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When in Drought

For the western portion of the United States, and much of the world, drought is upon us. 

As humans, when we're thirsty, we find a glass of water. For sedentary organisms like plants, however, the next drink may be days or even months away.

Throughout our region we see evidence of the intense physiological stress that drought imposes on plant tissues—lawns turn brown, foliage curls, and trees sacrifice leaves and limbs to try to conserve water.

Measuring how water loss and drought stress are manifested in plants is critical to understanding the ways that forests will change, how prairies will sustain themselves, and what kinds of food we will be planting in the coming years as drought threatens our ecological and agricultural systems.

CID Bio-Science offers a range of instruments that can help you measure and monitor some of these potential drought responses:

• Photosynthetic rates may dip as stomata close to conserve water (CI-340)
• New leaves that develop in times of water stress may have varied morphologies (CI-202 and CI-203)
• Root architecture and depth may change quickly (CI-600)
• Secondary pigments may increase to protect vulnerable leaves from excess light exposure (CI-710)

Please visit our website to learn more about our product line of plant physiology instruments!

Publications on Drought

Researchers have been using our tools to study dynamic drought stress responses in plants for decades.

In a recent study comparing varieties of millet in China, the CI-203 Handheld Laser Leaf Area Meter helped determine plant growth parameters.The hybrid variety of millet was found to exhibit higher drought resistance, with lesser reduction in net photosynthesis, and greater leaf area. 

Another 2015 study quantifies the effects of foliar spray on wheat in normal and drought stress conditions.The foliar spray contained selenium, an important plant micronutrient. In various measurements, including net photosynthesis with the CI-340 Handheld Photosynthesis System, it was shown that supplemental selenium increased nutrient uptake, turgor and gas exchange, as well as overall wheat yield.

In an ecological study from 2008, the CI-600 In-Situ Root Imager and soil cores were used to examine the fine root production and mortality of Norway spruce in an experimental drought system. The results of the study concluded that mild periods of drought significantly increased fine root mortality, and this in turn increased soil organic matter as carbon from decaying roots is added to the soil.

To read more publications related to drought, please visit our website.

Tips from Tech Support

When working in drought conditions, dust can become a problem on many fronts, and may impact instrument performance. To combat this issue, it is a good idea to carry a lint-free cloth when using either of our Leaf Area Meters (CI-202 or CI-203). The cloth should be used to wipe the scan window clean of any dirt or sap residue after each leaf is measured. Special attention should be given to the underside of the arm of the CI-203 to keep the reflective material free from dust and debris.

When using the CI-340 Handheld Photosynthesis System in dusty environments, always be sure to have the micron filter attached to the intake. This will keep the CI-340 internal components free from large particles of dirt .

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