Combined high leaf hydraulic safety and efficiency provides drought tolerance in Caragana species adapted to low mean annual precipitation.

ABSTRACT: Clarifying the coordination of leaf hydraulic traits with gas exchange across closely-related species adapted to varying rainfall can provide insights into plant habitat distribution and drought adaptation. The leaf hydraulic conductance (K_leaf ), stomatal conductance (g_s ), net assimilation (A), vein embolism and abscisic acid (ABA) concentration during dehydration were quantified, as well as pressure-volume curve traits and vein anatomy in 10 Caragana species adapted to a range of mean annual precipitation (MAP) conditions and growing in a common garden. We found a positive correlation between Ψ_leaf at 50% loss of K_leaf (K_leaf P₅₀ ) and maximum K_leaf (K_leaf-max ) across species. Species from low-MAP e

SUBMITTER: Yao GQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7754512 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature