CSIRO PUBLISHING
Functional Plant Biology, 2013, 40, 719–729 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP12228
Seasonal and diurnal variation in the stomatal conductance and paraheliotropism of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) in the field Kevin Foster A,B,C,D, Megan H. Ryan A,B, Daniel Real A,B,C, Padmaja Ramankutty A,B and Hans Lambers A A
School of Plant Biology and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. B Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. C Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6157, Australia. D Corresponding author. Email:
[email protected]
Abstract. The mechanisms of drought resistance in perennial legumes are poorly understood. We explored the diurnal and seasonal variation (May, August, February) in stomatal conductance (gs) and paraheliotropism of three tedera accessions (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirton var. albomarginata) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), both perennial legumes, grown in the field. For the tedera accessions, there was a significant reduction in gs during the day in May (late autumn) and February (summer), but there was little reduction for lucerne. The peak leaf angle in the tedera accessions ranged from
