Evidence for metabolic adaptation to flooding in Leavenworthia uniflora

Leavenworthia uniflora (Cruciferae) is a winter annual that is restricted to shallow, limestone soils that are subject to waterlogging from late autumn to early spring. To determine its responses and adaptations to waterlogged soil, the effect of flooding on growth and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was studied. During a 31-day growth period, the average relative growth rate of plants grown in flooded soil was 54 mg g^-1 d^-1, and that of plants grown in unflooded soil was 68 mg g^-1 d^-1. Flooding did not cause an increase in ADH activity, implying that ethanol did not accumulate, and that L. uniflora is metabolically adapted to growing with its roots under anaerobic conditions.