Adaptation of xylem structure and function of three gymnosperms to different habitats

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0186

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Habitat difference is one of the important factors affecting plant growth and development. Plant xylem hydraulic system is the main pathway of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, which directly affects the basic behavior and function of plants and reflects the adaptability of plants to environmental changes. In the current study, the differences of xylem hydraulic function, mechanical and anatomical structure traits of three gymnosperm species in Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang Province in different habitats (field habitat and garden habitat) were compared to reveal the adaptive mechanism of gymnosperm to different habitats.

Methods We measured and compared hydraulic safety trait (water potential at 50% loss of conductivity), hydraulic efficiency (specific hydraulic conductivity) and xylem anatomy, between field and garden plants of Pseudolarix amabilis, Cunninghamia lanceolata and Cedrus deodara.

Important findings 1) For all tree species, their hydraulic efficiency in garden habitats are lower than that of field habitats, but the embolism resistances are stronger, owing to the complexity of species adaptation strategies. 2) No matter in field or garden habitats, there was efficiency-safety trade-off in the xylem water diversion system in Cedrus deodara, but there is no efficiency-safety trade-off in hydraulic system of P. amabilis and Cunninghamia lanceolata. 3) There is a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength in the xylem of P. amabilisand Cedrus deodara in garden habitat. Compared with garden habitats, in field habitats with low soil moisture availability, plants increased pit membrane diameter to improve hydraulic efficiency. In addition, in field habitat, the threat of embolism to plants could be avoided by increased wood density and expanding tracheid diameter.

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

HAN Xu-Li, ZHAO Ming-Shui, WANG Zhong-Yuan, YE Lin-Feng, LU Shi-Tong, CHEN Sen, LI Yan, XIE Jiang-Bo. Adaptation of xylem structure and function of three gymnosperms to different habitats[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(4): 440-450.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0186

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I4/440

Figures/Tables 8

Table 1 Basic environmental conditions of the sampling points

生境 Habitat	经纬度 Latitude, longitude	海拔 Altitude (m)	坡向 Aspect	坡度 Slope (°)	pH	土壤含水量 Soil water content (%)
自然生境 Field habitat	30.43° N, 120.22° E	400-450	西南 Southwest	9-12	4.85 ± 0.16	29.53 ± 1.21
人工生境 Garden habitat	30.25° N, 119.72° E	51-74	西南 Southwest	15-20	5.23 ± 0.12	35.98 ± 1.22

Table 2 Overview of the three Gymnosperms in field and garden habitats (mean ± SE)

物种 Species	科 Family	生活型 Life form	叶片习性 Leaf habit	生境 Habitat	n	胸径 DBH (cm)	树高 PH (m)	树龄 Tree age (a)	冠幅 Crown (m)
雪松 Cedrus deodara	松科 Pinaceae	乔木 Tree	常绿 Evergreen	自然 Field	20	36.03 ± 0.37	9.89 ± 0.36	40-45	7.03 ± 0.18
雪松 Cedrus deodara	松科 Pinaceae	乔木 Tree	常绿 Evergreen	人工 Garden	19	37.89 ± 0.28	11.52 ± 0.25	40-45	7.85 ± 0.13
杉木 Cunninghamia lanceolata	杉科 Taxodiaceae	乔木 Tree	常绿 Evergreen	自然 Field	19	10.62 ± 0.35	4.43 ± 0.32	25-30	1.63 ± 0.14
杉木 Cunninghamia lanceolata	杉科 Taxodiaceae	乔木 Tree	常绿 Evergreen	人工 Garden	16	11.43 ± 0.23	5.12 ± 0.27	25-30	1.92 ± 0.09
金钱松 Pseudolarix amabilis	松科 Pinaceae	乔木 Tree	落叶 Deciduous	自然 Field	20	26.06 ± 0.49	12.54 ± 0.30	40-45	4.67 ± 0.23
金钱松 Pseudolarix amabilis	松科 Pinaceae	乔木 Tree	落叶 Deciduous	人工 Garden	15	26.62 ± 0.42	13.60 ± 0.22	40-45	5.25 ± 0.15

Fig. 1 Hydraulic functional traits of three Gymnosperm species (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at α = 0.05.

Fig. 2 Correlation between specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and embolism resistance (P50) of Cedrus deodara (A), Cunninghamia lanceolata (B) and Pseudolarix amabilis (C) in field and garden habitats.

Fig. 3 Xylem tracheid traits of three Gymnosperm species (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at α = 0.05.

Fig. 4 Xylem pit structure traits in three Podocarpus species (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at α = 0.05.

Fig. 5 Xylem mechanical traits of three Gymnosperm species (mean ± SE). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at α = 0.05.

Fig. 6 Correlation analysis between xylem hydraulic function and anatomical structural traits of three Gymnosperm species in field (A-C) and garden habitats (D-E). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01. Dh, hydraulic diameter (μm); Dpa, pit aperture diameter (μm); Dpm, pit membrane diameter (μm); Fa, aperture opening ratio; Ks, specific hydraulic conductivity (kg·m-1·MPa-1·s-1); Nt, tracheid density (No.·mm2); P50, the xylem water potential causing 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (-MPa); Ttob, tracheid thickness to span ratio ((t/b)2); Tw, double thickness of vessel wall (μm); WD, wood density (g·cm-2).

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