Embolism resistance in stems of herbaceous Brassicaceae and Asteraceae is linked to differences in woodiness and precipitation.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Plant survival under extreme drought events has been associated with xylem vulnerability to embolism (the disruption of water transport due to air bubbles in conduits). Despite the ecological and economic importance of herbaceous species, studies focusing on hydraulic failure in herbs remain scarce. Here, we assess the vulnerability to embolism and anatomical adaptations in stems of seven herbaceous Brassicaceae species occurring in different vegetation zones of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, and merged them with a similar hydraulic-anatomical data set for herbaceous Asteraceae from Tenerife.

Methods

Measurements of vulnerability to xylem embolism using the in situ flow centrifuge technique along with light and transmission electron microscope ob

SUBMITTER: Doria LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6676380 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature