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Xylem cavitation affects the recovery of plant water status and consequently acorn production in a holm oak open woodland

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Abstract

The hydraulic conductivity and gas exchange parameters of holm oak trees (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) from an open woodland ecosystem in southwestern Spain were determined in young shoots (≤1 year old) over the course of 3 years, at 6–7 week intervals. Acorn production (AP) was also determined. Specific hydraulic conductivity (K s), leaf specific hydraulic conductivity (K l), loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC), and xylem water potential (Ψ) were assessed. In addition, histological cuttings of stem cross sections were examined to determine the density and diameter of xylem vessels. Acorn production was related to mid-summer K s and PLC values, but not for other dates or to parameters associated with instantaneous gas exchange. Although AP may depend on several physiological and climatic variables, these results indicated a close non-linear relation between hydraulic conductivity during periods of summer water stress and AP. It was difficult to recover xylem conductivity after a rain event when the PLC of twigs exceeded a threshold of approximately 68 %, which therefore had a negative effect on the AP. However, if the PLC ≤ 55 %, then the hydraulic conductivity and Ψ could be quickly recovered after a rain event and the effect of water stress would have less importance. Because holm oak usually operates at the limits of safety for hydraulic conductivity, which are surpassed under severe water stress (Ψ predawn ≤ −3.0 MPa), a global change scenario leading to drier conditions in the Mediterranean basin will increase the negative effects of summer drought on AP, leading to negative consequences for the ecosystem dynamics. The right choice of drought-adapted ecotypes and silvicultural practices that increase soil water retention and reduce plant competition should be taken into account for forest management.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financed by the Regional Autonomous Government of Andalusia (ref: C03-192), MEC-INIA (ref: SUM2006-00026-00-00) and Conicyt (Project number: 791100012). We would like to thank Daniel Martín, Arantza González, and Enrique Andivia for their collaboration and valuable assistance in field work. The authors also wish to thank the Provincial Government of Huelva, two anonymous reviewers and AECID.

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  1. F. Carevic

    Present address: Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Campus Huayquique, Iquique, Chile

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, University of Huelva, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, 21071, Huelva, Spain

    F. Carevic, M. Fernández, R. Alejano & J. Vázquez-Piqué

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  1. F. Carevic
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  2. M. Fernández
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Correspondence to F. Carevic.

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Communicated by P. Sowinski.

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Carevic, F., Fernández, M., Alejano, R. et al. Xylem cavitation affects the recovery of plant water status and consequently acorn production in a holm oak open woodland. Acta Physiol Plant 36, 3283–3290 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1694-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-014-1694-6

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