Variations involved in field measurements of transpiration rates and stomatal diffusive resistance of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. clones and the relationship of the latter with net photosynthetic rates

Abstract

Variance components and their percentage contribution to total variation during field measurements of stomatal diffusive resistance (DR) and transpiration rates (TR) were studied for Hevea clones. Variance from the plant component was much higher than other components viz., leaves of the same plant and determinations of the same leaf. DR, TRand coefficient of varian for DR and TR varied significantly with leaf age and time of the day. The three leaflets in a leaf were similar in respects to DR and TR. Within a whorl, the comparatively smalle leaves at the top of differed significantly withrespect to DR and TR from the rest. DR and Tr of clones RRIC 100, RRIC 103, RRIC 45, PB 86 and IAN 710 were significantly different at 0.1perc. level. Initial studies show stomatal diffusive resistance to have a tendancy to be correlated with net photosynthetic rates (NPR). Other possible factors that might bring about clonal differences in NPR are discussed.