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A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. August 2015. / iii ABSTRACT Global changes are likely to have negative impacts on many ecosystems including savannas. Semi-arid environments are notable for the wide range of seasonal patterns of leaf display in the tree communities. The environmental cues of leaf out and leaf drop are not consistent across species, and are not always directly linked to water availability, indicating that some species might be particularly sensitive to changes in climate. Strategies employed by trees which leaf early or drop their leaves late are likely to impact other aspects of their life-history and functioning so I expect particular plant functional types to be associated with particular vegetation functional traits. I assessed how variable savanna leafing strategies are among 28 species at a semi-arid savanna site at Nylsvley, and used this information to group species into plant functional types (PFTs). These PFTs were then assessed in terms of key vegetative traits to explore the life history consequences of different leafing strategies. Leaf phenology was monitored throughout one growing season and quantified using 8 key phenological metrics. The timing of leaf display tracks the timing of seasonal rainfall but with wide variation, with some species retaining their leaves throughout dry season. Other species loss some leaves throughout the growing season, some species only flushed their leaves after the first rains, and other flush before the first rains. I identified 4 clear PFTs using the MClust clustering integrated with subjective procedure. Four vegetative traits were measured: specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen, maximum stomatal conductance and wood density. I identified some clear trade-offs between vegetative traits and phenological strategies. There was also a positive relationship between degree of rain stimulated flushing metric and wood density. Using objective clustering methods to determine plant functional types has some clear advantages over more subjective methods but depends on good input data. Identifying plant functional types at Nylsvley has led to some insights into functioning of these savannas, but as there appear to be strong links between plant traits and particular leafing strategies it might be more appropriate to explore syndromes of vegetation functional traits when modelling responses to global change.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1985. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-79). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 182 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Dec. 15, 2009). "Department of Crop and Soil Sciences." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Agr. St.)--University of Queensland, Gatton, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2000. Graduate Programme in Earth and Space Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-159). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ67753.

The effect of foliar applied potassium chloride on Septoria tritici on winter wheat was quantified and possible modes of action investigated by in vitro, glasshouse, controlled environment and field experiments between 1996 and 1999. In vitro experiments showed that as the concentration of potassium chloride increased, mycelial growth and germination of conidia decreased (EO sos of 1.36M and 0.7M, respectively). One glasshouse and two field experiments showed a significant reduction in the leaf area affected by S. trttict after foliar application of potassium chloride compared to untreated controls. In general, application of potassium chloride reduced the leaf area affected by S. tritici by 20 -.40%. However, a significant yield increase was not observed. Potassium chloride applied to the lower leaves of winter wheat did not confer systemic acquired resistance against S. tritici on the upper leaves. Inhibition of conidial germination, on leaf surfaces by potassium chloride was observed. Similar inhibition was observed when polyethylene glycol, an inert osmoticum, was applied at the same calculated osmotic potential. During field experiments there was no significant difference in the leaf area affected by S. tritici in plots treated with potassium chloride or polyethylene glycol, although both significantly reduced the leaf area affected compared to untreated control plots. Therefore, the principal mode of action of potassium chloride was proposed to be as a result of adverse osmotic conditions caused by the salt on leaf surfaces. However, the addition of a range of adjuvants to potassium chloride did not increase the efficacy of S. tritici control in glasshouse studies. The results from this study show that potassium chloride, when applied to foliage of winter wheat can reduce the leaf area affected by S. tritici and it is proposed that this reduction was by adverse osmotic conditions caused by the salt on leaf surfaces.

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