Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pierce, S.
Right arrow Articles by Baxter, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pierce, S.
Right arrow Articles by Baxter, R.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Pierce, S.
Right arrow Articles by Baxter, R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 51, No. 347, pp. 1067-1075, June 2000
© 2000 Oxford University Press

The influence of secondary senescence processes within the culm of a pseudoviviparous grass (Poa alpina var. vivipara L.) on the supply of water to propagules

S. Pierce1,4, C.M. Stirling2,5 and R. Baxter1,3

1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
2 Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Bangor Research Station, Orton Building, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UP, UK

An anatomical investigation of the culm of pseudoviviparous alpine meadow grass (Poa alpina var. vivipara L.) revealed that transpiration flow, as delimited by Lucifer Yellow tracer dye, was maintained despite advanced senescence (as evidenced by loss of chlorophyll and chloroplasts), with leafy spikelets driving transpiration flow. Transpiration flow was not hindered by cavitation or tylosis in older culms, the low frequencies of these senescence processes being bypassed via nodal plexi. Despite this, water content of plantlets declined over time and water stress became apparent, suggesting that water supply via the determinate culm was not sufficient for the increasing transpirational demand of indeterminate plantlets. The implications of declining water content on the biomechanical properties of the culm, and concomitant limitations on the pseudoviviparous reproductive strategy, are discussed. Nomenclature of grass follows Hubbard.

Key words: Poa alpina, senescence, tylosis, pseudovivipary, water.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
S. Marcante, E. Winkler, and B. Erschbamer
Population dynamics along a primary succession gradient: do alpine species fit into demographic succession theory?
Ann. Bot., May 1, 2009; 103(7): 1129 - 1143.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
S. PIERCE, C. M. STIRLING, and R. BAXTER
Pseudoviviparous Reproduction of Poa alpina var. vivipara L. (Poaceae) during Long-term Exposure to Elevated Atmospheric CO2
Ann. Bot., May 1, 2003; 91(6): 613 - 622.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
S. Pierce, C.M. Stirling, and R. Baxter
Architectural and physiological heterogeneity within the synflorescence of the pseudoviviparous grass Poa alpina var. vivipara L.
J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2000; 51(351): 1705 - 1712.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.