ISSN:
1365-3040
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract. The effect of a mistletoe, Phthirusa maritima, on the water, nitrogen and carbon balance of two mangrove host species, Conocarpus erectus and Coccoloba uvifera, was studied. Several daily cycles of water potential and its components (pressure-volume curves); leaf nitrogen content (Kjeldahl method); leaf conductance, transpiration rates and carbon assimilation (portable gas exchange system) were measured on mistletoe, infested and uninfested plants in the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. The mistletoe on both host species showed higher transpiration rates and lower CO2 assimilation rates, and therefore lower water use efficiencies. With respect to infested and uninfested plants, C. erectus did not show large differences in the parameters measured with the exception of assimilation rates which were significantly lower in the infested plants. On the other hand, C. uvifera did show differences in all parameters and, therefore, was affected to a greater degree by the mistletoe. The behaviour of mistletoeinfested and uninfested plants, with respect to habitats with different degrees of water stress and with respect to the salinity gradient in which these mangroves grow, is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.1990.tb01984.x
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