Analysis of xylem anatomy and function of representative tree species in a mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest of mid-subtropical karst region

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2020.0367

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Vessel, fibers, and parenchyma are the main components of tree xylem. They are responsible for water transport, mechanical support, and water and nutrients storage. Given the limited xylem space, consistent investment in one type of tissue would constrain the space available for other types of tissue, thus resulting in a possible trade-off among different tissues in their fractions. Analysis of the fractions of tissue types in xylem and the trade-off would contribute to better understanding of the eco-physiological adaptation of plants.

Methods We selected 21 characteristic tree species (10 deciduous and 11 evergreen) from a mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest located in the mid-subtropical karst region, and measured their xylem tissue fractions. In addition, we calculated the hydraulic-related structural traits in xylems and examined the correlations among various traits.

Important findings Compared to the global average values of xylem tissue fractions, the karst tree species tended to have a higher proportion of parenchyma. The fraction of vessel lumen was not correlated with fiber and parenchyma fractions across the tree species investigated. Instead, a significant trade-off was observed between fractions of fiber and parenchyma. A trade-off between the hydraulic efficiency (i.e. theoretical hydraulic conductivity) and safety (vessel wall reinforcement) was observed across both the deciduous and the evergreen tree species. The two contrasting group of karst trees differenced significantly in the intercepts of the lines for trade-offs. For given conductivity, the deciduous tree species exhibited stronger vessel well reinforcement (safety) than the evergreen tree species, which might be due to the fact that evergreen trees species had more axial parenchyma. Hence, this study revealed the specificity of xylem anatomy in karst tree species. Water and resource storage in xylem parenchyma are vital to karst trees (evergreens in particular) for their adaptation to the water-limiting environment.

Key words: vessel, parenchyma, fibers, vessel wall reinforcement coefficient, theoretical hydraulic conductivity, trade-off

NI Ming-Yuan, ARITSARA Amy Ny Aina, WANG Yong-Qiang, HUANG Dong-Liu, XIANG Wei, WAN Chun-Yan, ZHU Shi-Dan. Analysis of xylem anatomy and function of representative tree species in a mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest of mid-subtropical karst region[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(4): 394-403.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0367

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I4/394

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Leaf types by longevity, diameter at breast-height (DBH), and height of the 21 karst tree species studied in Mulun, Guangxi (mean ± SD)

物种 Species	科 Family	胸径 DBH (cm)	树高 Height (m)
落叶 Deciduous
黄梨木 Boniodendron minus	无患子科Sapindaceae	12.4 ± 0.3	8.3 ± 0.2
禾串树 Bridelia balansae	大戟科Euphorbiaceae	13.6 ± 1.0	7.5 ± 0.5
大叶紫珠 Callicarpa macrophylla	马鞭草科Verbenaceae	6.5 ± 0.4	5.5 ± 0.7
麻楝 Chukrasia tabularis	楝科 Meliaceae	12.0 ± 1.4	8.0 ± 0.5
浆果楝 Cipadessa baccifera	楝科 Meliaceae	7.9 ± 1.1	6.4 ± 0.9
毛果巴豆 Croton lachnocarpus	大戟科Euphorbiaceae	8.4 ± 0.3	6.5 ± 0.2
伞花木 Eurycorymbus cavaleriei	无患子科Sapindaceae	10.6 ± 0.6	7.6 ± 0.3
青檀 Pteroceltis tatarinowii	榆科 Ulmaceae	15.6 ± 0.6	8.7 ± 0.2
菜豆树 Radermachera sinica	紫葳科Bignoniaceae	13.5 ± 0.5	8.3 ± 0.2
圆叶乌桕 Triadica rotundifolia	大戟科Euphorbiaceae	15.8 ± 4.2	8.5 ± 0.3
常绿 Evergreen
假鱼骨木 Psydrax dicocca	茜草科Rubiaceae	9.2 ± 1.1	6.5 ± 0.5
灰岩棒柄花 Cleidion bracteosum	大戟科Euphorbiaceae	7.3 ± 0.3	5.2 ± 0.2
岩生厚壳桂 Cryptocarya calcicola	樟科 Lauraceae	8.1 ± 0.4	6.5 ± 0.2
青冈 Cyclobalanopsis glauca	壳斗科Fagaceae	10.9 ± 1.2	7.4 ± 0.6
大叶水榕 Ficus glaberrima	桑科 Moraceae	19.5 ± 3.4	7.7 ± 0.7
山小橘 Glycosmis pentaphylla	芸香科Rutaceae	6.4 ± 0.3	4.3 ± 0.3
黑木姜子 Litsea salicifolia	樟科 Lauraceae	7.6 ± 0.8	6.8 ± 0.4
小芸木 Micromelum integerrimum	芸香科Rutaceae	6.2 ± 1.1	5.3 ± 0.8
千里香 Murraya paniculata	芸香科Rutaceae	6.4 ± 0.1	5.0 ± 0.2
广西密花树 Myrsine kwangsiensis	紫金牛科 Myrsinaceae	7.6 ± 0.3	6.1 ± 0.2
铁榄Sinosideroxylon pedunculatum	山榄科Sapotaceae	8.8 ± 0.4	6.5 ± 0.2

Fig. 1 A stained xylem cross-section image of Radermachera sinica(A), and the same image in which different xylem tissues were manually coded with different colors (B). Green, vessel lumen; Yellow, vessel wall; Red, ray parenchyma; Blue, axial parenchyma; Purple, fibers.

Fig. 2 Xylem tissue partitioning of the 21 karst woody species in Mulun, Guangxi, and 805 woody species data downloaded from the TRY Database.

Fig. 3 Distributions of the karst woody species in the global xylem partitioning spectrum (A) and relationships among xylem tissue fractions (B). ●, karst woody species; △, global observations from TRY. Fb,fibers fraction; TPf, total parenchyma fraction; Vs, vessels fraction. ns, p > 0.05; ***, p < 0.001.

Fig. 4 Principal component analysis for 10 xylem traits of woody plant (A), and 21 karst woody species (B) in Mulun, Guangxi. ○, deciduous; ●, evergreen. APf,axial parenchyma fraction; Dh,hydraulically-mean vessel diameter; Fb,fiber fraction; Kt,theoretical hydraulic conductivity; RPf,ray parenchyma fraction; t,double wall thickness measured from vessel pairs; t/b,vessel wall reinforcement coefficient; TPf,total parenchyma fraction; Vd,vessel density; Vs,vessel lumen fraction.

Fig. 5 Reduced major axis regression of vessel wall reinforcement coefficient (t/b) and theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kt) of 21 karst woody species in Mulun, Guangxi. ○, deciduous (D); ●, evergreen (E). Linear regression of deciduous species (grey): y = -0.31x - 0.67; linear regression of evergreen species (black): y = -0.41x- 0.71. **, p< 0.01.

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