%0 Thesis %B Watershed Management %D 1969 %T Variation in Transpiration and its Relationship with Growth for Pinus Ponderosa Lawson in Southern Arizona %A Budelsky, Carl A. %X The climate, water loss, and certain aspects of growth in semiarid-site ponderosa pine were measured from 1 February 1966 to 10 March 1967 to determine the environmental relationships governing transpiration, internal water balance, and tracheid production. Water loss from branches and from entire trees was measured by means of polyethylene enclosures. Changes in internal water status of the tree were ascertained from seasonal trends in loss of water from branches and diurnal as well as seasonal changes in the radius of the bole. The elongation of branches and needles, and the production of tracheids and their size and wall thickness were related to the coincident internal water status of the tree. The branch enclosure technique was found to be a convenient method by which the water loss process could be studied. The seasonal changes in transpiration undoubtedly were influenced by the elevated temperatures that developed within the enclosure during the day. However, the elevated temperatures did not appear to adversely influence branch and needle elongation within the chamber. Warm air temperatures and low soil moisture during June and early July increased internal water stress, reduced daytime water loss, and reduced elongation of branches and needles. Fewer tracheida were produced in the upper bole. They were small and had thick walls. Moisture from rains in July replenished soil moisture and larger, thin walled tracheids were differentiated so that the intra-annular band of small, thick-walled cells became apparent. Gradual shrinkage of the upper bole in June implied that the above changes in growth were due to changes in internal water deficits. There were no marked changes in tracheid sizes and wall thickness in the lower hole during 1966. Intra-annular bands of narrow, thick-walled tarcheids occurred three times during the last 10 years in the upper bole and only times in the last 50 years in the lower bole. Graphical analysis showed that midday reductions in rates of transpiration during periods of low soil moisture and high air temperatures occurred in spite of steepening water vapor gradients and before stomates were closed. This evidence supports the hypothesis that reductions in water loss during midday may result directly from internal water deficits. Soil moisture, air temperature, and incident radiation appeared to influence transpiration by alerting the availability of water, the vapor pressure gradient, and the energy available for evaporation. %B Watershed Management %I University of Arizona %V PhD %G eng %U http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=755441531&sid=6&Fmt=1&clientld=43922&RQT=309&Vname=PQD %0 Thesis %B Botony %D 1966 %T Variation in Water Stress of Ponderosa Pine %A Cunningham, Gary Lynn %Y Fritts, H. %X Seasonal and diurnal variations in water stress of the one year old needles in ponderosa pine were followed using the Schardakow method of estimating diffusion pressure deficit and the relative turgidity method of estimating moisture deficit. Soil moisture, vapor pressure deficit of the atmosphere and changes in trunk radius were measured to ascertain their relationships to needle water stress. Diffusion pressure deficit increased with decreasing solid moisture until growth was initiated. At that time diffusion pressure deficit values were markedly reduced and this is attributed to changes in solute content resulting from high carbohydrate metabolism and translocation. Diurnal variations in diffusion pressure deficit followed closely the diurnal variations in vapor pressure deficit, but the measured changes in relative turgidity did not follow closely the changes in diffusion pressure deficit. Measurements of changes in truck radius appear useable for estimating needle tissue water status except during periods of terminal and cambial activity. %B Botony %I University of Arizona %V MS %G eng