Xylem hydraulic characteristics of subtropical trees from contrasting habitats grown under identical environmental conditions
Five evergreen subtropical tree species growing under identical environmental conditions were investigated to establish which hydraulic properties are genotypically rigid and which show phenotypic plasticity. Maximum xylem-specific conductivity (ks) correlated well with the anatomical characteristic...
Saved in:
Published in | The New phytologist Vol. 145; no. 1; pp. 51 - 59 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Cambridge, UK
Cambridge University Press
01.01.2000
Blackwell |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | Five evergreen subtropical tree species growing under identical environmental conditions were investigated to
establish which hydraulic properties are genotypically rigid and which show phenotypic plasticity. Maximum
xylem-specific conductivity (ks) correlated well with the anatomical characteristics (conduit diameter and density)
for the four angiosperms Tecomaria capensis, Trichilia dregeana, Cinnamomum camphora and Barringtonia
racemosa; the anatomy of the gymnosperm Podocarpus latifolius was not assessed. Huber values (functional xylem
cross-sectional area [ratio ] leaf area) varied inversely with ks among species. Maximum leaf-specific conductivity was
similar in the five unrelated species. Vulnerability of xylem to cavitation differed between species, as did the
relationship between transpiration and water potential. Models of these parameters and isolated midday readings
confirm that these trees operate at similar maximum leaf-specific conductivity (kl) values. The data are consistent
with the hypothesis that conductivity characteristics (kl, ks) are influenced by environment, whereas vulnerability
to cavitation is genetically determined. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0028-646X 1469-8137 |
DOI: | 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00549.x |