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Quantifying Cunninghamia lanceolata Foliar Water Uptake and Reverse Transport Provides a New Approach to Improving
Ting Xiang1,2,3, Jianbo Jia1,2,3, Bo Han1,2,3
1Central South University of Forestry and Technology Changsha China.
Ecology and Evolution
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Foliar water uptake (FWU) helps Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings survive drought by absorbing water through leaves. This process facilitates reverse water transport to stems and soil, improving plant hydration and drought resistance.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Drought stress adaptation
- Water relations
Background:
- Foliar water uptake (FWU) is a vital mechanism for plants to access supplemental water, particularly under drought conditions.
- Quantitative analysis of reverse water transport following FWU is crucial for understanding plant survival strategies during drought but remains insufficiently studied.
- This knowledge gap hinders the development of effective strategies for drought resilience in plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively investigate the conditions promoting water absorption by Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings under drought stress.
- To determine the thresholds for reverse water movement from leaves to other plant organs and the soil.
- To assess the extent to which FWU enhances drought resistance in C. lanceolata.
Main Methods:
- Pot experiments with controlled watering regimes and simulated fog environments were employed.
- Stable isotope techniques (deuterium, δD) were utilized to trace water movement within the plant and soil.
- Measurements included soil water content (SWC), leaf water potential (LWP), and leaf water content (LWC).
Main Results:
- FWU was observed in C. lanceolata seedlings when SWC dropped below 60% of field capacity for at least 2 hours in foggy conditions.
- After 12 hours of fog treatment, LWP and LWC significantly improved under drought stress.
- Reverse water transport occurred to the stem when SWC was between 45-60% (increasing δD by ~20.54‰) and to the rhizosphere soil when SWC was 30-45% (increasing δD by ~30.94‰).
- Water absorbed via FWU moved to xylem and soil, with maximum utilization rates of 16.26% (stem) and 11.13% (soil), enhancing plant water status.
Conclusions:
- Cunninghamia lanceolata effectively alleviates drought stress through foliar water uptake.
- The identified thresholds for reverse water transport provide a basis for understanding drought adaptation mechanisms.
- FWU represents a significant pathway for improving plant water status and drought resistance, offering new insights for crop management.
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