A broad survey of hydraulic and mechanical safety in the xylem of conifers.

ABSTRACT: Drought-induced forest dieback has been widely reported over the last decades, and the evidence for a direct causal link between survival and hydraulic failure (xylem cavitation) is now well known. Because vulnerability to cavitation is intimately linked to the anatomy of the xylem, the main objective of this study was to better understand the xylem anatomical properties associated with cavitation resistance. An extensive data set of cavitation resistance traits and xylem anatomical properties was developed for 115 conifer species, with special attention given to the micro-morphology of bordered pits. The ratio of torus to pit aperture diameter, so-called torus overlap, increased with increasing cavitation resistance, while the flexibility of the margo does not seem to play a role, suggest

SUBMITTER: Bouche PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4112641 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature