Solution aluminum and transpiration in Picea rubens and Gleditsia triacanthos seedlings.

Soil solution Al may contribute to red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) decline by inhibiting transpiration (Klein 1985). This study examines how Al affects transpiration in red spruce and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) seedlings and explores mechanisms for the observed responses. Red spruce seedlings were grown in dilute nutrient solutions containing 0 to 925 microM Al at pH 4.5 or 3.8. Solution Al had no effect on the transpiration, root hydraulic conductivity (K(r)) or shoot water potential (Psi) of red spruce. Transpiration of honeylocust was higher in the presence of 100 to 350 microM Al than 0, 500, or 600 microM Al. The Al-induced increases in transpiration of honeylocust were unrelated to shoot Psi or root K(r), but were closely correlated with the greater root lengths produced by intermediate levels of Al. In neither species was transpiration correlated with tissue concentrations of Al, P, K, Ca or Mg.