Relationships between xylem structure and embolism vulnerability in six species of drought tolerance trees

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2015.0260

Abstract

Abstract: Aims

The study of embolism vulnerability to drought has become a hot and key topic under global climate change. The objective of the study was: 1) to identify the relationship between xylem structure and embolism vulnerability; 2) to define the differences in resistance of embolism in xylem structure of each species; and 3) to establish drought tolerance indexes in xylem structure of six species.

Methods

Drought tolerance trees of Robinia pseudoacacia, Hippophae rhamnoides, Ulmus pumila, Corylus heterophylla, Salix matsudana, Acer truncatum were studied. Cochard Cavitron centrifuge was used to establish embolism vulnerability curves and to calculate xylem vulnerability value. Staining and silicone injection techniques were used to to measure xylem structure of drought tolerance trees including vessel diameter, conduit wall span, number of vessels per unit area, contact faction, vessel length and wood density.

Important findings

The results showed: 1) xylem embolism vulnerability of the six species ranked as Robinia pseudoacacia > Ulmus pumila > Hippophae rhamnoides > Salix matsudana > Acer truncatum > Corylus heterophylla; 2) the vulnerability curves is “r” shape for Robinia pseudoacacia, Hippophae rhamnoides, Ulmus pumila and is “s” shape for Corylus heterophylla, Salix matsudana, Acer truncatum, respectively; 3) the xylem vulnerability values is significantly different in trees of “r” shape and “s” shape (p < 0.01). Furthermore, linear analysis showed that the different effects between the xylem structure of the species was closely related to the vulnerability in the following order: the maximum effect was from wood density (t = 0.702), the medium effect was from vessel diameter (t = 0.532), and the minimum effect was from vessel length (t = 0.01).

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/ZWSB201603007

Key words: embolism vulnerability, vulnerability curve, xylem structure, drought tolerance trees

Rong LI, Wei DANG, Jing CAI, Shuo-Xin ZHANG, Zai-Min JIANG. Relationships between xylem structure and embolism vulnerability in six species of drought tolerance trees[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2016, 40(3): 255-263.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2015.0260

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2016/V40/I3/255

Figures/Tables 4

References 46

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因子 Parameter	耐旱树种 Drought tolerance trees
因子 Parameter	沙棘 Hippophae rhamnoides	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	榆树 Ulmus pumila	元宝枫 Acer truncatum	旱柳 Salix matsudana	榛 Corylus heterophylla
P₅₀ (MPa)	-1.31 ± 0.183^Ab	-0.22 ± 0.026^Ac	-0.55 ± 0.064^Ac	-2.64 ± 0.214^Ba	-1.55 ± 0.103^Bb	-2.84 ± 0.054^Ba
导管直径 Vessel diameter (μm)	23.57 ± 0.579^Ac	56.96 ± 1.913^Aa	49.48 ± 1.206^Aa	31.26 ± 0.405^Bb	32.11 ± 0.415^Bb	26.81 ± 0.319^Bc
导管内径跨度 Conduit wall span (μm)	40.10 ± 1.651^Aa	62.20 ± 0.905^Ab	58.07 ± 2.414^Aa	34.29 ± 0.729^Bb	36.19 ± 0.583^Bc	27.04 ± 0.749^Bb
导管密度 Number of vessels per unit area	216.52 ± 0.006^Ab	32.22 ± 2.588^Aa	53.64 ± 0.011^Aa	143.55 ± 3.874^Bb	284.37 ± 0.015^Bb	270.11 ± 0.013^Bb
导管连接度 Contact fraction	0.03 ± 0.006^Aa	0.02 ± 0.002^Aa	0.04 ± 0.004^Aa	0.13 ± 0.008^Bb	0.07 ± 0.007^Bb	0.10 ± 0.008^Bb
导管长度 Vessel length (cm)	13.35 ± 0.827^Ab	20.55 ± 1.913^Aa	17.23 ± 0.834^Aa	3.08 ± 0.253^Bc	4.10 ± 0.397^Bc	3.23 ± 0.223^Bc
木质部密度 Wood density (g·cm^-3)	1.54 ± 0.086^Aa	1.17 ± 0.129^Aa	1.17 ± 0.062^Aa	1.42 ± 0.167^Ba	1.46 ± 0.209^Ba	0.83 ± 0.039^Bb

因子 Parameter	耐旱树种 Drought tolerance trees
因子 Parameter	沙棘 Hippophae rhamnoides	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	榆树 Ulmus pumila	元宝枫 Acer truncatum	旱柳 Salix matsudana	榛 Corylus heterophylla
P₅₀ (MPa)	-1.31 ± 0.183^Ab	-0.22 ± 0.026^Ac	-0.55 ± 0.064^Ac	-2.64 ± 0.214^Ba	-1.55 ± 0.103^Bb	-2.84 ± 0.054^Ba
导管直径 Vessel diameter (μm)	23.57 ± 0.579^Ac	56.96 ± 1.913^Aa	49.48 ± 1.206^Aa	31.26 ± 0.405^Bb	32.11 ± 0.415^Bb	26.81 ± 0.319^Bc
导管内径跨度 Conduit wall span (μm)	40.10 ± 1.651^Aa	62.20 ± 0.905^Ab	58.07 ± 2.414^Aa	34.29 ± 0.729^Bb	36.19 ± 0.583^Bc	27.04 ± 0.749^Bb
导管密度 Number of vessels per unit area	216.52 ± 0.006^Ab	32.22 ± 2.588^Aa	53.64 ± 0.011^Aa	143.55 ± 3.874^Bb	284.37 ± 0.015^Bb	270.11 ± 0.013^Bb
导管连接度 Contact fraction	0.03 ± 0.006^Aa	0.02 ± 0.002^Aa	0.04 ± 0.004^Aa	0.13 ± 0.008^Bb	0.07 ± 0.007^Bb	0.10 ± 0.008^Bb
导管长度 Vessel length (cm)	13.35 ± 0.827^Ab	20.55 ± 1.913^Aa	17.23 ± 0.834^Aa	3.08 ± 0.253^Bc	4.10 ± 0.397^Bc	3.23 ± 0.223^Bc
木质部密度 Wood density (g·cm^-3)	1.54 ± 0.086^Aa	1.17 ± 0.129^Aa	1.17 ± 0.062^Aa	1.42 ± 0.167^Ba	1.46 ± 0.209^Ba	0.83 ± 0.039^Bb

因子 Parameters	系数 Coefficient	t
木质部密度 Wood density (g·cm^-3)	0.326	0.702
导管直径 Vessel diameter (μm)	0.037	0.532
导管内径跨度 Conduit wall span (μm)	-0.071	0.306
导管密度 Number of vessels per unit area	-0.007	0.265
导管连接度 Contact fraction	-19.762	0.188
导管长度 Vessel length (cm)	-0.281	0.010

因子 Parameters	系数 Coefficient	t
木质部密度 Wood density (g·cm^-3)	0.326	0.702
导管直径 Vessel diameter (μm)	0.037	0.532
导管内径跨度 Conduit wall span (μm)	-0.071	0.306
导管密度 Number of vessels per unit area	-0.007	0.265
导管连接度 Contact fraction	-19.762	0.188
导管长度 Vessel length (cm)	-0.281	0.010