Reliability of leaf relative water content (RWC) measurements after storage: consequences for in situ measurements

Relative water content (RWC) is widely used to describe plant water status, and is commonly measured gravimetrically. The ephemeral nature of leaf fresh mass poses severe constraints for such measurements in field-grown plants. These constraints can be overcome by transporting the leaves in waterproof containers into the lab. However, even then, leaves lose water, and other changes may happen. The effects of a delay on the measurement of RWC have not been quantified so far. In this study, the influence of duration of storage up to 96 h and storage temperature on RWC and its components was investigated for four species. Alnus incana subsp. rugosa (Du Roi) R.T. Clausen, Impatiens capensis Meerb., and Scirpus microcarpus J.Presl & C.Presl leaves were stored in plastic bags, whereas those of Comptonia peregrina (L.) J.M.Coult. were stored in plastic vials. RWC remained within 5% of the initial value during 24 h cool storage, but after that, larger changes were observed. The effects of storage were species specific, being most pronounced in species poorly protected against desiccation, and under warm conditions. The effects of storage were not only limited to water loss, but also included cellular degradation. In general, storage at 10 °C for 24 h enables measurement of RWC for field-grown plants with accuracy of a few percent, but care has to be taken with species vulnerable to desiccation, possibly requiring faster measurement and a cooler storage temperature.