Cavitation and water fluxes driven by ice water potential in Juglans regia during freeze-thaw cycles.

ABSTRACT: Freeze-thaw cycles induce major hydraulic changes due to liquid-to-ice transition within tree stems. The very low water potential at the ice-liquid interface is crucial as it may cause lysis of living cells as well as water fluxes and embolism in sap conduits, which impacts whole tree-water relations. We investigated water fluxes induced by ice formation during freeze-thaw cycles in Juglans regia L. stems using four non-invasive and complementary approaches: a microdendrometer, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray microtomography, and ultrasonic acoustic emissions analysis. When the temperature dropped, ice nucleation occurred, probably in the cambium or pith areas, inducing high water potential gradients within the stem. The water was therefore redistributed within the stem toward the ice fr

SUBMITTER: Charra-Vaskou K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4737071 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature