New insights into a sensitive life stage: hydraulics of tree seedlings in their first growing season.

ABSTRACT: The first year in a tree's life is characterized by distinct morphological changes, requiring constant adjustments of the hydraulic system. Despite their importance for the natural regeneration of forests and future vegetation composition, little has been known about the hydraulics of tree seedlings. At different times across the first growing season, we analysed xylem area-specific (K_{shoot_Axyl}) and leaf area-specific (K_{shoot_L}) shoot hydraulic conductance, as well as embolism resistance of three temperate conifer trees, two angiosperm trees and one angiosperm shrub, and related findings to cell osmotic parameters and xylem anatomical traits. Over the first 10 wk after germination, K_{shoot_Axyl} and K_{shoot_L} sharply decreased, then remained stable

SUBMITTER: Beikircher B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11655438 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature