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Published on: June 20, 2019
Hydraulic vulnerability segmentation in compound-leaved trees: Evidence from an embolism visualization technique
Jia Song1,2,3, Santiago Trueba4, Xiao-Han Yin1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management & Key Laboratory of Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Neutrality Liaoning Province, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Compound-leaved trees exhibit hydraulic vulnerability segmentation, protecting stems by shedding vulnerable leaflets and petioles during drought. This adaptation ensures stem integrity for survival and resource transport.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Drought stress adaptation
- Xylem hydraulics
Background:
- Hydraulic vulnerability segmentation (HVS) suggests varying embolism resistance across plant organs.
- This adaptation may protect resource-rich tissues during drought.
- HVS in compound-leaved trees, which shed leaf units, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and role of HVS in compound-leaved tree species under drought stress.
- To determine if embolism resistance differs between stems, petioles, and leaflets.
Main Methods:
- Used optical visualization to assess embolism in stems, petioles, and leaflets.
- Studied two compound-leaved species: Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) and Manchurian walnut (Juglans mandshurica).
Main Results:
- Leaflets and petioles showed higher (less negative) water potentials at 50% loss of conductivity (P50) than stems.
- A consistent pattern of xylem resistance to embolism was observed: stem > petiole > leaflet.
- Hydraulic safety margins followed the same pattern, indicating greater vulnerability in leaflets and petioles.
Conclusions:
- Compound-leaved trees demonstrate HVS, with leaflets and petioles being more vulnerable to embolism than stems.
- Early embolism and shedding of leaflets/petioles protect the stem's hydraulic system during drought.
- HVS is a crucial adaptive mechanism for compound-leaved trees facing drought stress.
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