Drought resistance in two populations of invasive Tamarix compared using multiple methods

An on-going question in plant hydraulic research is whether there is intra-specific variability and/or plasticity in xylem traits. Plasticity could be important in taxa that colonize diverse habitats. We used Tamarix, a non-native woody plant, to investigate population differences in hydraulic conductivity (Ks), vulnerability-to-embolism curves and vessel anatomy. We also conducted a season-long drought experiment to determine water potentials associated with crown dieback of field-grown plants. We measured vessel length and diameter, and compared visual (micro-computed tomography; microCT) and hydraulic methods to quantify percentage loss in hydraulic conductivity (PLC). Among plants grown in a common environment, we did not find differences in our measured traits between two populations of Tamarix that differ in salinity at their source habitats. This taxon is relatively vulnerable to embolism. Within samples, large diameter vessels displayed increased vulnerability to embolism. We found that the microCT method overestimated theoretical conductivity and underestimated PLC compared with the hydraulic method. We found agreement for water potentials leading to crown dieback and results from the hydraulic method. Saplings, grown under common conditions in the present study, did not differ in their xylem traits, but prior research has found difference among source-site grown adults. This suggests that plasticity may be key in the success of Tamarix occurring across a range of habits in the arid southwest USA.