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Sensitivity of stem and petiole hydraulic conductance of deciduous trees to xylem sap ion concentration

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles increased in response to an increase in xylem sap ion concentration, and decreased in response to a decrease in the ion concentration in six temperate deciduous tree species. The ion sensitivity of hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles was higher than the ion sensitivity of the stem alone. The ion sensitivity was lowest in the earliest developmental stages of the xylem, and had a seasonal maximum in the second half of summer. The ion sensitivity was highest in slow-growing species and lowest in fast-growing species. The ion sensitivity correlated negatively with mean radius of xylem conduits, hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles, hydraulic conductance of leaf laminae, and stomatal conductance, and positively with response of the hydraulic conductance of leaf laminae to HgCl2, and stomatal response to a decrease in leaf water potential or abscisic acid. It was concluded that the high ion sensitivity of xylem hydraulic conductance is a relevant characteristic of slow growth and a conservative water use strategy.

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Abbreviations

cion :

xylem sap ion concentration

EC:

electrical conductivity

Ks :

hydraulic conductance of shoot stem

Ksp :

hydraulic conductance of shoot stem and petioles

Ss :

ion sensitivity of hydraulic conductance of shoot stem

Ssp :

ion sensitivity of hydraulic conductance of shoot stem and petioles

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Acknowledgement

The study was financed by the Estonian Science Foundation (grants no. 6823 and 6969), and by the Estonian Ministry of Science and Education (target-financed themes no. 0172100s02 and 0170021s08). We also thank the staff of the Department of Food Science and Hygiene (at the Estonian University of Life Sciences) for permitting us to use their laboratory equipment.

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  1. Department of Silviculture, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu, 51014, Estonia

    K. Aasamaa

  2. Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia

    A. Sõber

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Aasamaa, K., Sõber, A. Sensitivity of stem and petiole hydraulic conductance of deciduous trees to xylem sap ion concentration. Biol Plant 54, 299–307 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-010-0052-9

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