Leaf water content and water source partitioning reveal species-specific drought vulnerabilities in subtropical shrubs.

ABSTRACT: Hydraulic regulation of leaf water content and root water uptake underpins drought resistance in woody plants, yet these processes remain poorly quantified in humid forest shrubs. Here we explored drought vulnerability of two shrubs in a subtropical humid forest based on field measurements of soil water content (SWC), leaf water content (LWC), and isotopic compositions (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) of xylem and soil water. The results showed that during the drought in 2022, SWC within the 0-100 cm depth declined sharply, with severe soil water deficiency persisted for more than three months. Consequently, the two shrubs exhibited significant differences in LWC over time. During the drought, LWC declined 22.1% in L. polystachyus versus a more pronounced 35.2% drop in V. neg

SUBMITTER: Peng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12602465 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature