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How timing of stem girdling affects needle xylem structure in Scots pine

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Abstract

While needles represent a proportionally large fraction of whole-plant hydraulic resistance, no studies to date have investigated how source–sink disturbances affect needle xylem structure. In this study, we evaluated structural changes in xylem in current-year needles of Scots pine 227 and 411 days after stem girdling (hereafter referred to as DAG). Maximum and minimum tracheid lumen diameters and therefore also the size of tracheid lumen areas increased in needles 227 DAG compared to control needles. In contrast, tracheid dimensions were similar in needles 411 DAG as in the control needles, but smaller xylem area and lower number of tracheids resulted in the lower theoretical needle hydraulic conductivity of those needles. Several needle xylem parameters were intercorrelated in both control and girdled trees. These observed changes provide a new understanding of the processes that occur following a source–sink disturbance. Considering anatomical parameters such as the number of tracheids, tracheid dimension, or needle xylem area, which are rarely described in physiological studies, could be helpful, for example, in understanding to tree hydraulic systems or for modeling gas exchange. Finally, empirical equations were developed to calculate needle theoretical hydraulic conductivity and the number of tracheids in needles using an easily measurable parameter of needle xylem area.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Czech project MSMT COST LD 13017 under the framework of the COST Action FP1106 network STReESS, Mendel University (Grant IGA 73/2013) and by the project “Indicators of Tree Vitality” (Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0265) co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Czech Republic. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic

    Roman Gebauer, Roman Plichta, Emilie Bednářová, Jiří Foit, Václav Čermák & Josef Urban

  2. Siberian Federal University, Svobodnyj Prospekt 79, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

    Josef Urban

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  1. Roman Gebauer
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  5. Václav Čermák
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Correspondence to Roman Gebauer.

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Communicated by Judy Simon.

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10342_2017_1090_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Figure S1. Soil water potential measured by gypsum blocks at three depths (15 cm, 50 cm, and 90 cm) during vegetation season 2014. Data were recorded up to − 1.1 MPa which was the lowest limit of the instrument used (TIFF 282 kb)

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Gebauer, R., Plichta, R., Bednářová, E. et al. How timing of stem girdling affects needle xylem structure in Scots pine. Eur J Forest Res 137, 57–67 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1090-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1090-z

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