Browsing by Subject "Xylem"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Atmospheric and soil water deficit induced changes in chemical and hydraulic signals in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
    (2022) Tatar, Özgür; Brück, Holger; Asch, Folkard
    Plant responses to soil drying and the metabolic basis of drought‐induced limitations in stomatal opening are still being discussed. In this study, we investigate the roles of root‐born chemical and hydraulic signals on stomatal regulation in wheat genotypes as affected by soil drought and vapour pressure deficit. Twelve consecutive pot experiments were carried out in a glasshouse. Two bread wheat cultivars (Gönen and Basribey) were subjected to drought under high and low vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in a growth chamber. Total dry matter, specific leaf area, xylem ABA content, xylem osmotic potential, xylem pH, root water potential (RWP), stomatal conductance, leaf ABA content and photosynthetic activity were determined daily during 6 days after the onset of treatments (DAT). In the first phase of drought stress, soil drying induced an increase in the xylem ABA with a peak 3 DAT while RWP drastically decreased during the same period. Then the osmotic potential of leaves decreased and leaf ABA content increased 4 DAT. A similar peak was observed for stomatal conductance during the early stress phase, and it became stable and significantly higher than in well‐watered conditions especially in high vapour deficit conditions (H‐VPD). Furthermore, xylem pH and xylem osmotic potential appeared to be mostly associated with atmospheric moisture content than soil water availability. The results are discussed regarding possible drought adaptation of wheat under different atmospheric humidity.
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    Radial tree growth dynamics and xylem anatomy along an elevational gradient in the El Sira Mountains, Peru
    (2019) Niessner, Armin; Küppers, Manfred
    The explicit purpose of this study was to (1) characterize climate and vegetation along the western slope of the Cerros del Sira (Peru), (2) evaluate radial tree growth along this slope in response to seasonal rainfall anomalies, (3) reveal how the meteorological environment controls tree radial stem growth, and (4) to investigate how xylem anatomy relates to dynamics of tree growth. From May 2011 until September 2015, radial stem growth of 67 trees was monitored using point-dendrometers, and meteorological parameters were measured within five sites along an elevational gradient. Additionally, tree dimensions (stem diameter, stem height) and xylem anatomical traits (mean vessel diameter, vessel frequency, cumulative vessel area and potential hydraulic conductivity) were determined. The transect extends from lowland terra firme forests (ca. 250 m asl) over submontane forests, late and mid successional montane cloud forests up to exposed elfin forests (ca. 2200 m asl). Continuous rainfall records for remote tropical areas are extremely rare and measurements along this transect are also incomplete. Monthly rainfall estimates by the TRMM PR satellite ("product 3B42") were highly correlated with rain gauge observations, although they underestimate rainfall at high elevations. Different intra-annual tree growth patterns could be identified within each elevational forest type, showing species/individuals with seasonally independent continuous or alternating growth patterns and strictly seasonal growth. Stem growth at each site was typically higher during rainy seasons, except for in the elfin forest. The rainy season from October 2013 to March 2014 was extraordinarily dry, with only 73 % of long-term mean precipitation received, which resulted in reduced tree radial growth rates, again with the exception of the elfin forest. Different analytical approaches revealed that precipitation is the main growth-controlling factor at lower elevations, especially during rainy seasons. Growth within montane and cloud forests positively correlates to solar radiation. Tree growth within the elfin forest is only weakly correlated to meteorological parameters, but dry conditions during dry seasons promote growth. It was hypothesized that (1) individuals/species with large vessel diameters and low vessel frequencies have higher radial growth rates, but are more vulnerable to relatively dry periods. Therefore, (2) they are more likely to grow seasonally and predominantly during rainy seasons, (3) their growth during the exceptionally dry rainy season 2013/14 was more constrained, and (4) their growth is generally closer correlated to meteorological parameters. Larger trees tend to have larger vessel diameters, which positively relates to radial growth rates, and they also tend to grow more seasonal. As hypothesized, trees having large vessel diameters are more sensitive to droughts, as indicated by stronger positive correlations with rainfall and negative with solar radiation. However, in mountainous forests, relations between xylem anatomical traits and tree growth dynamics seem to be more complex. In late-successional cloud forests, growth of trees with large vessel diameter is positively, while of trees with small vessel diameter negatively related to solar radiation. Sensitivity to the dry rainy season 2013/14, expressed as relative reduction in growth compared to "normal" rainy seasons, could not be explained by xylem anatomical traits, contradicting the preceded hypothesis. Tropical lowland rainforest species, especially individuals with large vessels, will likely suffer from increasing drought frequencies and intensities. How montane forest ecosystems will react to a (globally) changing climate is rather uncertain, especially in exposed elfin forests. Results of this study suggest that species of late-successional tropical montane forests may profit from higher temperatures. While montane tropical rain forests may also suffer from prolonged droughts, exposed ridges covered by elfin forests still receive plenty of precipitation and may benefit from receiving more solar radiation for photosynthesis and, thus, grow faster.