散孔材和环孔材树种叶水分传输能力及其与抗旱性的关系

选取树龄相同的3种散孔材(杨树、梧桐和樱花)和3种环孔材(刺槐、合欢和白蜡)树种,用3种不同方法(解剖法、加压法和水容法)研究了其叶水力导度的差异及与抗旱性(PV曲线参数)的关系.结果显示:解剖法估算的最大叶水力导度高于加压法和水容法,加压法和水容法在6个树种中的5个上测定值完全一致,3种散孔材与环孔材树种的叶最大水力导度无显著差异.3种散孔材树种的饱和渗透势和膨压损失点渗透势与3种环孔材相比差异不大,但膨压损失点的相对含水量则低于环孔材树种,质外体含水量高于环孔材树种,导致其综合抗旱性指数也高于3种环孔材树种.研究表明,散孔材和环孔材树种的叶最大水力导度与其抗旱性之间并无显著相关关系.     

九种不同材性的温带树种叶水力性状及其权衡关系

不同材性树种的解剖、叶脉分布等结构性状差异会影响树木的水分运输效率和水分利用策略, 进而限制树木的生存、生长和分布。然而, 材性对叶导水率、水力脆弱性及其潜在的权衡关系的影响尚不清楚。该研究选择东北温带森林中不同材性的9种树种(散孔材: 山杨(Populus davidiana)、紫椴(Tilia amurensis)、白桦(Betula platyphylla); 环孔材: 蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)、水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)、胡桃楸(Juglans mandshurica); 无孔材: 红皮云杉(Picea koraiensis)、樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)、红松(Pinus koraiensis), 测量其基于叶面积和叶质量的叶导水率(K_area和K_mass)、水力脆弱性(P₅₀)、膨压丧失点水势(TLP)及叶结构性状, 以比较不同材性树种叶水力性状的差异, 并探索叶水力效率与安全的权衡关系。结果表明: 3种材性树种的K_area、K_mass和P₅₀均差异显著(p < 0.05)。无孔材树种的K_area和K_mass最低, 而散孔材和环孔材树种差异不显著; 环孔材树种P₅₀最高, 而散孔材和无孔材树种差异不显著。K_area和K_mass均与P₅₀显著负相关(p < 0.05), 但散孔材、环孔材和无孔材树种的相关关系分别呈线性、幂函数和指数函数关系。这表明叶水力效率与安全之间存在一定的权衡关系, 但该关系受树木材性的影响。K_mass与TLP显著负相关(p < 0.01), 其中散孔材和环孔材树种呈线性负相关, 无孔材树种呈负指数函数关系; P₅₀随TLP的增加而增加, 这表明树木在面临水分胁迫时, 其质外体和共质体抗旱阻力共同协调保护叶片活细胞, 防止其水分状况到达临界阈值。K_mass与叶干物质含量、叶密度、比叶重均显著负相关, 而P₅₀与之显著正相关(p < 0.01, P₅₀与比叶重的关系除外), 表明树木叶水力特性的变化受相同叶结构特性驱动, 树木增加对水力失调的容忍需要在叶水力系统构建上增加碳投资。     

长白山阔叶树种木质部环孔和散孔结构特征的分化导致其水力学性状的显著差异

木质部的解剖结构特征对树木水分传输功能有重要的影响,阔叶树种木质部环孔和散孔结构特征的分化,很可能导致两个功能类群在水力学结构上存在显著差异,但是有关两个功能类群间细致的水力学性状的对比研究还较少,二者整枝水平的导水率及纹孔水平的细致结构差异尚未见报道.本试验以长白山阔叶红松林常见的3个环孔材和4个散孔材乔木树种为研究对象,对比了两个功能类群树种的整枝导水率(k_shoot)、枝条木质部栓塞脆弱性(p_50)等重要水力学相关生理功能特征,并分析了两个功能类群间的木质部组织水平和纹孔水平上的解剖结构特征差异.结果表明:与茎段导水率差异一致,环孔材树种的整枝导水率也显著高于散孔材,但枝条木质部气穴化抵抗力显著弱于散孔材,二者的差异反映了整枝水平上木质部导水效率和安全性之间的权衡关系,与两个功能类群的水力学生理特征存在显著差异一致,二者在最大导管长度、导管直径、纹孔开口面积、纹孔开口比例等光学和扫描电镜观测解剖结构特征上都存在显著差异;木质部解剖特征(组织水平、纹孔水平)和k_shoot、p_50等生理特征间,以及木质部不同解剖特征之间存在显著的相关,且两个功能类群遵循相同的规律,反映了木质部结构对水分传输功能的重要影响,而导水率和气穴化抵抗力对木质部对立的结构要求,体现了树木水分传输系统构建的生物物理局限性.     

立地条件和树龄对刺槐和小叶杨叶水力性状及抗旱性的影响

以形成黄土高原“小老树”的2种典型树种刺槐和小叶杨为对象,研究了立地条件(沟谷台地和沟间坡地)和树龄对两种树木叶水力学性质和抗旱性的影响,探讨“小老树”形成的水力生理机制.结果表明:水分较好的沟谷台地上生长的两种树木的叶最大水力导度(Kmax)明显大于水分较差的沟间坡地,叶水力脆弱性(P50)也较高;随树龄增加,两种树木的Kmax明显下降,但P50差异不大.台地上生长的两种树木的叶表皮导度和PV曲线参数(膨压损失点时的相对含水量RWCtlp、膨压损失点时的水势ψtlp饱和含水量时的渗透势ψsat)均大于 坡地;随树龄增加,两种树木的叶表皮导度显著下降,PV曲线参数出现不同程度的下降.两种树木Kmax与ψtlp呈显著正相关,P50与PV曲线参数之间存在一定的相关性,表明Kmax与抗旱性之间存在一种权衡关系,P50是反映两种树木的抗旱性特征之一.     

温带不同材性树种树干非结构性碳水化合物的径向分配差异

温带森林不同树种具有不同的非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)存储和利用策略, 树干是成年树木NSC主体储存库。但树干NSC径向变异和种间差异仍不清楚, 无孔材(裸子植物)、散孔材和环孔材(被子植物)所代表的木材孔性功能群对树干NSC浓度的影响尚缺乏定论。为探索温带森林主要树种树干NSC浓度随树木木材孔性和组织的变化特征, 该研究在黑龙江省穆棱市的东北典型阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林中选择32个树种, 采集胸高位置树皮、边材和心材3种组织, 分析NSC浓度随木材孔性和组织的变化特征。结果表明: (1)树种、组织和木材孔性均显著影响树干的NSC浓度。3种组织可溶性糖、淀粉、总NSC浓度和糖/淀粉的种间变异较大, 变异系数最低为37% (树皮总NSC浓度), 最高达到101% (心材淀粉浓度), 树干组织、树种及其交互作用均显著影响NSC浓度。(2)总体上可溶性糖、淀粉和总NSC浓度均随径向深度增加而降低。无孔材树皮的可溶性糖浓度和糖/淀粉显著高于散孔材和环孔材, 而边材中的淀粉和总NSC浓度为环孔材>散孔材>无孔材。(3)无孔材可溶性糖、淀粉和总NSC浓度边材和心材比均在1左右, 显著低于散孔材和环孔材, 而且无孔材边材和心材之间淀粉浓度相关较紧密, 表明被子植物的边材、心材功能分化较裸子植物更为明显。研究结果表明木材孔性影响了温带树种树干NSC存储策略, 研究整树NSC以及树木生理生态学功能需要区分树干组织。     

子午岭林区3种典型树木的水力结构特性比较

为揭示黄土高原子午岭林区植被演替过程中的水分利用特性,该研究对子午岭林区演替早期种(山杨和白桦)和演替顶级种(辽东栎)的水力结构特性,包括比导水率(Ks)、比叶导水率(Kl)、Huber值(HV)和水力脆弱性等进行了比较研究。结果表明:(1)辽东栎叶片的饱和渗透势(Ψsat)、膨压损失点对应的渗透势(Ψtlp)和相对含水量(RWCtlp)明显低于山杨和白桦,且有高的叶水容。(2)辽东栎的最大Ks高于山杨和白桦,但HV值低于山杨和白桦,导致3种树种的最大Kl差异不大。(3)无论是叶还是枝干,辽东栎抵抗栓塞的能力均大于山杨和白桦,其水分传输安全距离(旱季叶最低水势Ψmin与导水率损失50%时对应的叶或枝干木质部水势Ψ50之差)和叶对枝干的水力保护作用(叶与枝干的Ψ50之差)也明显大于山杨和白桦。(4)2种演替早期树种山杨和白桦的水力结构特性差异不大。研究认为,黄土高原子午岭林区植被演替顶极种辽东栎耐脱水能力强、叶水容大、抵抗栓塞能力相对强以及水分传输安全性高等特性是其耐旱性强于演替早期种山杨和白桦的重要原因。     

立地条件和树龄对刺槐和小叶杨叶水力性状及抗旱性的影响

以形成黄土高原“小老树”的2种典型树种刺槐和小叶杨为对象,研究了立地条件(沟谷台地和沟间坡地)和树龄对两种树木叶水力学性质和抗旱性的影响,探讨“小老树”形成的水力生理机制.结果表明: 水分较好的沟谷台地上生长的两种树木的叶最大水力导度(K_max)明显大于水分较差的沟间坡地,叶水力脆弱性(P₅₀)也较高;随树龄增加,两种树木的K_max明显下降,但P₅₀差异不大.台地上生长的两种树木的叶表皮导度和PV曲线参数(膨压损失点时的相对含水量RWC_tlp、膨压损失点时的水势ψ_tlp、饱和含水量时的渗透势ψ_sat)均大于坡地;随树龄增加,两种树木的叶表皮导度显著下降,PV曲线参数出现不同程度的下降.两种树木K_max与ψ_tlp呈显著正相关,P₅₀与PV曲线参数之间存在一定的相关性,表明K_max与抗旱性之间存在一种权衡关系,P₅₀是反映两种树木的抗旱性特征之一.     

气候过渡区环孔材和散孔材树种的水分利用特征

采用Granier树干液流监测系统, 于2014年6-9月份监测河南信阳鸡公山自然保护区内的枫香(散孔材)和栓皮栎(环孔材)水分利用特征及其对环境因子的响应。结果显示: 在7月份干旱天气和虫灾情况下, 导致环孔材树种叶面积大量减少, 7-9月份期间枫香和栓皮栎的日间平均树干液流密度值分别为33.1 g·m^–2·s^–1和24.8 g·m^–2·s^–1; 而6月份的数值分别为31.6 g·m^–2·s^–1和44.2 g·m^–2·s^–1。枫香和栓皮栎的树干液流密度与大气水汽压亏缺(VPD)呈对数函数关系, 决定系数R²分别为0.38和0.91。液流速率与lnVPD的斜率/ VPD =1下的液流速率, 枫香和栓皮栎分别为0.62和2.87; 此比值受栓皮栎的叶面积和水力导度的影响。枫香的实际蒸腾速率普遍比通过方程计算的预测值低。由于栓皮栎水分利用对环境的较高敏感性, 水分胁迫会导致水分利用下降从而影响生长速率, 进而减缓木材产出的时间。因此在气候变化背景下(极端干旱事件频繁发生), 需要根据不同的林业管理目标合理配置两种木材结构树种。     

陕北沙地高龄小叶杨光合速率下降的水力限制

黄土高原地区“小老树”现象多出现在成年树,幼树相对较少.为探讨树龄影响“小老树”形成的机制,以该地区“小老树”发生面积最大的树种小叶杨为例,研究了3个不同树龄(低龄:13～15 a;中龄:31～34 a;高龄:49～54 a)树木的生长、光合、水力学特性.结果表明: 随树龄增加,小叶杨枯稍长度显著增加,叶片光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率显著下降,整株水力导度也显著下降,不同测定时间的光合速率、气孔导度与整株水力导度呈显著正相关,表明树龄增加引起的光合速率下降可能与整株水力导度下降有关.与中、低龄相比,高龄小叶杨枝干和叶片抵抗空穴化的能力(P₅₀)更强,但通过脆弱性曲线估算的不同树龄正午时的枝干栓塞程度和叶片水力导度无显著差异,表明高龄小叶杨土-根系统水流阻力的增加可能是导致其整株水力导度降低的重要原因.     

亚热带常绿阔叶林散孔材和环孔材树种导管及叶片功能性状的比较

植物导管结构特征对其自身的生存策略具有重要影响, 但目前对于亚热带常绿阔叶林树种这方面的认识仍然不足。为了研究这一地区的植物导管特征与叶片功能性状之间的关系, 该研究选择广东石门台自然保护区亚热带森林中两种优势种桂林栲(Castanopsis chinensis)和木荷(Schima superba), 通过比较旱季(10月至次年3月)两树种的导管形态特征、叶片形态特征、叶片生理特征来研究环孔材树种和散孔材树种的功能性状差异。用独立样本t检验对两个树种的这些性状进行差异性分析。结果表明: 1)木荷(散孔)导管密度显著高于桂林栲(环孔), 而桂林栲导管的直径远大于木荷导管的直径。2)木荷叶片含水量(LWC)、叶绿素a/b值显著大于桂林栲, 而气孔密度和比叶面积则显著低于桂林栲, 两者气孔导度和光合速率并没有显著差异。以上结果表明, 在亚热带森林中, 环孔材树种桂林栲在温度高湿度低的干旱条件下, 能够通过增加叶片比叶面积维持较高的光合能力, 而另一方面, 其叶片对干旱胁迫的耐受性较弱, 而散孔材木荷则具有较好的光能转化能力和干旱耐受能力, 这种差异性在降水格局变化逐渐加深的背景下, 可能会引起森林群落结构发生分化。     

Leaf hydraulic traits and their trade-offs for nine Chinese temperate tree species with different wood properties

Aims Trees with different wood properties display variations in xylem anatomy and leaf vein structure, which may influence tree water transport efficiency and water-use strategy, and consequently constrain tree survival, growth and distribution. However, the effects of wood properties on leaf hydraulic conductance and vulnerability and their potential trade-offs at leaf level are not well understood. Our aims were to examine variations in leaf hydraulic traits of trees with different wood properties and explore potential trade-offs between leaf hydraulic efficiency and safety.
Methods Nine tree species with different wood properties were selected for measuring the leaf hydraulic traits, including three diffuse-porous species (Populus davidiana, Tilia amurensis, Betula platyphylla), three ring-porous species (Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Juglans mandshurica), and three non-porous species (Picea koraiensis, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, Pinus koraiensis). Four dominant and healthy trees per species were randomly selected. The hydraulic traits measured included leaf hydraulic conductance on leaf area (K_area) and dry mass (K_mass) basis, leaf hydraulic vulnerability (P₅₀), and leaf water potential at turgor loss point (TLP), while the leaf structural traits were leaf dry mass content (LDMC), leaf density (LD) and leaf mass per unit area (LMA).
Important findings The K_area, K_mass, and P₅₀ differed significantly among the tree species with different woody properties (p < 0.05). Both K_area and K_mass were the lowest for the non-porous trees, and did not differ significantly between the diffuse-porous and ring-porous trees. The ring-porous trees had the highest P₅₀ values, while the diffuse-porous and non-porous trees showed no significant differences in P₅₀. Both K_area and K_mass were negatively correlated with P₅₀ (p < 0.05) for all the trees, and the relationships for the diffuse-porous, ring-porous, and non-porous trees were fitted into linear, power, exponential functions, respectively. This indicates that significant trade-offs exist between leaf hydraulic efficiency and safety. The K_mass was correlated (p < 0.01) with TLP in a negative linear function for the diffuse- and ring-porous trees and in a negative exponential function for the non-porous trees. The P₅₀ increased with increasing TLP. These results suggest that apoplastic and symplastic drought resistance are strictly coordinated in order to protect living cells from approaching their critical water status under water stresses. The K_mass was negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with LDMC, LD, or LMA, while the P₅₀ was positively correlated with LDMC and LD; this suggests that variations in K_mass and P₅₀ are driven by similar changes in structural traits regardless of wood traits. We conclude that the tree tolerance to hydraulic dysfunction increases with increasing carbon investment in the leaf hydraulic system.     

Independence of stem and leaf hydraulic traits in six Euphorbiaceae tree species with contrasting leaf phenology

Hydraulic traits and hydraulic-related structural properties were examined in three deciduous (Hevea brasiliensis, Macaranga denticulate, and Bischofia javanica) and three evergreen (Drypetes indica, Aleurites moluccana, and Codiaeum variegatum) Euphorbiaceae tree species from a seasonally tropical forest in south-western China. Xylem water potential at 50% loss of stem hydraulic conductivity (P50_stem) was more negative in the evergreen tree, but leaf water potential at 50% loss of leaf hydraulic conductivity (P50_leaf) did not function as P50_stem did. Furthermore, P50_stem was more negative than P50_leaf in the evergreen tree; contrarily, this pattern was not observed in the deciduous tree. Leaf hydraulic conductivity overlapped considerably, but stem hydraulic conductivity diverged between the evergreen and deciduous tree. Correspondingly, structural properties of leaves overlapped substantially; however, structural properties of stem diverged markedly. Consequently, leaf and stem hydraulic traits were closely correlated with leaf and stem structural properties, respectively. Additionally, stem hydraulic efficiency was significantly correlated with stem hydraulic resistance to embolism; nevertheless, such a hydraulic pattern was not found in leaf hydraulics. Thus, these results suggest: (1) that the evergreen and deciduous tree mainly diverge in stem hydraulics, but not in leaf hydraulics, (2) that regardless of leaf or stem, their hydraulic traits result primarily from structural properties, and not from leaf phenology, (3) that leaves are more vulnerable to drought-induced embolism than stem in the evergreen tree, but not always in the deciduous tree and (4) that there exists a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety for stem hydraulics, but not for leaf hydraulics.     

Stem and leaf hydraulics of congeneric tree species from adjacent tropical savanna and forest ecosystems

Leaf and stem functional traits related to plant water relations were studied for six congeneric species pairs, each composed of one tree species typical of savanna habitats and another typical of adjacent forest habitats, to determine whether there were intrinsic differences in plant hydraulics between these two functional types. Only individuals growing in savanna habitats were studied. Most stem traits, including wood density, the xylem water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity, sapwood area specific conductivity, and leaf area specific conductivity did not differ significantly between savanna and forest species. However, maximum leaf hydraulic conductance (K _leaf) and leaf capacitance tended to be higher in savanna species. Predawn leaf water potential and leaf mass per area were also higher in savanna species in all congeneric pairs. Hydraulic vulnerability curves of stems and leaves indicated that leaves were more vulnerable to drought-induced cavitation than terminal branches regardless of genus. The midday K _leaf values estimated from leaf vulnerability curves were very low implying that daily embolism repair may occur in leaves. An electric circuit analog model predicted that, compared to forest species, savanna species took longer for their leaf water potentials to drop from predawn values to values corresponding to 50% loss of K _leaf or to the turgor loss points, suggesting that savanna species were more buffered from changes in leaf water potential. The results of this study suggest that the relative success of savanna over forest species in savanna is related in part to their ability to cope with drought, which is determined more by leaf than by stem hydraulic traits. Variation among genera accounted for a large proportion of the total variance in most traits, which indicates that, despite different selective pressures in savanna and forest habitats, phylogeny has a stronger effect than habitat in determining most hydraulic traits.     

How are leaves plumbed inside a branch? Differences in leaf-to-leaf hydraulic sectoriality among six temperate tree species

The transport of water, sugar, and nutrients in trees is restricted to specific vascular pathways, and thus organs may be relatively isolated from one another (i.e. sectored). Strongly sectored leaf-to-leaf pathways have been shown for the transport of sugar and signal molecules within a shoot, but not previously for water transport. The hydraulic sectoriality of leaf-to-leaf pathways was determined for current year shoots of six temperate deciduous tree species (three ring-porous: Castanea dentata, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus rubra, and three diffuse-porous: Acer saccharum, Betula papyrifera, and Liriodendron tulipifera). Hydraulic sectoriality was determined using dye staining and a hydraulic method. In the dye method, leaf blades were removed and dye was forced into the most proximal petiole. For each petiole the vascular traces that were shared with the proximal petiole were counted. For other shoots, measurements were made of the leaf-area-specific hydraulic conductivity for the leaf-to-leaf pathways (k(LL)). In five out of the six species, patterns of sectoriality reflected phyllotaxy; both the sharing of vascular bundles between leaves and k(LL) were higher for orthostichous than non-orthostichous leaf pairs. For each species, leaf-to-leaf sectoriality was determined as the proportional differences between non-orthostichous versus orthostichous leaf pairs in their staining of shared vascular bundles and in their k(LL); for the six species these two indices of sectoriality were strongly correlated (R2=0.94; P <0.002). Species varied 8-fold in their k(LL)-based sectoriality, and ring-porous species were more sectored than diffuse-porous species. Differential leaf-to-leaf sectoriality has implications for species-specific co-ordination of leaf gas exchange and water relations within a branch, especially during fluctuations in irradiance and water and nutrient availability.     

Stem and leaf hydraulic properties are finely coordinated in three tropical rain forest tree species

Coordination of stem and leaf hydraulic traits allows terrestrial plants to maintain safe water status under limited water supply. Tropical rain forests, one of the world's most productive biomes, are vulnerable to drought and potentially threatened by increased aridity due to global climate change. However, the relationship of stem and leaf traits within the plant hydraulic continuum remains understudied, particularly in tropical species. We studied within‐plant hydraulic coordination between stems and leaves in three tropical lowland rain forest tree species by analyses of hydraulic vulnerability [hydraulic methods and ultrasonic emission (UE) analysis], pressure‐volume relations and in situ pre‐dawn and midday water potentials (Ψ). We found finely coordinated stem and leaf hydraulic features, with a strategy of sacrificing leaves in favour of stems. Fifty percent of hydraulic conductivity (P₅₀) was lost at ?2.1 to ?3.1 MPa in stems and at ?1.7 to ?2.2 MPa in leaves. UE analysis corresponded to hydraulic measurements. Safety margins (leaf P₅₀ – stem P₅₀) were very narrow at ?0.4 to ?1.4 MPa. Pressure‐volume analysis and in situ Ψ indicated safe water status in stems but risk of hydraulic failure in leaves. Our study shows that stem and leaf hydraulics were finely tuned to avoid embolism formation in the xylem.     

Functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits in miombo woodlands: implications for water stress management and species habitat preference

We investigated functional coordination between branch hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits among nine miombo woodlands canopy tree species differing in habitat preference and phenology. Specifically, we were seeking to answer the question: are branch hydraulic properties coordinated with leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance in seasonally dry tropical forests and what are the implications for species habitat preference? The hydraulic properties investigated in this study were stem area specific hydraulic conductivity (K _S), Huber value (H _v), and xylem cavitation vulnerability (??₅₀). The leaf functional traits measured were specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and mean leaf area (MLA). Generalists displayed significantly (P?<?0.05) higher cavitation resistance (??₅₀) and SLA, but lower sapwood specific hydraulic conductivity (K _S), leaf specific conductivity (K _L), MLA, and LDMC than mesic specialists. Although MLA was uncorrelated with ??₅₀, we found significant (P?<?0.05) positive and negative correlations between plant hydraulic properties and leaf functional traits linked to plant drought tolerance ability, indicating that the interactions between branch hydraulics and leaf functional traits related to plant drought tolerance ability may influence tree species habitat preference in water-limited ecosystems.     

Relationship between the timing of vessel formation and leaf phenology in ten ring-porous and diffuse-porous deciduous tree species

The goal of this study is to clarify how different aspects of plant function are coordinated developmentally for species of ring-porous versus diffuse-porous deciduous trees, comparing the timing of leaf phenology and vessel formation in twigs and stems from an ecophysiological viewpoint. Cylindrical stem cores and twigs were collected at intervals from early spring through summer from five ring-porous and five diffuse-porous species in a cool temperate forest, and leaf and vessel formation were observed simultaneously. We found that the first-formed vessels of the year were lignified in twigs around the time of leaf appearance and at or before full leaf expansion of each tree in both groups of species with flush-leaves. Vessels in stems were lignified 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after leaf appearance and before or around full leaf expansion of the tree in ring-porous species. This was significantly earlier than in diffuse-porous species, in which stem vessel lignification was 2–8 weeks after leaf appearance and at or after full leaf expansion of the tree. The timing of vessel formation in twigs compared to stems was significantly earlier in ring-porous species than in diffuse-porous species. Lignification of vessels in stems occurred within 2 weeks of lignification in the twigs of ring-porous species and 2–8 weeks after lignification in twigs of diffuse-porous species. These results indicate the order and time-lag of leaf and vessel formation. Ring-porous species showed intensive leaf/vessel production, whereas diffuse-porous species showed less intensive leaf/vessel production.     

A dynamic yet vulnerable pipeline: Integration and coordination of hydraulic traits across whole plants

The vast majority of measurements in the field of plant hydraulics have been on small‐diameter branches from woody species. These measurements have provided considerable insight into plant functioning, but our understanding of plant physiology and ecology would benefit from a broader view, because branch hydraulic properties are influenced by many factors. Here, we discuss the influence that other components of the hydraulic network have on branch vulnerability to embolism propagation. We also modelled the impact of changes in the ratio of root‐to‐leaf areas and soil texture on vulnerability to hydraulic failure along the soil‐to‐leaf continuum and showed that hydraulic function is better maintained through changes in root vulnerability and root‐to‐leaf area ratio than in branch vulnerability. Differences among species in the stringency with which they regulate leaf water potential and in reliance on stored water to buffer changes in water potential also affect the need to construct embolism resistant branches. Many approaches, such as measurements on fine roots, small individuals, combining sap flow and psychrometry techniques, and modelling efforts, could vastly improve our understanding of whole‐plant hydraulic functioning. A better understanding of how traits are coordinated across the whole plant will improve predictions for plant function under future climate conditions.