Abstract
For higher plants, water deficiency is more commonly caused by a lack of sufficient water than by exposure to high concentrations of solutes. Crop production is frequently limited by this factor and certain stages of development are more sensitive than others. A particularly sensitive time is during germination. The plant has little root and is located in a layer of soil that quickly dehydrates. Growth must continue, however, since the plant must become autotrophic. The possibility that osmoregulation may protect against the inhibitory effects of dry soil has not been explored during germination (Meyer and Boyer, 1972). In the present paper, we will describe a highly developed system of osmoregulation that permits seedling growth under dry soil conditions that would otherwise be lethal for the plant.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference
Meyer, R. F. and Boyer, J. S., 1972, Sensitivity of cell division and cell elongation to low water potentials in soybean hypocotyls, Planta, 108: 77.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1980 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Boyer, J.S., Meyer, R.F. (1980). Osmoregulation in Plants During Drought. In: Rains, D.W., Valentine, R.C., Hollaender, A. (eds) Genetic Engineering of Osmoregulation. Basic Life Sciences, vol 14. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3725-6_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3725-6_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3727-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3725-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive