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Size-dependent variability of leaf and shoot hydraulic conductance in silver birch

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Abstract

Variation in leaf and shoot hydraulic conductance was examined on detached shoots of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), cut from the lower third (shade leaves) and upper third of the crown (sun leaves) of large trees growing in a natural temperate forest stand. Hydraulic conductances of whole shoots (K S), leaf blades (K lb), petioles (K P) and branches (i.e. leafless stem; K B) were determined by water perfusion using a high-pressure flow meter in quasi-steady state mode. The shoots were exposed to irradiance of photosynthetic photon flux density of 200–250 μmol m−2 s−1, using different light sources. K lb depended significantly (P < 0.001) on light quality, canopy position and leaf blade area (A L). K lb increased from crown base to tree top, in parallel with vertical patterns of A L. However, the analysis of data on shade and sun leaves separately revealed an opposite trend: the bigger the A L the higher K lb. Leaf anatomical study of birch saplings revealed that this trend is attributable to enhanced vascular development with increasing leaf area. Hydraulic traits (K S, K B, K lb) of sun shoots were well co-ordinated and more strongly correlated with characteristics of shoot size than those of shade shoots, reflecting their greater evaporative load and need for stricter adjustment of hydraulic capacity with shoot size. K S increased with increasing xylem cross-sectional area to leaf area ratio (Huber value; P < 0.01), suggesting a preferential investment in water-conducting tissue (sapwood) relative to transpiring tissue (leaves), and most likely contributing to the functional stability of the hydraulic system, essential for fast-growing pioneer species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant no. 8333 from the Estonian Science Foundation and by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund (Centre of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation). We are grateful to Lawren Sack, University of California, for his valuable suggestions on the manuscript, and to Ilmar Part for language revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005, Tartu, Estonia

    Arne Sellin, Eele Õunapuu & Meeli Alber

  2. Division of Plant Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Eve Kaurilind

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  1. Arne Sellin
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  2. Eele Õunapuu
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Correspondence to Arne Sellin.

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Communicated by C. Lovelock.

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Sellin, A., Õunapuu, E., Kaurilind, E. et al. Size-dependent variability of leaf and shoot hydraulic conductance in silver birch. Trees 26, 821–831 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0656-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0656-5

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