Solute Heterogeneity and Osmotic Adjustment in Different Leaf Structures of Semi-Leafless Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Subjected to Water Stress

Abstract

Semi-leafless varieties of pea have considerable agronomic importance and it has been suggested that they may have a superior response to water deficits than conventional varieties. However, these varieties are poorly characterized from a physiological point of view and there is lack of a physiological basis for their supposed better performance under conditions of water deficit. Here, we describe the solute distribution in the different leaf structures of a semi-leafless pea variety (Pisum sativum L.) under non-limiting water conditions and under water stress. A conventional variety was subjected to the same conditions for comparative purposes. A detailed study was carried out both at the tissue level and at the single cell level. In control conditions, epidermal vacuoles of tendrils showed a different ion distribution of those of the laminar leaf structures. However, under water deficit, only stipules of the semi-leafless variety showed a significantly higher capability to increase osmolarity. This occurred by accumulating potassium, magnesium and chloride to a higher extent than other leaf structures. The inability of performing an adequate osmotic adjustment in tendrils may be the cause of the lack of a better response to water deficit.

Abbreviations

PPF: photosynthetic photon fux

WUE: water use efficiency

Epidermis - mesophyll - osmolarity - Pisum sativum - tendrils

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Section Editor: A. Läuchli