Effects of Naphthenic and Paraffinic Petroleum Fractions of Comparable Molecular Weight on Transpiration of Eureka Lemon and Bearss Lime Plants1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Plants of Eureka lemon and Bearss lime were grown in pots in the glasshouse at a maximum temperature of 92° during the day and a minimum of 66° F. during the night. Transpiration was measured by determining the loss in total weight of the potted plants during a period of 7 hours from morning to afternoon; the surface area of the foliage was measured, and transpiration was expressed as milligrams of water transpired per square centimeter of leaf surface per hour. On the day following application of concentrations of 1.75% oil in aqueous mixture, transpiration of the oil-sprayed plants was reduced more than half that of untreated plants for both the naphthenic and the paraffinic oils and for both varieties of citrus. Oil-sprayed plants recovered with time. For narrow-cut fractions of comparable molecular weights of 306 and 308, recovery was faster in the plants sprayed with the naphthenic oil than in those with the paraffinic oil.