Pit and tracheid anatomy explain hydraulic safety but not hydraulic efficiency of 28 conifer species.

ABSTRACT: Conifers face increased drought mortality risks because of drought-induced embolism in their vascular system. Variation in embolism resistance may result from species differences in pit structure and function, as pits control the air seeding between water-transporting conduits. This study quantifies variation in embolism resistance and hydraulic conductivity for 28 conifer species grown in a 50-year-old common garden experiment and assesses the underlying mechanisms. Conifer species with a small pit aperture, high pit aperture resistance, and large valve effect were more resistant to embolism, as they all may reduce air seeding. Surprisingly, hydraulic conductivity was only negatively correlated with tracheid cell wall thickness. Embolism resistance and its underlying pit traits related to

SUBMITTER: Song Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8793876 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature