Water Loss From Bagged Leaves During Storage: Why and When?
Feng Feng1,2, Shmuel Assouline1, Fulton Rockwell3
1Institute of Soil, Water and Environment Sciences, Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|October 14, 2024
Summary
Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) can drop significantly during storage due to metabolic heat and water loss. Storing leaves at 4°C and using aluminum bags minimizes this error, ensuring more accurate ecophysiological measurements.
Area of Science:
- Plant ecophysiology
- Plant physiology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) is a critical metric in plant ecophysiology.
- Standard protocols often involve hours of leaf storage post-sampling before measurement.
- Potential errors introduced during storage are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify water loss from stored leaves.
- To investigate the impact of metabolic heat generation on leaf water potential (Ψleaf).
- To determine optimal storage conditions to minimize Ψleaf drop.
Main Methods:
- Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) was measured after storage under controlled conditions.
- Experiments varied bag material, plant species, initial Ψleaf relative to turgor loss point (Ψtlp), and storage temperature (4°C vs 25°C).
- Water loss was partitioned into condensation and permeation; leaf temperature was monitored.
Main Results:
- Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) dropped by up to 0.39 MPa/hour.
- 41%-89% of lost water condensed internally within bags.
- Plastic bags, higher initial Ψleaf, and 25°C storage resulted in greater Ψleaf drop; 4°C storage reduced drop rates by 60%.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic heat generation causes significant water loss and Ψleaf drop in stored leaves.
- Optimal storage involves cooler temperatures (4°C), aluminum bags, and leaves with lower initial Ψleaf.
- Minimizing storage time and optimizing conditions are crucial for accurate Ψleaf measurements.
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