Coordination of plant hydraulic and photosynthetic traits: confronting optimality theory with field measurements.

ABSTRACT: Close coupling between water loss and carbon dioxide uptake requires coordination of plant hydraulics and photosynthesis. However, there is still limited information on the quantitative relationships between hydraulic and photosynthetic traits. We propose a basis for these relationships based on optimality theory, and test its predictions by analysis of measurements on 107 species from 11 sites, distributed along a nearly 3000-m elevation gradient. Hydraulic and leaf economic traits were less plastic, and more closely associated with phylogeny, than photosynthetic traits. The two sets of traits were linked by the sapwood to leaf area ratio (Huber value, v_H ). The observed coordination between v_H and sapwood hydraulic conductivity (K_S ) and photosynthetic ca

SUBMITTER: Xu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9291854 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature