Biologia plantarum 54:299-307, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0052-9

Sensitivity of stem and petiole hydraulic conductance of deciduous trees to xylem sap ion concentration

K. Aasamaa1,*, A. Sõber2
1 Department of Silviculture, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
2 Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

Hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles increased in response to an increase in xylem sap ion concentration, and decreased in response to a decrease in the ion concentration in six temperate deciduous tree species. The ion sensitivity of hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles was higher than the ion sensitivity of the stem alone. The ion sensitivity was lowest in the earliest developmental stages of the xylem, and had a seasonal maximum in the second half of summer. The ion sensitivity was highest in slow-growing species and lowest in fast-growing species. The ion sensitivity correlated negatively with mean radius of xylem conduits, hydraulic conductance of stem and petioles, hydraulic conductance of leaf laminae, and stomatal conductance, and positively with response of the hydraulic conductance of leaf laminae to HgCl2, and stomatal response to a decrease in leaf water potential or abscisic acid. It was concluded that the high ion sensitivity of xylem hydraulic conductance is a relevant characteristic of slow growth and a conservative water use strategy.

Keywords: Acer platanoides; Padus avium; Populus tremula; Quercus robur; Salix caprea; Tilia cordata
Subjects: abscisic acid (ABA); Acer platanoides; electrical conductivity; hydraulic conductance; oak; Padus avium; Populus tremula; Quercus robur; Salix caprea; stomatal conductance; Tilia cordata; water potential; water transport; xylem sap ion concentration

Received: April 29, 2008; Accepted: January 17, 2009; Published: June 1, 2010Show citation

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Aasamaa, K., & Sõber, A. (2010). Sensitivity of stem and petiole hydraulic conductance of deciduous trees to xylem sap ion concentration. Biologia plantarum, 54(2), 299-307. doi: 10.1007/s10535-010-0052-9.
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