Summary
Acute winter frost drought in Rhododendron ferrugineum at the alpine timberline was provoked by removing the snow that had covered the shrubs and by irradiating and rewarming the twigs in situ in a climatized chamber simulating snow melt conditions. Water potential decreased to -2.3 MPa within three days. After activation of photosynthesis on the 1st day, the COr-uptake decreased during the 2nd day and approached zero at the 3rd day. With advanced desiccation, the internal COr concentration of the leaves increased indicating an impairment of chloroplast functions. The procedure of the disturbances appears to be similar to that of other acute drought events.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Cernusca A (1976) Bestandsstruktur, Bioklima und Energiehaushalt von alpinen Zwergstrauchbeständen. Oecol Plant 11:71–102
Cornic G, Prioul JL, Louason G (1983) Stomatal and non-stomatal contribution in the decline in leaf net CO2 uptake during rapid water stress. Physiol Plant 58:295–301
Gaastra P (1959) Photosynthesis of crop plants as influenced by light, carbon dioxide, temperature and stomatal resistance. Meded Landbouhogesch Wageningen 59 (13):1–68
Hanson AD, Hitz WD (1982) Metabolic responses of mesophytes to plant water deficits. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 33:163–203
Larcher W (1957) Frosttrocknis an der Waldgrenze und in der alpinen Zwergstrauchheide. Veröff Ferd Innsbruck 37:49–81
Larcher W (1963) Zur spätwinterlichen Erschwerung der Wasserbilanz von Holzpflanzen an der Waldgrenze. Ber Naturwiss-med Ver Innsbruck 53:125–137
Larcher W (1985a) Winter stress in high mountains. In: H Turner, W Tranquillini (eds) Establishment and tending of subalpine forest. Ber Eidg Anst forstl Versuchsw Birmensdorf, Bd 270, 11–17
Larcher W (1985b) Kälte und Frost. In: P Sorauer (found), Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten, vol I, part 5, 7th ed. Parey, Berlin, pp 69–320
Larcher W, de Moraes JAPV, Bauer H (1981) Adaptive responses of leaf water potential, CO2-gas exchange and water use efficiency of Olea europaea during drying and rewatering. In: NS Margaris, HA Mooney (eds) Components of productivity of mediterranean-climate regions — basic and applied aspects. Junk, The Hague, pp 77–84
Moss DN, Rawlins SL (1963) Concentration of carbon dioxide inside leaves. Nature 197:1320–1321
Sauter JJ (1984) Detection of embolization of vessels by a double staining technique. J Plant Physiol 116:331–342
Siegwolf R, Cernusca A (1984) CO2-Gaswechsel von Rhododendron ferrugineum an der alpinen Waldgrenze. Verh Ges Ökol 12:111–122
Tranquillini W (1979) Physiological ecology of the alpine timberline. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo
Tranquillini W (1982) Frost-drought and its significance. In: OL Lange et al. (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol 12B. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 379–400
Tranquillini W, Machl-Ebner I (1971) Über den Einfluß von Wärme auf das Photosynthesevermögen der Zirbe (Pinus cembra L.) und der Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum L.) im Winter. Rep Kevo Subarctic Res Stat 8:158–166
Zimmermann MH, Milburn JA (1982) Transport and storage of water. In: OL Lange et al. (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol 12B. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 135–151
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Larcher, W., Siegwolf, R. Development of acute frost drought in Rhododendron ferrugineum at the alpine timberline. Oecologia 67, 298–300 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384304
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384304