Differences in anatomical structure and hydraulic function of xylem in branches of angiosperms in field and garden habitats

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2020.0430

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Water is essential for plant survival and growth. Water availability affects the anatomical structure and hydraulic function of xylem, and finally makes trees form specific acclimating characters. Therefore, comparing the differences of hydraulic function and anatomical structure between plants growing in field and garden habitats, can facilitate a better understanding on the acclimation of plants to water conditions.

Methods We compared hydraulic safety (water potential at 50% loss of conductivity, P₅₀), hydraulic efficiency (specific hydraulic conductivity, K_s) and xylem anatomy (vessel diameter (D), double thickness of vessel wall (T), vessel density (N), xylem density (WD) and thickness-to-span ratio of vessels ((t/b)²)), between field and garden plants of Acer buergerianum, Cyclobalanopsis glauca and Ligustrum lucidum. We also analyzed the differences of the relationship between xylem hydraulic function and anatomical structure in field and garden habitats.

Important findings We found that: 1) The K_s was higher and P₅₀ was lower in field habitat of the three angiosperms, which were related to the larger D and smaller (t/b)². 2) The intraspecific correlation analysis between K_s and P₅₀ showed that there were no efficiency-safety trade-offs. 3) Intraspecific correlation analysis of anatomical structure and functional traits showed that there was no significant correlation between D and P₅₀; except for L. lucidum in garden habitat, the T and (t/b)²of the other trees was positively correlated with P₅₀. Comparing to garden habitat, plants in field habitat with low water availability or no additional irrigation increased their diameter of vessels to improve water transport efficiency, so as to avoid the decrease of water potential and effectively reduce the potential risk of embolism.

Key words: embolism, cavitation resistance, hydraulic efficiency, xylem anatomy, efficiency-safety trade-off

FANG Jing, YE Lin-Feng, CHEN Sen, LU Shi-Tong, PAN Tian-Tian, XIE Jiang-Bo, LI Yan, WANG Zhong-Yuan. Differences in anatomical structure and hydraulic function of xylem in branches of angiosperms in field and garden habitats[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(6): 650-658.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0430

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I6/650

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Basic characteristics for the field and garden habitats (mean ± SE, n = 3)

生境 Habitat	经纬度 Latitude, Longitude	海拔 Altitude (m)	坡向 Slope direction	坡度 Slope (°)	土壤类型 Soil type	pH
自然生境 Field habitat	30.34° N, 119.46° E	350-450	西南 SW	12	红壤 Red soil	4.88 ± 0.16
人工生境 Garden habitat	30.26° N, 119.73° E	43-47	西南 SW	9	红壤 Red soil	5.25 ± 0.11

Table 2 Basic characteristics of the sampled trees for the three species in field and garden habitats (mean ± SE)

树种 Species	生境 Habitat	n	树高 Tree height (m)	胸径 DBH (cm)	树龄 Tree age (a)	冠幅 Crown (m)
三角槭 Acer buergerianum	自然生境 Field habitat	19	9.44 ± 0.37	10.26 ± 0.38	10-15	2.70 ± 0.12
三角槭 Acer buergerianum	人工生境 Garden habitat	20	10.75 ± 0.27	11.31 ± 0.24	10-15	3.04 ± 0.07
青冈 Cyclobalanopsis glauca	自然生境 Field habitat	18	12.41 ± 0.38	14.65 ± 0.54	15-20	6.45 ± 0.14
青冈 Cyclobalanopsis glauca	人工生境 Garden habitat	21	12.57 ± 0.30	15.43 ± 0.28	15-20	6.86 ± 0.03
女贞 Ligustrum lucidum	自然生境 Field habitat	20	6.47 ± 0.24	12.10 ± 0.38	10-15	3.94 ± 0.21
女贞 Ligustrum lucidum	人工生境 Garden habitat	18	7.33 ± 0.11	13.62 ± 0.27	10-15	4.51 ± 0.16

Fig. 1 Hydraulic functional traits of three species in field and garden habitats (mean ± SE). A, The specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks). B, Embolism resistance (water potential at 50% loss of conductivity, P50). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences within species (p < 0.05).

Fig. 2 Examples of light microscopy images of xylem cross sections of three species in field and garden habitats. A, Acer buergerianum in the field. B, Cyclobalanopsis glauca in the field. C, Ligustrum lucidum in the field. D, A. buergerianum in the garden. E, C. glauca in the garden. F, L. lucidum in the garden.

Fig. 3 Xylem anatomical structure traits of three species in field and garden habitats (mean ± SE). A, Vessel diameter (D). B, Double thickness of vessel wall (T). C, Vessel density (N). D, Xylem density (WD). E, Thickness-to-span ratio of vessels ((t/b)2). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences within species (p < 0.05).

Fig. 4 Correlation networks between functional traits (Ks and P50) and structural traits of xylem for the three species in field and garden habitat. A, Acer buergerianum in the field. B, Cyclobalanopsis glauca in the field. C, Ligustrum lucidum in the field. D, A. buergerianum in the garden. E, C. glauca in the garden. F, L. lucidum in the garden. Solid lines, positive correlations; dashed lines, negative correlations. Red lines, p < 0.05; grey lines, p > 0.05. Line thickness indicate the correlation coefficient (r) values. D, vessel diameter (μm); Ks, specific hydraulic conductivity (kg·m-1∙MPa-1·s-1); N, vessel density (103∙mm-2); P50, water potential at 50% loss of conductivity (-MPa); T, double thickness of vessel wall (μm); Ttob, thickness-to-span ratio of vessels ((t/b)2); WD, xylem density (g∙cm-3).

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