37. Physiological and anatomical determinants of water-use efficiency of plants

First meeting was held 11-14 November 2007 at Eucumbene in the Snowy Mts of NSW

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE Charles Warren - University of Sydney Mark Adams - University of NSW Tarryn Turnbull - University of NSW Claudia Keitel - Australian National University Tom Buckley - University of NSW Erwin Dreyer - INRA (Nancy, France) Bernard Genty - Atomic Energy Centre (Cadarache, France) Daniel Epron - Universite Henri Poincare (Nancy, France) Oliver Brendel - INRA (Nancy, France) Lucas Cernusak - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Nov 07 >

Background and topics for discussion and synthesis

"Forgotten" determinants of water-use efficiency (frequently assessed via isotopic abundance) are leaf hydraulics and CO2 diffusion. Models suggest up to 25% of variation in water-use efficiency among species may be due to CO2 diffusion within leaves (e.g. Plant, Cell & Environment 29:192-201). To date this has not been tested and we also know little about the relationship of leaf hydraulics with water-use efficiency.

Unfortunately, existing methods for measuring diffusion of CO2 within leaves are slow and imprecise. Improving the available methods is thus a pre-requisite before we can select for plants with fast CO2 diffusion. An aim of this group is to assess methods of measuring CO2 diffusion and to synthesise available data from studies where hydraulic properties, including membrane properties, have been measured. Topics for discussion include aspects of:
Leaf anatomy
Membrane properties including water channels or aquaporins
Diffusion in relation to leaf structure and anatomy
Methods such as TDL and carbon isotopes, as well as traditional gas exchange

Support for this working group is drawn from several sources including the ARC Research Network for Vegetation Function.

Outcomes
We hope to produce both a written synthesis in the form of a journal paper, and one or more research grant proposals.

 

Last updated October 2007