Water potential — water saturation deficit relationship during dehydration and resaturation of leaves

The relationship between the water potential (Ψ w ) and the water saturation deficit ( Δ W sat ) in kale and maize leaf tissue was measured during dehydration and resaturation either of leaves in situ or of cut leaves. The curves relating Ψ w to ΔW sat were similar in all variants, but at the same values of Δ W sat corresponding values of Ψ w were always lower in leaves in situ than in cut leaves and during dehydration than during resaturation.