperature of the expanding zone from 20 to 2 °C. Turgor pressure remained constant at 05 MPa. This implies that growth reduction by low temperature is due to changes in cell wall rheology. Cell membrane hydraulic conductivity (Lp) was reduced with temperature as expected, but this was not sufficient to influence growth rate detectably. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved