Skip to main content

Morphological adaptations of tracheid structure to water stress gradients in the crown of Sequoiadendron giganteum

Oecologia volume 27, pages 135–139 (1977)Cite this article

Summary

Mean radial diameter of tracheids in young branches of a 90 m Sequoiadendron giganteum decreases linearly with height along a gradient correlated linearly with decreasing xylem pressure potential. These smaller tracheid diameters provide strength to resist strong mechanical tensions in the xylem column and hypothetically allow greater efficiencies of water conduction. Tracheid length is not significantly correlated with either water stress or tracheid diameter.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Bailey, I.W., Faull, A.F.: The cambium and its derivative tissues. IX. Structural variability in the redwood. Sequoia sempervirens and its significance in the identification of fossil wood. J. Arnold Arb. 15, 233–254 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, C.C.: The strength, tangential diameter, and length/width ratio of conifer tracheids. Canad. J. Bot. 43, 967–984 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlquist, S.: Ecological strategies of xylem evolution, 259 p. Univ. Calif. Press 1975

  • Rundel, P.W.: Habitat restriction in giant sequoia: the environmental control of grove boundaries. Amer. Midl. Natur. 87, 81–99 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rundel, P.W.: The relationship between basal fire scars and crown damage in giant sequoia. Ecology 54, 210–213 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobiessen, P., Rundel, P.W., Stecker, R.E.: Water potential gradient in a tall Sequoiadendron. Plant Physiol. 48, 303–304 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardrop, A.B.: Cell wall organization and the properties of xylem. I. Cell wall organization and the variation of breaking load tension of xylem in conifer stems. Austral. Sci. Res., Ser. B 4, 391–414 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellwood, R.W.: Tensile testing of small wood samples. Pulp Paper Magn. Can. 63 (2), T61-T67 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 92717, Irvine, California, USA

    Philip W. Rundel

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 95114, San Jose, California, USA

    Ronald E. Stecker

Authors
  1. Philip W. Rundel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronald E. Stecker
    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

Rundel, P.W., Stecker, R.E. Morphological adaptations of tracheid structure to water stress gradients in the crown of Sequoiadendron giganteum . Oecologia 27, 135–139 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345818

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345818

Keywords

  • Water Stress
  • Stress Gradient
  • Great Efficiency
  • Pressure Potential
  • Water Conduction