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The xylem of anisohydric Quercus alba L. is more vulnerable to embolism than isohydric codominants

Journal Article · · Plant, Cell and Environment
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14244· OSTI ID:1837702
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [1]
  1. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington Indiana USA
  2. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory Otto North Carolina USA
  3. Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRA UMR 1391 ISPA Gradignan France, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Durham North Carolina USA
  4. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
  5. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
  6. Department of Biology Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington Indiana USA
  7. University of Missouri School of Natural Resources Columbia Missouri USA
Abstract

The coordination of plant leaf water potential (Ψ L ) regulation and xylem vulnerability to embolism is fundamental for understanding the tradeoffs between carbon uptake and risk of hydraulic damage. There is a general consensus that trees with vulnerable xylem more conservatively regulate Ψ L than plants with resistant xylem. We evaluated if this paradigm applied to three important eastern US temperate tree species, Quercus alba L., Acer saccharum Marsh. and Liriodendron tulipifera L., by synthesizing 1600 Ψ L observations, 122 xylem embolism curves and xylem anatomical measurements across 10 forests spanning pronounced hydroclimatological gradients and ages. We found that, unexpectedly, the species with the most vulnerable xylem ( Q. alba ) regulated Ψ L less strictly than the other species. This relationship was found across all sites, such that coordination among traits was largely unaffected by climate and stand age. Quercus species are perceived to be among the most drought tolerant temperate US forest species; however, our results suggest their relatively loose Ψ L regulation in response to hydrologic stress occurs with a substantial hydraulic cost that may expose them to novel risks in a more drought‐prone future.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
NONE; AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1837702
Journal Information:
Plant, Cell and Environment, Journal Name: Plant, Cell and Environment Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 45; ISSN 0140-7791
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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