Within-leaf variation in embolism resistance is not a rule for compound-leaved angiosperms

Hydraulic segmentation, caused by the difference in embolism resistance across plant organs, provides a sacrificial layer of cheaper plant organs, like leaves, to protect more costly organs, such as stems, during drought. Within-leaf hydraulic segmentation has been observed in two compound-leaved tree species, with leaflets being more vulnerable than the rachis or petiole. Many herbaceous species have compound leaves, and some species have leaflets that are associated with pulvini at the base of the lamina, which could provide an anatomical means of preventing embolism from spreading within a leaf because of the higher number of vessel endings in the pulvinus.

We used the optical vulnerability method to investigate whether differences in embolism resistance were observed across the leaf tissues of six herbaceous species and one deciduous tree species with compound leaves. Our species selection included both palmately and pinnately-compound leaved species, one of each with a pulvinus at the base of the leaflets.

We found considerable variation in embolism resistance across the species measured, but no evidence of variation in embolism resistance within the leaf. In two species with pulvini, we observed major embolism events crossing the pulvinus, spreading from the rachis or petiole into the lamina, and embolizing both tissues at the same water potential.

We conclude that within-leaf hydraulic segmentation, caused by variation in embolism resistance, is not a universal phenomenon to compound-leaved species and that the presence of a pulvinus does not provide a barrier to embolism spread in compound leaves.