We compared responses of maize, tomato, and bean plants to water stress. Maize reached a severe water deficit (leaf water potential -1.90 MPa) in a longer period of time as compared with tomato and bean plants. Maize stomatal conductance (gs) decreased at mild water deficit. gs of tomato and bean decreased gradually and did not reach values as low as in maize. The protein content was maintained in maize and decreased at low water potential (ψw); in tomato it fluctuated and also decreased at low ψw; in bean it gradually decreased. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity remained high at mild and moderate stress in maize and tomato plants; in bean it remained high only at mild stress. and M. Castrillo ... [et al.].
Two cultivars of bean, Tacarigua and VUL 73-401 were subjected to two levels of water stress followed by rewatering. During the water deficit period, water potential (Ψ№), osmotic potential (Ψ5) and relative water content (rwc) decreased with an associated decrease of ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity (RuBPC), protein and chlorophyll (Chi) contents. In cv. Tacarigua, the % decrease of RuBPC was less marked than that of protein content. There was a significant correlation among the components of leaf water status and the measured photosynthetic parameters. Groups of water stressed plants were rewatered, when reached -1.25 to -1.60 MPa. During the recovering period all components of leaf water status increased and reached the control values on the 6th day after rewatering. Chi content increased above the control values. Protein content and RuBPC activity also increased during the rewatering period, but the % increases in protein content and RuBPCase activity were not parallel.