Evidence for a trade-off between growth rate and xylem cavitation resistance in Callitris rhomboidea.

ABSTRACT: The ideal plant water transport system is one that features high efficiency and resistance to drought-induced damage (xylem cavitation), however, species rarely possess both. This may be explained by trade-offs between traits, yet thus far, no proposed trade-off has offered a universal explanation for the lack of water transport systems that are both highly drought-resistant and highly efficient. Here, we find evidence for a new trade-off, between growth rate and resistance to xylem cavitation, in the canopies of a drought-resistant tree species (Callitris rhomboidea). Wide variation in cavitation resistance (P50) was found in distal branch tips (<2 mm in diameter), converging to low variation in P50 in larger diameter stems (>2 mm). We found a significant correlation between cavitation re

SUBMITTER: Johnson KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10335850 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature