Changes in the water status of tea clones during dry weather in Kenya

Abstract

Summary: Partial closure of the stomata occurred during the middle of the day even when tea plants were growing in a wet soil and there were similar diurnal changes in the xylem water potential (ψ_x). As the soil dried the daily minimum values of ψ_xdeclined, more in some clones than in others, and there were also interesting differences between clones in the sensitivity of their stomata to changes in ψ_x. Possible ways in which these observations could form the basis of tests for screening clones for drought resistance are discussed.