Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Morphological and physiological reactions of young deciduous trees (Quercus robur L., Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl., Fagus sylvatica L.) to waterlogging

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One-year-old seedlings of Quercus robur L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Fagus sylvatica L. were cultivated in lysimeters and subjected to waterlogging for 17 weeks, interrupted by a five-week drainage period during summer. The growth of Q. robur was less affected by waterlogging than that of Q. petraea and Fagus. Waterlogging resulted in the formation of adventitious roots in Q. robur and Q. petraea, but not in Fagus. In contrast to Fagus, Q. robur and, to a lesser extent, Q. petraea were able to generate roots even below the water table. The hydraulic conductance of the excised root systems, the stomatal conductance and, in Fagus, the leaf water potential and the leaf-mass related hydraulic conductance were decreased by waterlogging. The decrease in the hydraulic conductance was largest in Fagus, and smallest in Q. robur. The roots of Fagus responded to anaerobic conditions with an increase in ethanol concentration. The measurements of nitrate reductase activities in roots and leaves provided no indications of a persistent contribution of NO3 − metabolism to the alleviation of waterlogging-induced stress. It is concluded that Q. robur and, to a lesser extent, Q. petraea can tolerate waterlogging periods better than Fagus due to a different pattern of root formation, and to a better adjustment of leaf biomass production to the hydraulic conductivity of the root system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews M 1986 The partitioning of nitrate assimilation between root and shoot of higher plants. Plant Cell Environ. 9, 511–519.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong W, Brändle R and Jackson M B 1994 Mechanisms of flood tolerance in plants. Acta Bot. Neerl. 43, 307–358.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartels H 1993 Gehölzkunde. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 336 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blom C W P M and Voesenek L A C J 1996 Flooding: the survival strategies of plants. Trends Ecol. Evol. 11, 290–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cochard H, Bréda N, Granier A and Aussenac G 1992 Vulnerability to air embolism of three European oak species (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. robur L.). Ann. Sci. For. 49, 225–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colin-Belgrand M, Dreyer E and Biron P 1991 Sensitivity of seedlings from different oak species to waterlogging: effects on root growth and mineral nutrition. Ann. Sci. For. 48, 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford R M M 1982 Physiological responses to flooding. In Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, New Series, Vol. 12B. Eds. O L Lange, P S Nobel, C B Osmond and H Ziegler. pp 453–477. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew M C 1990 Sensing soil oxygen. Plant Cell Environ. 13, 681–693.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drew M C 1991 Oxygen deficiency in the root environment and plant mineral nutrition. In Plant Life under Oxygen Deprivation. Eds. M B Jackson, D D Davies and H Lambers. pp 303–316. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew M C and Lynch J M 1980 Soil anaerobiosis, microorganisms, and root function. Annu. Rev. Phytopath. 18, 37–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer E 1994 Compared sensitivity of seedlings from 3 woody species (Quercus robur L., Quercus rubra L. and Fagus sylvatica L.) to water-logging and associated root hypoxia: effects on water relations and photosynthesis. Ann. Sci. For. 51, 417–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer E, Colin-Belgrand M and Biron P 1991 Photosynthesis and shoot water status of seedlings from different oak species submitted to waterlogging. Ann. Sci. For. 48, 205–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg H 1996 Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen, 5th edn. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 1095 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Else MA, Davies WJ, Malone M and Jackson MB 1995 A negative hydraulic message from oxygen-deficient roots of tomato plants? Influence of soil flooding on leaf water potential, leaf expansion, and synchrony between stomatal conductance and root hydraulic conductivity. Plant Physiol. 109, 1017–1024.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Else M A, Tiekstra A E, Croker S J, Davies W J and Jackson M B 1996 Stomatal closure in flooded tomato plants involves abscisic acid and a chemically unidentified anti-transpirant in xylem sap. Plant Physiol. 112, 239–247.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla J A and Comerford N B 1998 Phosphorus and potassium depletion by roots of field-grown slash pine: aerobic and hypoxic conditions. For. Ecol. Manage. 110, 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan T W M, Higashi R M, Frenkiel T A and Lane A N 1997 Anaerobic nitrate and ammonium metabolism in flood-tolerant rice coleoptiles. J. Exp. Bot. 48, 1655–1666.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner E S and Hodges J D 1996 Physiological, morphological and growth responses to rhizosphere hypoxia by seedlings of North American bottomland oaks. Ann. Sci. For. 53, 303–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington C A 1987 Responses of red alder and black cottonwood seedlings to flooding. Physiol. Plant. 69, 35–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaworski E G 1971 Nitrate reductase assay in intact plant tissues. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 43, 1274–1279.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kludze H K, Pezeshki S R and DeLaune R D 1994 Evaluation of root oxygenation and growth in baldcypress in response to shortterm soil hypoxia. Can. J. For. Res. 24, 804–809.

    Google Scholar 

  • Köstler J N, Brückner E and Bibelriether H 1968 Die Wurzeln der Waldbäume. Parey, Hamburg. 284 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski T T 1984 Responses of woody plants to flooding. In Flooding and Plant Growth. Ed. T T Kozlowski. pp 129–163. Academic Press, Orlando.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski T T, Kramer P J and Pallardy S G 1991 The Physiological Ecology of Woody Plants. Academic Press, San Diego. 657 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambers H, Steingröver E and Smakman G 1978 The significance of oxygen transport and of metabolic adaptation in flood-tolerance of Senecio species. Physiol. Plant. 43, 277–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lévy G, Becker Mand Garreau B 1986 Comportement expérimental de semis de chê ne pédonculé, chê ne sessile et hê tre en présence d'une nappe d'eau dans le sol. Ann. Sci. For. 43, 131–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyr H 1993 Vergleichende Untersuchungen zu physiologischen Reaktionen auf Wurzelanaerobiose bei Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur und Tilia cordata. Beitr. Forstwirtsch. Landschaftsökol. 27, 18–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markhart A H III and Smit B 1990 Measurement of root hydraulic conductance. HortSci. 25, 282–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H 1995 Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2nd edn. Academic Press, London. 889 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller E, Albers B P and Janiesch P 1994 Influence of NO -3 and NH +4 nutrition on fermentation, nitrate reductase activity and adenylate energy charge of roots of Carex pseudocyperus L. and Carex sylvatica Huds. exposed to anaerobic nutrient solutions. Plant Soil 166, 221–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oberdorfer E 1994 Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora, 7th edn. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 1050 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perata P and Alpi A 1993 Plant responses to anaerobiosis. Plant Sci. 93, 1–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pezeshki S R 1991 Root responses of flood-tolerant and floodsensitive tree species to soil redox conditions. Trees 5, 180–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponnamperuma F N 1984 Effects of flooding on soils. In Flooding and Plant Growth. Ed. T T Kozlowski. pp 9–45. Academic Press, Orlando.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reece C F and Riha S J 1991 Role of root systems of eastern larch and white spruce in response to flooding. Plant Cell Environ. 14, 229–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs L 1984 Applied Statistics, 2nd edn. Springer, New York. 707 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sena Gomes A R and Kozlowski T T 1980 Growth responses and adaptations of Fraxinus pennsylvanica seedlings to flooding. Plant Physiol. 66, 267–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro S S and Wilk M B 1965 An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples). Biometrika 52, 591–611.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smit B A and Stachowiak M L 1988 Effects of hypoxia and elevated carbon dioxide concentration on water flux through Populus roots. Tree Physiol. 4, 153–165.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas F M 2000 Growth and water relations of four deciduous tree species (Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl., Q. pubescens Willd., Sorbus aria [L.] Cr.) occurring at Central-European tree-line sites on shallow calcareous soils: physiological reactions of seedlings to severe drought. Flora 195, 104–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas F M and Büttner G 1998 Nutrient relations in healthy and damaged stands of mature oaks on clayey soils: two case studies in northwestern Germany. For. Ecol. Manage. 108, 301–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas F M and Hartmann G 1996 Soil and tree water relations in mature oak stands of northern Germany differing in the degree of decline. Ann. Sci. For. 53, 697–720.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas F M and Hartmann G 1998 Tree rooting patterns and soil water relations of healthy and damaged stands of mature oak (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl.). Plant Soil 203, 145–158.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas FM and Hilker C 2000 Nitrate reduction in leaves and roots of young pedunculate oaks (Quercus robur) growing on different nitrate concentrations. Environ. Exp. Bot. 43, 19–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Burg J 1985 Foliar analysis for determination of tree nutrient status - a compilation of literature data. Report No. 414. Institute for Forestry and Urban Ecology, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Burg J 1990 Foliar analysis for determination of tree nutrient status - a compilation of literature data. 2. Literature 1985 - 1989. Report No. 591. Institute for Forestry and Urban Ecology, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vartapetian B B and Jackson M B 1997 Plant adaptations to anaerobic stress. Ann. Bot. 79 (Suppl. A), 3–20.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Veen B W 1988 Influence of oxygen deficiency on growth and function of plant roots. Plant Soil 111, 259–266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner P A and Dreyer E 1997 Interactive effects of waterlogging and irradiance on the photosynthetic performance of seedlings from three oak species displaying different sensitivities (Quercus robur, Q. petraea and Q. rubra). Ann. Sci. For. 54, 409–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J and Davies WJ 1986 Chemical and hydraulic influences on the stomata of flooded plants. J. Exp. Bot. 37, 1479–1491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abt. Ökologie und Ökosystemforschung, Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Michaela Schmull

  2. Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Abt. Ökologie und Ökosystemforschung, Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Frank M. Thomas

Authors
  1. Michaela Schmull
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frank M. Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schmull, M., Thomas, F.M. Morphological and physiological reactions of young deciduous trees (Quercus robur L., Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl., Fagus sylvatica L.) to waterlogging. Plant and Soil 225, 227–242 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026516027096

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026516027096

Search

Navigation