Water relations of flowering of Agave deserti

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Bot. Gaz. (Chicago); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/336888· OSTI ID:7304981

Nobel, P S

The water budget during flowering for the leaves, inflorescence, and lateral floral branches of the monocarpic perennial Agave deserti Engelm. (Agavaceae) was investigated in the western Colorado desert. During the 159 days from the emergence of the inflorescence until the fruit could be removed from the plant without affecting seed viability, the approximately 68 leaves on a plant decreased 24.9 kg in wet weight (7.1 kg attributable to leaf transpiration) and 1.84 kg in dry weight. The decrease of water in the leaves, which accompanied their death, was balanced by water storage in the inflorescence (3.1 kg), transpirational water loss from its surface (4.3 kg), and water loss from the lateral floral branches (10.8 kg), most of which came from the fruit. The final dry weight of the inflorescence (1.25 kg) approximately equaled the total annual photosynthetic productivity of a mature plant; such a large demand on its reserves is consistent with the single blooming period for this perennial. Due to seed predation, stringent germination conditions, and seedling fatalities, only about one seed in 1.2 x 10/sup 6/ will lead to a mature flowering plant. In fact, most A. deserti plants are produced vegetatively.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 7304981
• Journal Information: Bot. Gaz. (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Bot. Gaz. (Chicago); (United States) Vol. 138:1; ISSN BDGAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ARID LANDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESERTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOWERS
FOOD
FRUITS
GERMINATION
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAVES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEEDS
SYNTHESIS
WATER
WATER REQUIREMENTS