| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to develop a technique for determining water movement and use in Opuntia spp. with tritiated water. Plant materials used were greenhouse, nursery, and field grown. Introduction of the label was by injection with syringe and needle. In order to reduce tissue damage injections did not exceed 0.5 ml, regardless of specific activity injected. Water was extracted form tissue samples by a modified freeze-drying technique. Combustion of samples following extraction showed that the method was efficient for tritiated water recovery form pricklypear plant material when the extraction time was 3-hours and a warm water bath temperature of 55 C was maintained. Transpired vapor from pads was collected with a system that passed dry air over the pad surface and into a collecting vial. ... |
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