Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking
intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism

J 2019

Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism

JUPA, Radek, Dita KRABIČKOVÁ, Roman PLICHTA, Stefan MAYR, Vít GLOSER et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism

Authors

JUPA, Radek, Dita KRABIČKOVÁ, Roman PLICHTA, Stefan MAYR and Vít GLOSER

Edition

Bulletin of the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology and the Physiological Section of the Slovak Botanical Society, České Budějovice, 2019, 1213-6670

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

Abstract

V originále

Tree resistance to drought is tightly coupled with sensitivity of xylem transport to failure due to extensive embolism spread. In response to drought, trees adjust structure of xylem conduits to minimize water losses and improve resistance to embolism. However, effect of drought on lateral contact between conduits is poorly described and its consequences for embolism spread remain elusive. Here, we analysed drought-induced modifications in xylem structure both in stems of cultivated seedlings and annual rings in branches collected from mature individuals of temperate, angiosperm tree species, and assessed relationships between intervessel lateral contact and xylem vulnerability to embolism. We observed decrease in vessel diameter (VD; up to -4 μm) and concomitant increase in vessel density (VDE; up to +100 n mm-2) both in seedlings and mature trees in response to limited water availability. In opposite, there was only a small drought-induced change in intervessel contact fraction (FVV; ±4%) and no obvious trend was observed in FVV across species, illustrating low phenotypic plasticity of this trait. However, interspecific differences in FVV were found to determine xylem vulnerability to embolism as there was a positive linear correlation between FVV and slope of the vulnerability curve. Therefore, species with more interconnected vessels reached critical hydraulic failure of xylem within smaller change in water potential. In addition, greater FVV was associated with higher Ψ50 (xylem water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity) and narrower hydraulic safety margins, (e.g., difference between midday leaf water potential and Ψ50). Results of this study demonstrate that species with densely interconnected xylem conduits are more vulnerable to embolism but, despite of greater risk of hydraulic failure during drought, they use less conservative hydraulic strategies.

Citovat

JUPA, Radek, Dita KRABIČKOVÁ, Roman PLICHTA, Stefan MAYR and Vít GLOSER. Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism. Bulletin of the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology and the Physiological Section of the Slovak Botanical Society. České Budějovice, 2019, vol. 2019, p. 51. ISSN 1213-6670.

@article{1607524,
   author = {Jupa, Radek and Krabičková, Dita and Plichta, Roman and Mayr, Stefan and Gloser, Vít},
   article_location = {České Budějovice},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1213-6670},
   journal = {Bulletin of the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology and the Physiological Section of the Slovak Botanical Society},
   title = {Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism},
   volume = {2019},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1607524
AU  - Jupa, Radek - Krabičková, Dita - Plichta, Roman - Mayr, Stefan - Gloser, Vít
PY  - 2019
TI  - Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism
JF  - Bulletin of the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology and the Physiological Section of the Slovak Botanical Society
VL  - 2019
SP  - 51
EP  - 51
SN  - 12136670
N2  - Tree resistance to drought is tightly coupled with sensitivity of xylem transport to failure due to extensive embolism spread. In response to drought, trees adjust structure of xylem conduits to minimize water losses and improve resistance to embolism. However, effect of drought on lateral contact between conduits is poorly described and its consequences for embolism spread remain elusive. Here, we analysed drought-induced modifications in xylem structure both in stems of cultivated seedlings and annual rings in branches collected from mature individuals of temperate, angiosperm tree species, and assessed relationships between intervessel lateral contact and xylem vulnerability to embolism. We observed decrease in vessel diameter (VD; up to -4 μm) and concomitant increase in vessel density (VDE; up to +100 n mm-2) both in seedlings and mature trees in response to limited water availability. In opposite, there was only a small drought-induced change in intervessel contact fraction (FVV; ±4%) and no obvious trend was observed in FVV across species, illustrating low phenotypic plasticity of this trait. However, interspecific differences in FVV were found to determine xylem vulnerability to embolism as there was a positive linear correlation between FVV and slope of the vulnerability curve. Therefore, species with more interconnected vessels reached critical hydraulic failure of xylem within smaller change in water potential. In addition, greater FVV was associated with higher Ψ50 (xylem water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity) and narrower hydraulic safety margins, (e.g., difference between midday leaf water potential and Ψ50). Results of this study demonstrate that species with densely interconnected xylem conduits are more vulnerable to embolism but, despite of greater risk of hydraulic failure during drought, they use less conservative hydraulic strategies.
ER  -

JUPA, Radek, Dita KRABIČKOVÁ, Roman PLICHTA, Stefan MAYR and Vít GLOSER. Tree acclimation to limited water availability: Linking intervessel lateral contact and vulnerability to embolism. \textit{Bulletin of the Czech Society of Experimental Plant Biology and the Physiological Section of the Slovak Botanical Society}. České Budějovice, 2019, vol.~2019, p.~51. ISSN~1213-6670.

Detailed Information on Publication Record