Effects of Boron on the Water Relations of Higher Plants

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Abstract
Transpiration rates of B-deficient bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Black Valentine) were much lower than those of normal plants. Reduction in transpiration appeared to be due to at least 3 factors. First, there was a higher sugar and colloid concn. in B-deficient leaves. Second, decreased rates of water absorption have been reported for B-deficient plants. Third, transpiration of B-deficient plants may have been affected by an abnormal leaf morphology, including a high percentage of non-functional stomates. Higher sugar and colloid (pectins and pentosans) concentration plus abnormal leaf morphology were also believed to cause the initial rates of water loss from excised leaves of B-deficient plants to be lower than those of exicsed leaves of normal plants. Rate of water loss from an excised normal leaf was relatively rapid at first but leveled off into a linear rate.