Boron in Relation to Water Balance in Plants

Several recent investigators have suggested that boron may affect the water balance of plants (22). Schmucker (16) stated that the main role of boron is to control the structure of the protoplasm. The data of Dennis (6) indicated that boron regulates the water relations of the plasma colloids. Schropp and Arenz (17) found that boron prevented unusual swelling of the plasma colloids which would interfere with the ascent of water in the stem. Reports by Bobko (2) indicate that wilting of cotton was decreased with the application of boron and related date by Willis and Piland (21) for Romaine lettuce grown without the addition of borax to the soil disclosed that this crop was subject to severe wilting during the day. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of various levels of boron in the nutrient solution on the moisture content of the leaves, stems, and roots of Nicotiana tabacum var. Little Turkish at different stages of development. Attention was also given to boron levels in relation to the water content of tissues during periods of water shortage and wilting