Wind increases leaf water use efficiency

A widespread perception is that, with increasing wind speed, transpiration from plant leaves increases. However, evidence suggests that increasing wind speed enhances carbon dioxide (CO₂) uptake while reducing transpiration because of more efficient convective cooling (under high solar radiation loads). We provide theoretical and experimental evidence that leaf water use efficiency (WUE, carbon uptake per water transpired) commonly increases with increasing wind speed, thus improving plants' ability to conserve water during photosynthesis. Our leaf‐scale analysis suggests that the observed global decrease in near‐surface wind speeds could have reduced WUE at a magnitude similar to the increase in WUE attributed to global rise in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. However, there is indication that the effect of long‐term trends in wind speed on leaf gas exchange may be compensated for by the concurrent reduction in mean leaf sizes. These unintuitive feedbacks between wind, leaf size and water use efficiency call for re‐evaluation of the role of wind in plant water relations and potential re‐interpretation of temporal and geographic trends in leaf sizes.     

Differences between understorey and canopy in herbivore community composition and leaf quality for two oak species in Missouri

1. From July 1994 to September 1995, at six censuses, the herbivore community associated with understorey (< 2.5 m height) and canopy (15–20 m) leaves of Quercus alba and Q. velutina was sampled in south-eastern Missouri, U.S.A. 2. Across all censuses, herbivore densities were not significantly different between canopy and understorey for Q. alba and Q. velutina, except in August 1994 when herbivore densities were 60% higher in the canopy on Q. alba. Little significant spatial variation in herbivore densities or community composition was found during the study years. 3. The herbivore community was diverse, consisting of 138 species of leaf-chewing insects. Species richness was significantly greater (by 5–20%) in the understorey than in the canopy for both tree species, and the relative abundance of the main families, different feeding guilds, and most common species differed significantly between understorey and canopy. 4. To determine the extent to which leaf quality explained the observed patterns, percentage nitrogen and protein binding capacity were measured in canopy and understorey leaves of Q. alba and Q. velutina. Per cent nitrogen was higher in canopy leaves for Q. velutina while protein binding capacity was higher in canopy leaves for Q. alba. 5. These results suggest that the herbivore community associated with these two species of Quercus comprises species that appear to respond individually to environmental and biological conditions encountered in the understorey and the canopy.     

Water use efficiency as a function of leaf age and position within the cotton canopy

The gas exchange properties of whole plant canopies are an integral part of crop productivity and have attracted much attention in recent years. However, insufficient information exists on the coordination of transpiration and CO₂ uptake for individual leaves during the growing season. Single-leaf determinations of net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) for field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves were recorded during a 2-year field study. Measurements were made at 3 to 4 day intervals on the main-stem and first three sympodial leaves at main-stem node 10 from their unfolding through senescence. Results indicated that all gas exchange parameters changed with individual main-stem and sympodial leaf age. Values of Pn, E and WUE followed a rise and fall pattern with maximum rates achieved at a leaf age of 18 to 20 days. While no significant position effects were observed for Pn, main-stem and sympodial leaves did differ in E and WUE particularly as leaves aged beyond 40 days. For a given leaf age, the main-stem leaf had a significantly lower WUE than the three sympodial leaves. WUE's for the main-stem and three sympodial leaves between the ages of 41 to 50 days were 0.85, 1.30, 1.36 and 1.95 μmol CO₂ mmol⁻¹ H₂O, respectively. The mechanisms which mediated leaf positional differences for WUE were not strictly related to changes in stomatal conductance (g_s·H₂O) since decreases in g_s·H₂O with leaf age were similar for the four leaves. However, significantly different radiant environments with distance along the fruiting branch did indicate the possible involvement of mutual leaf shading in determining WUE. The significance of these findings are presented in relation to light competition within the plant canopy during development.     

Modelling environmental limits to light use efficiency for a canopy of two broad-leaved tree species with contrasting leaf habit

We used outputs from a model of canopy carbon uptake [Dungan et al. (2004) Functional Ecology 18: 34–42] and measurements of irradiance (PAR, 400–700 nm) intercepted by the canopy to investigate the effect of daily changes in environmental conditions on daily light use efficiency, ε, for a canopy comprising two broadleaved New Zealand tree species with contrasting leaf habit. Irradiance absorbed by the canopy was 93% of the incident irradiance, and seasonal changes in the proportion of this absorbed by leaves of each species was estimated with a detailed model of leaf area phenology. Over the year, ε for semi-deciduous wineberry (Aristotelia serrata) was 0.43 g C MJ-1 PAR, with maximum and minimum values of 0.80 g C MJ-1 PAR and 0.07 g C MJ-1 PAR in summer and winter respectively. In contrast annual ε was 0.60 g C MJ-1 PAR for winter deciduous fuchsia, with a maximum value of 0.92 g C MJ-1 PAR in spring. The most important environmental regulator of ε for both species was τ, atmospheric transmissivity. Maximum values for ε were estimated on days when τ ≈0.2, on cloudy days in mid-summer. Limits to photosynthesis from restricted root-zone water availability were also important, showing that drought limitations can restrict ε even at a field site with annual rainfall of 4800 mm. Environmental limits to photosynthesis and ε have been investigated for only a few canopy tree species. Uncertainty in models of the national carbon budget required for reporting purposes would be reduced by considering the environmental regulation of ε for a wider range of tree species.     

Response over two growing seasons of a Sitka spruce stand to 15N-urea fertilizer

Urea fertilizer labelled with ¹⁵N (2.5 atom %) was applied to a 20 year old Sitka spruce stand on a peaty gley at a rate equivalent to 160 kg N ha⁻¹. The application of urea resulted in increased biomass and N concentration of needles and enhanced development of the crown. Differences in N concentrations of the amended trees were also observed for new wood and bark. Analysis of ¹⁵N in tree biomass showed a continued influence of fertilizer N in the second growing season following urea application. The overall recovery of fertilizer N in the trees was estimated to be about 10%.     

植物叶片水分利用效率研究综述

植物能否适应当地的极限环境条件,最主要的看它们能否很好地协调碳同化和水分耗散之间的关系,即植物水分利用效率(WUE)是其生存的关键因子.就近来研究最多的叶片水平上的WUE,从叶片WUE的定义,方法,进展等方面对其进行总结概括,并就今后植物叶片水分利用效率的研究提出了几点看法:方法上,叶片碳同位素方法是目前植物叶片长期水分利用效率研究的最佳方法,而δ13C的替代指标将继续是方法研究中的一个方向,前景乐观;研究内容上,要加强极端干旱区河岸林木的δ13C和WUE的研究;结合植物生理生态学,生物学和稳定同位素技术,探究植物叶片长期水分利用效率的机理,特别是要加强运用双重同位素模型加深和理解植物叶片长期水分利用效率变化规律和内在机制的研究;要结合多种方法,加强多时空尺度植物叶片WUE及其之间的转换研究.     

推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田冠层温度与叶片水分利用效率的影响

为了探讨冬小麦高效节水灌溉模式,于2012—2013年在山东农业大学试验站采用两种种植模式(宽幅精播种植和常规种植),每种种植模式设3种灌溉处理(全生育期不灌溉、拔节期灌溉60 mm和拔节后10 d灌溉60 mm),研究了推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田冠层温度、光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶片水分利用效率(WUEL)和籽粒产量等的影响。结果表明,推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田生育后期的冠层温度、旗叶光合速率和蒸腾速率,且在冬小麦生长后期推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田的WUEL,有利于实现宽幅精播麦田的节水高产;产量构成因素中,推迟拔节水灌溉对两种种植模式的千粒重均没有显著影响,但推迟拔节水灌溉显著提高了宽幅精播麦田的穗粒数和籽粒产量。统筹考虑冬小麦的WUEL和籽粒产量,推迟拔节水灌溉对宽幅精播麦田实现节水高产具有一定的现实意义。     

分根区施保水剂对玉米气孔导度和单叶WUE的影响

盆栽条件下,研究了陕单9号玉米(zea mays L．)在根区不施保水剂(对照)、分根区施保水剂和根区全施保水剂3种处理下,叶片气孔导度、CO2吸收和H2O蒸腾的变化。结果表明,在75％土壤饱和持水量下,各指标在3种处理之间没有明显差别;在50％土壤饱和持水量下,分根区施保水剂显著降低了叶片气孔导度,叶片CO2吸收量和H2O蒸腾量也同时降低,但H2O蒸腾量下降幅度更大;在两种水分条件下,分根区施保水剂均能提高玉米单叶水分利用效率(water use efficiency,WUE)。     

Rising ozone concentrations decrease soybean evapotranspiration and water use efficiency whilst increasing canopy temperature

? Here, we investigated the effects of increasing concentrations of ozone ([O(3)]) on soybean canopy-scale fluxes of heat and water vapor, as well as water use efficiency (WUE), at the Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment (SoyFACE) facility. ? Micrometeorological measurements were made to determine the net radiation (R(n)), sensible heat flux (H), soil heat flux (G(0)) and latent heat flux (λET) of a commercial soybean (Glycine max) cultivar (Pioneer 93B15), exposed to a gradient of eight daytime average ozone concentrations ranging from approximately current (c. 40 ppb) to three times current (c. 120 ppb) levels. ? As [O(3)] increased, soybean canopy fluxes of λET decreased and H increased, whereas R(n) and G(0) were not altered significantly. Exposure to increased [O(3)] also resulted in warmer canopies, especially during the day. The lower λET decreased season total evapotranspiration (ET) by c. 26%. The [O(3)]-induced relative decline in ET was half that of the relative decline in seed yield, driving a 50% reduction in seasonal WUE. ? These results suggest that rising [O(3)] will alter the canopy energy fluxes that drive regional climate and hydrology, and have a negative impact on productivity and WUE, key ecosystem services.     

Season effects on leaf nitrogen partitioning and photosynthetic water use efficiency in mango

The key parameters of photosynthetic capacity (maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax), electron transport capacity (J_max) and dark respiration rate (R_d)) and the slope (m) of the stomatal conductance model of Ball et al. [Progress in photosynthetic research, Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, 1987] were measured for a whole growing season in fully expanded leaves of 12-year-old mango trees cv. Cogshall in La Réunion island. Leaf nitrogen partitioning into carboxylation (P_c) and bioenergetic (P_b) pools were computed according to the model of Niinemets and Tenhunen [Plant Cell Environ 1997;20: 845–66]. V_cmax, J_max, R_d, P_c and P_b remained relatively stable over the whole study period, with the exception of the period of linear fruit growth when J_max, R_d and P_b were slightly lower, and leaf non-structural carbohydrate content higher. During the pre-floral and floral periods, m decreased by more than 50%, indicating an increase in photosynthetic water use efficiency and m increased again during the period of linear fruit growth. Our results show that, in tropical orchard conditions characterized by mild seasonal climatic changes and non-limiting water supply, leaf nitrogen partitioning is rather stable. Our results also advocate for more studies on the effect of phenology on m and photosynthetic water use efficiency, which is of paramount importance for building coupled biochemical models of photosynthetic carbon assimilation.     

Hydraulic characteristics and leaf water use efficiency in trees from tropical montane habitats

This study was carried out in pioneer and successional forest tree species in a lower montane tropical forest with seasonal rains. We tested whether pioneer species feature high hydraulic conductance allowing them to use water profusely at leaf level. Conversely, forest species may have relatively low hydraulic conductance accompanied with better control over water use. This may lead in turn to pioneer species being at a relatively higher risk of shoot water potential falling below the threshold value at which cavitations occur compared to forest. Specific hydraulic conductance ( K _s) measured during the wet season was comparable between pioneers and forest species. During drought, K _s was significantly reduced, and species of both plant groups responded to this by modifying the relationship between conducting area and leaf area (Huver value), such that leaf specific conductivity ( K _l) was unaffected. Thus, leaf area seemed to be adjusted to maintain constant hydraulic sufficiency during drought. Pioneer species were more efficient in conducting water to their leaves but had low control over water use compared to forest species. A trade-off between water transport and leaf water use efficiency was suggested. These ecophysiological differences may have an impact on the performance of the species occupying contrasting habitats. Nonetheless, drought-induced embolisms occurred in trees growing in both open and forest habitats. Overall, during drought, adjustment of leaf area occurred in order to maintain a homeostasis of some physiological traits (leaf-specific conductivity and carbon assimilation).     

Carbon exchange and water use efficiency of a growing, irrigated olive orchard

We measured eddy covariance fluxes of CO₂ and H₂O over a flat irrigated olive orchard during growth, in different periods from Leaf Area Index (LAI) of 0.3–1.9; measurements of soil respiration were also collected. The daily net ecosystem exchange flux (F_NEE) was practically zero at LAI around 0.4 or when the orchard intercepted 11% of the incoming daily radiation; at the end of the experiment, with LAI of 1.9 (and the fraction of intercepted daily radiation close to 0.5), F_NEE was around 10 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹. The night-time ecosystem respiration (R_eco), calculated from eddy fluxes in well-mixed night conditions, show a clear but non-linear dependence with LAI; it ranged from 0.05 to 0.15 mg CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ (in average), being the lower limit ideally close to the heterotrophic soil respiration at the site. The gross primary production flux (F_GPP) was linearly related to LAI within the LAI range of this experiment (with 11 g CO₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ increments per unit of LAI) and to the fraction of intercepted radiation. The maximum rates of F_GPP (0.75 mg CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹) were obtained in the summer mornings of 2002, at LAI close to 1.9. F_GPP was strongly modulated by vapour pressure deficit (VPD) through the canopy conductance, even in absence of water stress. Hence, especially in the summer, the maximum rates of carbon assimilation are reached always before noon. The daily course of F_GPP shows a two-phase pattern, first related to irradiance and then to canopy conductance. The water use efficiency (WUE) was, in average, 3.8, 6.3 and 7 g CO₂ L⁻¹ in 1999, 2001 and 2002, respectively, with maxima always in the early morning. Hourly WUE was strongly related to VPD (WUE = −10.25 + 22.52 × VPD^−0.34). Our results suggest that drip irrigated orchards in general, and olive in particular, deserve specific carbon exchange and carbon budget studies and cannot be easily included in other biomes.     

The alpha-tocopherol content of leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)--variation over the growing season and along the vertical light gradient in the canopy

This study was performed in order to investigate whether the actual requirement for defence against photo-oxidative stress is reflected by the alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toco) content in leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Antioxidants and pigments were quantified in leaves that were collected on six days between May and September 2000 in a mixed pine/oak forest at canopy positions differing in light environment. Pools of hydrophilic antioxidants and photo-protective xanthophyll cycle pigments (V + A + Z) reflected the anti-oxidative demand, as these pools increased with the average light intensity to which the leaves were acclimated. The photo-protective demand was not the determinant of the alpha-Toco content of oak leaves, as (1) foliage of a young oak, exposed to low light levels in the understorey, contained higher amounts of this lipophilic antioxidant than leaves sampled from semimature oaks at canopy positions with a similar light environment, and (2) a strong increase in the alpha-Toco content over the growing season was detected at each investigated crown position, whereas the V + A + Z pool did not show a concomitant accumulation during leaf ageing. The rate of alpha-Toco accumulation differed distinctly between samples taken at different canopy positions.     

基于年降水、生长季降水和生长季蒸散的高寒草地水分利用效率

水分利用效率是深入理解生态系统碳、水循环间耦合关系的重要指标。以前研究青藏高原的水分利用效率多基于年降水量(AP)来分析, 但植物对水分的利用主要在生长季。该研究采用以AP、生长季降水量(GSP)和生长季蒸散量(ET_gs)分别计算的年降水利用效率(PUE_a)、生长季降水利用效率(PUE_gs)和生长季水分利用效率(WUE_gs), 分析了2000-2010年间青藏高原两种主要植被类型高寒草甸和高寒草原PUE_a、PUE_gs和WUE_gs的差异及其与降水量、蒸散量和气温的关系。结果表明: (1)高寒草甸的PUE_a、PUE_gs均大于高寒草原, 但两种草地类型的WUE_gs无显著差别, 这说明两种草地类型可能存在相似的内在的水分利用效率。(2)从年际动态来看, PUE_a和PUE_gs的波动范围相似, 而WUE_gs的波动范围更大, 说明以蒸散为依据的WUE_gs可能比PUE_a和PUE_gs更敏感, 因而可能更好地反映生态系统的水分利用能力。(3)高寒草甸和高寒草原的PUE_a、PUE_gs和WUE_gs分别与AP、GSP和ET_gs呈单调递减趋势, 表明3种水分利用效率均随降水量或蒸散量的增加而降低。高寒草原的3种水分利用效率中仅WUE_gs随着气温的增加而增加, 而高寒草甸的3种水分利用效率均与气温无显著关系, 这说明相比高寒草甸, 高寒草原的水分利用效率对气温更加敏感。     

Alpine grassland water use efficiency based on annual precipitation,growing season precipitation and growing season evapotranspiration

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an important parameter to understand the coupling between the water, and carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. Previous studies on the grassland ecosystem WUE on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau mainly based on annual precipitation (AP). However, vegetation water use mainly occurs in growing season. Therefore, we aimed to explore the differences of ecosystem WUE between alpine meadow and alpine steppe, and the relationships between ecosystem WUE and environmental factors from 2000 to 2010, using annual precipitation use efficiency (PUE_a), growing season precipitation use efficiency (PUE_gs), growing season water use efficiency (WUE_gs) based on AP, growing season precipitation (GSP) and growing season evapotranspiration (ET_gs ) respectively. Combining satellite-derived above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP), satellite-derived evapotranspiration and meteorological data from 2000 to 2010, we calculated PUE_a (ANPP / AP), PUE_gs (ANPP / GSP) and WUE_gs (ANPP / ET_gs) to find the differences of PUE_a, PUE_gs and WUE_gs between alpine meadow and alpine steppe. Moreover, we explored the relationships between PUE_a, PUE_gs or WUE_gs and precipitation (or evapotranspiration) or air temperature. We found that (1) the PUE_a and PUE_gs of alpine meadow were higher than that of alpine steppe, but there were no significant difference between WUE_gs of the two grassland types, indicating that there may be similar intrinsic water use efficiencies of the two grassland types. (2) The inter-annual variation of PUE_a and PUE_gs were similar while WUE_gs showed a larger fluctuation, implying that ET-based WUE_gs was more sensitive than precipitation-based PUE_a and PUE_gs, therefore WUE_gs is a better indicator of ecosystem water use efficiency than PUE_a or PUE_gs. (3) The PUE_a, PUE_gs and WUE_gs were negatively correlated with AP, GSP and ET_gs respectively, reflecting a consistency of the three water use efficiency measurements. In the alpine steppe, only WUE_gs was observed positively correlated with air temperature among the three measurements, but in the alpine meadow, no significant relationships between water use efficiency and air temperature was detected, suggesting that the WUE_gs of alpine steppe was more sensitive to air temperature than that of alpine meadow.     

Stem and leaf traits as co-determinants of canopy water flux

However,the empirical relationship between leaf stomata anatomy and canopy stomatal conductance(Gs)is surprisingly rare,thereby the underlying biological mechanisms of terrestrial water flux are not well elucidated.To gain further insight into these mechanisms,we reanalyzed the dataset of Gs previously reported by Gao et al.(2015)using a quantile regression model.The results indicated that the reference Cs(Gsref.Gs at 1 kPa)was negatively correlated with wood density at each quantile,which confirmed previous data;however,Gsref was significantly correlated with stomatal density at the 0.6 quantile,i.e.,450 stomata mm-2.This highlighted the potential of using stomatal density as a trait to predict canopy water flux.A conceptual model of co-determinants of xylem and stomatal morphology suggests that these traits and their coordination may play a critical role in determining tree growth,physiological homeostatic response to environmental variables,water use efficiency,and drought resistance.     

Nutrient availability and nutrient use efficiency in plants growing in the transition zone between land and water

The transition zone between terrestrial and freshwater habitats is highly dynamic, with large variability in environmental characteristics. Here, we investigate how these characteristics influence the nutritional status and performance of plant life forms inhabiting this zone. Specifically, we hypothesised that: (i) tissue nutrient content differs among submerged, amphibious and terrestrial species, with higher content in submerged species; and (ii) PNUE gradually increases from submerged over amphibious to terrestrial species, reflecting differences in the availability of N and P relative to inorganic C across the land–water ecotone. We found that tissue nutrient content was generally higher in submerged species and C:N and C:P ratios indicated that content was limiting for growth for ca. 20% of plant individuals, particularly those belonging to amphibious and terrestrial species groups. As predicted, the PNUE increased from submerged over amphibious to terrestrial species. We suggest that this pattern reflects that amphibious and terrestrial species allocate proportionally more nutrients into processes of importance for photosynthesis at saturating CO₂ availability, i.e. enzymes involved in substrate regeneration, compared to submerged species that are acclimated to lower availability of CO₂ in the aquatic environment. Our results indicate that enhanced nutrient loading may affect relative abundance of the three species groups in the land–water ecotone of stream ecosystems. Thus, species of amphibious and terrestrial species groups are likely to benefit more from enhanced nutrient availability in terms of faster growth compared to aquatic species, and that this can be detrimental to aquatic species growing in the land–water ecotone, e.g. Ranunculus and Callitriche.     

Retention of added K,Ca and P by Pseudoscleropodium purum growing under an oak canopy

Abstract

Retention of K, Ca and Pby Pseudoscleropodium purum growing under oak in Windsor Forest was examined following treatment, over 9 days, with 10 mol m^?3 CaCl₂ or KH₂PO₄ Concentrations of the added elements and Mg were determined in the intercellular, exchangeable (cell wall) and intracellular fractions of the green tissues before nutrient addition and at intervals (0–205 days) afterwards.

Increases of cations in the intercellular fraction of treated shoots were transient. Addition of K and Ca markedly increased levels of these cations in the exchangeable fraction and significantly reduced the concentration of exchangeable Mg. The changes in exchangeable cations were progressively reversed under field conditions indicating that their levels are in dynamic equilibrium with element concentrations in precipitation and/or throughfall rather than the result of a continuousaccumulation process.

Net uptake of K and Ca into the protoplasts of treated P. purum was slight but substantial net gain (+178%) of P occurred in KH₂PO₄ treated plants. One-third of the additional P was lost within 15 days due, either, to redistribution within the shoot, or, to leakage. Intracellular Mg fell significantly below controls 2 weeks after treatment with CaCl₂ suggesting that Mg uptake involves prior adsorption onto the cell wall exchange sites. Fluctuations in K, Ca and Mg levels of untreated P. purum indicated that appreciable net uptake of natural inputs occurred, particularly during autumn when leachates from the senescing tree canopy may be received.

Element concentrations, including Mg, were highest at a shaded site where the moss remained moist for long periods suggesting that either ion absorption is favoured by protracted contact times or that metabolic nutrient requirement increases with increasingly mesic conditions.     

Ozone exposure over two growing seasons alters root-to-shoot ratio and chemical composition of birch (Betula pendula Roth)

Physiological and chemical responses of 17 birch (Betula pendula Roth) clones to 1.5–1.7 × ambient ozone were studied in an open‐field experiment over two growing seasons. The saplings were studied for growth, foliar visible injuries, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll, carotenoid, Rubisco, total soluble protein, macronutrient and phenolic concentrations in leaves. Elevated ozone resulted in growth enhancement, changes in shoot‐to‐root (s/r) ratio, visible foliar injuries, reduced stomatal conductance, lower late‐season net photosynthesis, foliar nutrient imbalance, changes in phenolic composition, and reductions in pigment, Rubisco and soluble protein contents indicating accelerated leaf senescence. Majority of clones responded to ozone by changing C allocation towards roots, by stomatal closure (reduced ozone uptake), and by investment in low‐cost foliar antioxidants to avoid and tolerate ozone stress. A third of clones, showing increased s/r ratio, relied on inducible efficient high‐cost antioxidants, and enhanced leaf production to compensate ozone‐caused decline in leaf‐level net photosynthesis. However, the best ozone tolerance was found in two s/r ratio‐unaffected clones showing a high constitutive amount of total phenolics, investment in low‐cost antioxidants and N distribution to leaves, and lower stomatal conductance under ozone stress. The results highlight the importance of phenolic compounds in ozone defence mechanisms in the birch population. Depending on the genotype, ozone detoxification was improved by an increase in either efficient high‐cost or less efficient low‐cost antioxidative phenolics, with close connections to whole‐plant physiology.