Leaf shrinkage with dehydration: coordination with hydraulic vulnerability and drought tolerance
Christine Scoffoni1, Christine Vuong, Steven Diep
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095.
Plant Physiology
|December 6, 2013
Summary
Leaf shrinkage during dehydration is linked to reduced water transport capacity (K(leaf)). This physiological response impacts plant drought adaptation and distribution, especially in moist-habitat species.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Ecology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Leaf shrinkage during dehydration is a long-observed phenomenon, particularly during drought.
- The physiological underpinnings and hydraulic consequences of leaf shrinkage remain poorly understood.
- Computer simulations predict mesophyll pathway hydraulic conductance significantly impacts whole-leaf conductance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if leaf shrinkage (in thickness and area) correlates with reduced leaf hydraulic conductance (K(leaf)) during dehydration.
- To investigate the relationship between leaf shrinkage and key water relations parameters.
- To understand the role of leaf shrinkage in plant drought adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Studied 14 diverse plant species.
- Measured leaf shrinkage (whole leaf, cell, airspace thickness, leaf area) during dehydration.
- Assessed leaf hydraulic conductance (K(leaf)) decline relative to leaf water potential (Ψ(leaf)).
- Evaluated structural and physiological parameters: modulus of elasticity, osmotic pressure, turgor loss point (TLP), and cuticular conductance.
Main Results:
- Species from moist habitats exhibited significant shrinkage before TLP, unlike dry-habitat species.
- Decline in K(leaf) with mild dehydration correlated with leaf thickness reduction across species.
- Leaf thickness and area shrinkage correlated with lower modulus of elasticity and less negative osmotic pressure at full turgor.
Conclusions:
- Leaf shrinkage plays a role in hydraulic decline during mild dehydration.
- Shrinkage mechanisms influence drought tolerance and may affect plant distribution.
- Findings link structural changes during dehydration to physiological function and ecological adaptation.
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