INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF WATER AND PLANT IN CRAMBI (Crambe abyssinica, Hochst)

Abstract

Greenhouse experiments were designed to examine the internal water relations of crambe (Crambe spp.). Two standard cultivars ('Meyer' and 'Prophet') were studied in relation to leaf diffusion resistance (DR), transpiration (T), leaf water potential (LWP), osmotic potential (OP), relative water content (RWC) and kinetics of rehydration (KR), under drought stress. In addition to those traits, leaf area (LA) and plant dry weight divided into its components (leaves, stems and roots) were studied in an experiment of drought cycles.

LWP, RWC, KR and DR are physiological traits that can differentiate the drought response between the used cultivars. Some of these traits may explain by themselves the plant water status; however, using sorne of those together a better conclusion may
be reached.