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Suppression of nighttime sap flux with lower stem photosynthesis in Eucalyptus trees

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Abstract

It is widely accepted that substantial nighttime sap flux (J s,n) or transpiration (E) occurs in most plants, but the physiological implications are poorly known. It has been hypothesized that J s,n or E serves to enhance nitrogen uptake or deliver oxygen; however, no clear evidence is currently available. In this study, sap flux (J s) in Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla with apparent stem photosynthesis was measured, including control trees which were covered by aluminum foil (approximately 1/3 of tree height) to block stem photosynthesis. We hypothesized that the nighttime water flux would be suppressed in trees with lower stem photosynthesis. The results showed that the green tissue degraded after 3 months, demonstrating a decrease in stem photosynthesis. The daytime J s decreased by 21.47 %, while J s,n decreased by 12.03 % in covered trees as compared to that of control, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The linear quantile regression model showed that J s,n decreased for a given daytime transpiration water loss, indicating that J s,n was suppressed by lower stem photosynthesis in covered trees. Predawn (ψ pd) of covered trees was marginally higher than that of control while lower at predawn stomatal conductance (g s), indicating a suppressed water flux in covered trees. There was no difference in leaf carbon content and δ13C between the two groups, while leaf nitrogen content and δ15N were significantly higher in covered trees than that of the control (P < 0.05), indicating that J s,n was not used for nitrogen uptake. These results suggest that J s,n may act as an oxygen pathway since green tissue has a higher respiration or oxygen demand than non-green tissue. Thus, this study demonstrated the physiological implications of J s,n and the possible benefits of nighttime water use or E by the tree.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41030638, 31170673, and 41275169) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. S2012020010933). We greatly acknowledge Fei Gao, Xiuhua Zhao, Zhenzhen Zhang, and Liwei Zhu for their assistance in field work. We also thank Professor Ram Oren of Duke University for his comments of the early manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People’s Republic of China

    Jianguo Gao, Juan Zhou, Zhenwei Sun, Junfeng Niu & Ping Zhao

  2. Guangxi Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, People’s Republic of China

    Cuiming Zhou, Daxing Gu & Yuqing Huang

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  1. Jianguo Gao
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  2. Juan Zhou
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  3. Zhenwei Sun
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Correspondence to Ping Zhao.

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Gao, J., Zhou, J., Sun, Z. et al. Suppression of nighttime sap flux with lower stem photosynthesis in Eucalyptus trees. Int J Biometeorol 60, 545–556 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1050-6

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