Water Deficits and Plant Growth, Volume IV: Soil Water Measurement, Plant Responses, and Breeding for Drought Resistance explores the physiological effects of water deficits on plants and their implications on crop yield, water use, and drought resistance. This book also considers drought-resistance measurements and their application to breeding programs.
This volume is organized into eight chapters and begins with an overview of measurement of soil water content and the state of water in soils. Particular emphasis is placed on methods developed from technological advances. The next two chapters focus on the structure and functioning of stomata and stomatal conductance in control of gas exchange. The discussion then shifts to the effects of water supply on photosynthesis, leaf shedding, flow of latex, and nitrogen-fixing root nodules. The final chapter is a comprehensive treatment of plant breeding for drought resistance, emphasizing breeding and testing methods as well as parameters and application to breeding programs of drought resistance.
This book is a valuable resource for scientists and investigators in fields such as botany, agronomy, forestry, agriculture, and biology.

List of ContributorsPrefaceContents of Other Volumes1. Measurement of Water Content and the State of Water in Soils I. Introduction II. Methods of Measuring Soil-Water Content III. Methods of Measuring Soil-Water Potential and Its Components References2. Structure and Functioning of Stomata I. Introduction II. Comparative Morphology and Fine Structure III. Functioning IV. Toward the Future-Models of Stomatal Functioning References3. Stomatal Conductance in the Control of Gas Exchange I. Introduction II. Measurement of Stomatal and Leaf Conductance III. Relationships with Changes in the External Environment IV. Relationships with Internal Factors V. Significance of Stomata in Controlling Gas Exchange References4. Water Deficits and Photosynthesis I. Inhibition of Photosynthetic Activity II. Control of Stomatal Aperture, Chloroplast Activity, and Respiration III. Inhibition of Leaf Growth IV. Significance of Inhibition of Photosynthesis for Grain Production V. Summary References5. Water Supply and Leaf Shedding I. Introduction II. Summer Drought and Leaf Shedding III. Winter Desiccation and Leaf Shedding IV. Flooding and Leaf Shedding V. Disease-Induced Water Deficits and Leaf Shedding VI. Chemically Induced Leaf Shedding References6. Water Deficits and Flow of Latex I. Introduction II. Occurrence and Composition of Latex III. Tapping IV. Mechanisms Involved in the Cessation of Latex Flow V. Methods of Increasing Latex Flow References7. Water Deficits and Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodules I. Introduction II. Effects on Nodule Formation, Morphology, and Structure III. Physiological Effects on Nodules IV. Field Studies References8. Plant Breeding for Drought Resistance I. Breeding and Testing Methods II. Parameters of Drought Resistance in a Breeding Program III. Application of Drought-Resistance Measurements in Breeding Programs ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index