Field water relations of a wet-tropical forest tree species,Pentaclethra macroloba (Mimosaceae)

Summary The water relations of Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntze, a dominant, shade-tolerant, tree species in the Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica, were examined within the forest canopy. Pressure-volume curves and diurnal courses of stomatal conductance and leaf water potential were measured in order to assess differences in water relations between understory, mid-canopy and canopy leaves. Leaves in the canopy had the smallest pinnules but the largest stomatal frequencies and stomatal conductances of the three forest levels. Osmotic potentials at full turgidity decreased with height in the forest; in the canopy and midcanopy they were reduced relative to those in the understory just enough to balance the gravitational component of water potential. Consequently, maximum turgor pressures were similar for leaves from all three canopy levels. Bulk tissue elastic modulus increased with height in the canopy. Leaf water potentials were lowest in the canopy and highest in the understory, even when the gravitational component was added to mid-canopy and canopy values. As a result, minimum turgor pressures were also lowest in the canopy compared to those at lesser heights, and approached zero in full sunlight on clear days.Osmotic potentials at each canopy level were similar for both wet and dry season samples dates suggesting that seasonal osmotic adjustment does not occur. Despite lowered predawn water potentials during the dry season, turgor was maintained in the understory by reduced stomatal conductances.     

Drought response of mesophyll conductance in forest understory species – impacts on water‐use efficiency and interactions with leaf water movement

Regulation of stomatal (g_s) and mesophyll conductance (g_m) is an efficient means for optimizing the relationship between water loss and carbon uptake in plants. We assessed water‐use efficiency (WUE)‐based drought adaptation strategies with respect to mesophyll conductance of different functional plant groups of the forest understory. Moreover we aimed at assessing the mechanisms of and interactions between water and CO₂ conductance in the mesophyll. The facts that an increase in WUE was observed only in the two species that increased g_m in response to moderate drought, and that over all five species examined, changes in mesophyll conductance were significantly correlated with the drought‐induced change in WUE, proves the importance of g_m in optimizing resource use under water restriction. There was no clear correlation of mesophyll CO₂ conductance and the tortuosity of water movement in the leaf across the five species in the control and drought treatments. This points either to different main pathways for CO₂ and water in the mesophyll either to different regulation of a common pathway.     

Leaf Gas Exchange in Canopy Species of a Venezuelan Cloud Forest

Tropical cloud forests are considered humid ecosystems with frequent cloud cover down to the ground surface. However, seasonal variation in precipitation may induce short-term water stress. For canopy leaves, this water stress may also be a consequence of large atmospheric vapor pressure deficits. The objective of this work was to study five canopy cloud forest species to determine if there are restrictions to leaf gas exchange as a consequence of seasonality in precipitation and to daily water deficit due to air evaporative demand mainly during maximum incoming radiation hours. Seasonal daily courses of microclimatic variables (air temperature, relative humidity, photosynthetic photon flux density) and plant responses (leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, CO₂ assimilation rates, leaf nitrogen concentration) were measured at 2400 m asl in Monterrey, an intermontane valley of the Venezuelan Andes. A gradient in terms of responses to water stress conditions was observed between the species, with Clusia multiflora (a 46% reduction in stomatal conductance between seasons) as the most affected and Miconia resimoides (increased stomatal conductance) responding more favorably to slight water stress conditions. If we consider the limitations of water stress and/or light conditions on CO₂ assimilation we may arrange the species into those in which water stress conditions have a greater impact on leaf carbon gain, those where light conditions are determinant and one in which both water stress and light conditions may affect leaf carbon assimilation.     

Temperature and water relation patterns in subalpine understory plants

Summary The daily temperature and water relations of 7 perennial subalpine, understory species (1 shrub, 1 subshrub, 5 herbs) were compared in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern Wyoming with an emphasis on the effects of natural sun and shade exposure. Field measurements of rainfall; leaf, air, and soil temperatures; stomatal conductance to water vapor diffusion; and plant and soil water potentials were supplemented with leaf and root morphological measurements to evaluate potential adaptive patterns in understory species.Morphologically, all 7 species had relatively broad leaves that were hypostomous and bicolored with the abaxial leaf surface lighter than the abaxial surface. Root systems tended to be shallow (<20 cm), especially for the herbaceous species. Although soil water potentials from 4 to 40 cm depths remained relatively high throughout the summer (>-1.0 MPa), plant xylem water potentials for sunlit plants decreased to below-2.0 MPa during midday. During these sunlit periods, leaf temperatures and conductances increased substantially, leading to severe wilting for 4 of the 5 herbaceous species. Stomatal conductance and density for 6 of the 7 species monitored were much greater on abaxial compared to adaxial leaf sides and substantial stomatal closure occurred when either leaf side was oriented to receive direct sunlight. Moreover, stomatal opening on abaxial leaf sides corresponded to the amount of sunlight incident upon the adaxial rather than abaxial leaf surfaces. The 2 shrubby species did not wilt during these periods and were characterized by the highest leaf temperatures (>30°C). These 2 species also had consistantly lower xylem water potentials throughout the summer growth period. These results are discussed in terms of the possible adaptive significance of midday wilting, leaf hypostomy and bicoloration and stomatal behavior to the water and photosynthetic relations of understory species.     

不同光环境下枫香幼苗的叶片解剖结构

落叶阔叶树种枫香是常绿阔叶林的优势种之一。对比研究了重庆丰都世坪林场不同光环境下枫香幼苗叶片的解剖特征,结果表明:1)旷地枫香叶片的厚度大,气孔个体较大且排列紧密,栅栏组织发达,具有明显的旱生叶特征;而林下的枫香叶片明显变薄,气孔小且排列稀疏,海绵组织发达,具有一定的阴生叶特征;2)不同光环境下,气孔密度、栅栏组织的厚度和层数、栅栏细胞长度以及栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比(P/S)等具有较高的可塑性,表明这些因素对于枫香适应不同光环境具有较大的作用;3)从叶片解剖特征与功能的统一来看,阳性树种枫香幼苗更适合生长在旷地等高光生境中,而不易生长在郁闭的林下;4)落叶阔叶树种在中亚热带常绿阔叶林群落恢复与演替中具有重要作用。     

Photosynthetic responses to dynamic light under field conditions in six tropical rainforest shrubs occuring along a light gradient

 We examined in the field the photosynthetic utilization of fluctuating light by six neotropical rainforest shrubs of the family Rubiaceae. They were growing in three different light environments: forest understory, small gaps, and clearings. Gas exchange techniques were used to analyse photosynthetic induction response, induction maintenance during low-light periods, and lightfleck (simulated sunfleck) use efficiency (LUE). Total daily photon flux density (PFD) reaching the plants during the wet season was 37 times higher in clearings than in the understory, with small gaps exhibiting intermediate values. Sunflecks were more frequent, but shorter and of lower intensity in the understory than in clearings. However, sunflecks contributed one-third of the daily PFD in the understory. Maximum rates of net photosynthesis, carboxylation capacity, electron transport, and maximum stomatal conductance were lower in understory species than in species growing in small gaps or clearings, while the reverse was true for the curvature factor of the light response of photosynthesis. No significant differences were found in the apparent quantum yield. The rise of net photosynthesis during induction after transfer from low to high light varied from a hyperbolic shape to a sigmoidal increase. Rates of photosynthetic induction exhibited a negative exponential relationship with stomatal conductance in the shade prior to the increase in PFD. Leaves of understory species showed the most rapid induction and remained induced longer once transferred to the shade than did leaves of medium- or high-light species. LUE decreased rapidly with increasing lightfleck duration and was affected by the induction state of the leaf. Fully induced leaves exhibited LUEs up to 300% for 1-s lightflecks, while LUE was below 100% for 1–80 s lightflecks in uninduced leaves. Both induced and uninduced leaves of understory species exhibited higher LUE than those of species growing in small gaps or clearings. However, most differences disappeared for lightflecks 10 s long or longer. Thus, understory species, which grew in a highly dynamic light environment, had better capacities for utilization of rapidly fluctuating light than species from habitats with higher light availability. Received: 4 January 1997 / Accepted: 28 April 1997     

Germination and establishment of forest sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae): tests for home-site advantage and effects of leaf litter

We investigated aspects of germination and seedling establishment that might influence the distribution and diversity of Carex species growing in the forest understory. We tested the ability of Carex communis and C. platyphylla to germinate and establish at plots where adult individuals of one of these two species, or one of two other Carex species (C. backii and C. plantaginea), occurred in an old-growth forest in southern Québec, Canada. We also tested for effects of leaf litter on germination and establishment of these sedges. From a series of experiments in the field and in a lath house, we found no evidence of home-site advantage with respect to germination or seedling establishment. Leaf litter had a negative effect on germination and establishment. The results emphasize the importance of dispersal and colonization events in determining local diversity and distribution of Carex species in upland forests. High frequency of occurrence of C. communis at our study site may result from relatively wide dispersal provided by ants, and a suite of traits associated with ant dispersal in some understory Carex species.     

豆科复叶和单叶树种的光合-水分关系分析

以豆科（Fabaceae）11个复叶树种和6个单叶树种为材料,测定他们的气孔导度、叶片水力导度、水势、相对含水量等指标,分析叶型对枝叶光合水分关系的影响。结果显示,复叶树种正午叶轴水势（-0.91 MPa）与单叶树种正午枝条水势（-0.88 MPa）间无显著差异,但正午枝条水势（-0.60 MPa）显著高于单叶树种。复叶树种正午气孔导度降低的百分比（55.3%）显著高于单叶树种（34.1%）。叶片、叶轴和枝条正午水势两两之间均显著正相关,但与正午气孔导度之间均不存在相关性。本研究中,17个树种的正午叶片水力导度与气孔导度间显著正相关（r=0.79,P<0.001）,但他们与气孔导度降低百分比间呈负相关（r=-0.81,P<0.001）,说明叶片导水率对日间气孔导度的维持具有重要作用。研究结果表明单叶和复叶树种在光合水分关系上存在明显差异,说明他们对环境条件具有不同的适应策略。     

Effect of canopy gap light environment on evaporative load and stomatal conductance in the temperate forest understory herb Aster macrophyllus (Asteraceae)

Aster macrophyllus, a temperate forest understory species of the northeastern United States, inhabits a broad range of light habitats. Plants receiving several minutes of direct sun in canopy gap and forest edge habitats occasionally wilt, a response indicative of water stress. We compared two alterative scenarios for patterns of evaporative load and stomatal conductance for plants in large (0.15 ha) tree canopy gaps and small (3 m²) herbaceous subcanopy gaps: 1) evaporative loads are typically moderate and stomatal conductance is largely governed by light intensity; or 2) evaporative loads are often substantial, mandating stomatal closure to prevent excessive transpiration. In all cases evaporative loads were elevated by light intensity above 25% of full sun. This was accompanied by substantial stomatal closure. Transitions from low to moderate light intensity (<13% full sun) caused little increase in leaf evaporative load, and stimulated increases in stomatal conductance. Very brief periods of high light also stimulated stomatal opening. Light environments in the small herbaceous subcanopy gaps differ greatly in their patterns of evaporative load from day to day.     

Changes in stomatal conductance along grass blades reflect changes in leaf structure

Identifying the consequences of grass blade morphology (long, narrow leaves) on the heterogeneity of gas exchange is fundamental to an understanding of the physiology of this growth form. We examined acropetal changes in anatomy, hydraulic conductivity and rates of gas exchange in five grass species (including C(3) and C(4) functional types). Both stomatal conductance and photosynthesis increased along all grass blades despite constant light availability. Hydraulic efficiency within the xylem remained constant along the leaf, but structural changes outside the xylem changed in concert with stomatal conductance. Stomatal density and stomatal pore index remained constant along grass blades but interveinal distance decreased acropetally resulting in a decreased path length for water movement from vascular bundle to stomate. The increase in stomatal conductance was correlated with the decreased path length through the leaf mesophyll. A strong correlation between the distance from vascular bundles to stomatal pores and stomatal conductance has been identified across species; our results suggest this relationship also exists within individual leaves.     

Seasonal variation in stomatal conductance and physiological factors observed in a secondary warm-temperate forest

This study quantified stomatal conductance in a CO₂-fertilized warm-temperate forest. The study considered five items: (1) the characteristics of the diurnal and seasonal variation, (2) simultaneous measurements of canopy-scale fluxes of heat and CO₂ and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), (3) the stomatal conductance of sunlit and shaded leaves, (4) a stomatal conductance model, and (5) the effects of leaf age on stomatal conductance. Sampled plants included evergreen and deciduous species. Stomatal conductance, SPAD, and leaf nitrogen content were measured between March and December 2001. Sunlit leaves had the largest diurnal and seasonal variation in conductance in terms of both magnitude and variability. In contrast, shaded leaves had only low conductance and slight variation. Stomatal conductance increased sharply in new shooting leaves of Quercus serrata until reaching a maximum 2 months after full leaf expansion. The seasonal changes in the canopy-scale heat and CO₂ fluxes were similar to the change in the canopy-scale NDVI of the upper-canopy plants. These seasonal changes were correlated with the leaf-level H₂O/CO₂ exchanges of upper-canopy plants, although these did not represent the stomatal conductance in fall completely. Seasonal variations in the leaf nitrogen content and SPAD were similar, except leaf foliation, until day 130 of the year, when the behaviors were completely the opposite. A Jarvis-type model was used to estimate the stomatal conductance. We modified it to include SPAD as a measure of leaf age. The seasonal variation in stomatal conductance was not as sensitive to SPAD, although estimates for evergreen species showed improvements.     

Stomatal characteristics,conductance ratios,and drought-induced leaf modifications of semiarid grassland species

Seventeen greenhouse-grown grasses from the Nebraska Sandhills region were surveyed for foliar stomatal density and distribution, closed guard cell lengths, open stomatal apertures, and surface characteristics (using scanning electron microscopy), surface conductance (using a steady-state porometer), and drought-induced leaf modifications. Leaves of C₃ species exhibited a proclivity toward being amphistomatic or hyperstomatic, while C₄ species tended to be more hypostomatic. Leaf modification, when it occurred, resulted in the enshrouding of the adaxial surface. Conductance data showed functional amphistomaty in most species, revealing differential functioning of adaxial and abaxial stomata. Conductance patterns were not closely related to stomatal aperture per unit area leaf surface or to stomatal distribution patterns. Lowered adaxial: abaxial conductance ratios, increased stomatal density, reduced stomatal size, and less drought-induced leaf modification were seen in C₄ grasses as compared with C₃ grasses. C₃ range and C₃ meadow species did not differ in conductance ratios, density ratios, or stomatal size, although meadow species exhibited much greater drought-induced leaf modification. Postulations involving correlation of adaxial: abaxial conductance ratios to stomatal distribution patterns, and assumptions of stomatal distribution based upon habitat and/or photosynthetic pathway may be erroneous. These characteristics may be of limited usefulness as morphological indicators in the search for drought-tolerant ecotypes of prairie grasses.     

Genetic and environmental effects on morphology in clonal sedges in the Eurasian Arctic

We studied the variation in morphological characters of importance for resource acquisition and storage in 21 populations of four clonal sedge taxa in arctic Eurasia, Carex bigelowii, C. ensifolia subsp. arctisibirica, C. lugens, and C. stans, and the response to transplantation to a common garden in Troms?, Norway. The morphology of C. stans was distinct from the other three taxa, all of which belong to the C. bigelowii species complex. However, differences among populations within taxa were even greater than differences among taxa, and environmental variables explained 40-50% of the among-population variation in the morphological characters. Stomatal size decreased with temperature while stomatal density increased. Shoot height and leaf width were smaller at peak lemming population phase, while rhizome length was shorter at higher longitudes. Transplantation to a common garden affected stomatal density in all taxa, stomatal size and shoot height only in some taxa, while leaf width was not affected. We found a weak, but highly significant correlation between geographical, morphological, and genetic distances. We concluded that although genotypic differentiation in arctic rhizomatous Carex species is reflected in their morphology, they are also capable of plastic morphological responses to the environment and that these responses are specific for each taxon.     

七种热带雨林树苗叶片气孔特征及其可塑性对不同光照强度的响应

对生长在荫棚3种不同光照条件下和全自然光下的热带雨林4个冠层种(望天树、绒毛番龙眼、团花、红厚壳)和3个中层种(玉蕊、藤黄、滇南风吹楠)树苗叶片气孔特征以及它们的可塑性进行了研究、结果表明,这些植物的气孔全部着生在远轴面．7种植物中,玉蕊和绒毛番龙眼的气孔密度较大,滇南红厚壳和团花的保卫细胞最长．随光强的增大,气孔密度和气孔指数增大,单位叶气孔数在低光强下较大．除团花外,其它植物叶片气孔导度在50％光强处最大,而光强对保卫细胞的长度影响不显著．相关分析表明,气孔密度与植物单位叶的面积呈负相关。而与气孔导度的相关性不显著、尽管两种不同生活型植物气孔指数和单位叶气孔数在不同光强下的可塑性差异较小,但冠层树种气孔密度和气孔导度的可塑性显著高于中层树种．     

RESPONSE OF ANDROPOGON GERARDII (POACEAE) TO FIRE-INDUCED HIGH VS. LOW IRRADIANCE ENVIRONMENTS IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE: LEAF STRUCTURE AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS

Photosynthetic pigments and several structural characteristics were measured in leaves of Andropogon gerardii from tallgrass prairie populations in an unburned, low-irradiance site and a burned, high-irradiance site to determine if these species displayed sun/shade differences similar to those documented in forest species. Early in the growing season, leaves of A. gerardii in the low-irradiance, unburned site had significantly lower stomatal density, pore length, and conductance, as well as specific leaf mass and thickness than leaves from the high-irradiance, burned site. Moreover, the chlorophyll a:b ratio, carotenoid content, and bundle sheath-vascular complex area were significantly lower, but chlorophyll content (mass/mass) was greater in leaves in unburned vs. burned sites. These differences are consistent with sun/shade adaptations reported for forest understory plants and may contribute to the low productivity of A. gerardii in unburned tallgrass prairie.     

两种南亚热带林下灌木叶片水分特性的比较研究

鼎湖山南亚热带针叶—阔叶混交林下灌木桃金娘和三叉苦叶片气孔导度的日进程多为单峰形。一天中出现气孔导度高值的时间随季节而异,从3月到10月逐渐提前。夏季气孔导度最大,冬季最小。8月份生长于坡顶群落中的两种灌木叶片气孔出现“午睡”现象。不同生长地点中,桃金娘的气孔导度均明显高于三叉苦。叶片水势从早晨起逐渐降低,中午达最低值,随后有所回升。 3月和8月的水势较高,12月水势最低。水势与气孔导度间呈双曲线关系。压力—体积曲线的测定表明叶片水势低值时仍能维持正膨压。     

红树林植物叶片形态和解剖特征对叶肉导度、叶片导水率的影响

叶肉导度和叶片导水率是影响光合作用的两个重要过程,叶肉导度通过影响从气孔下腔到Rubisco酶位点的二氧化碳浓度梯度直接影响光合作用,而叶片导水率则通过影响水分供应或气孔行为来影响光合作用,然而对这两个生理过程之间的协同性研究较少。本研究选择9种红树林植物为研究对象,探讨盐生环境下植物叶肉导度和叶片导水率的协同性及其与叶片解剖结构特征之间的相关性。结果表明,9种红树林植物叶片导水率(0.78~5.83 mmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1)·MPa-1)、叶肉导度(0.06~0.36 mol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))、最大光合速率(7.23~23.71μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1))等特征的差别较大;叶肉导度与最大光合速率呈显著正相关,而与比叶重无显著相关性,其原因是由于比叶重与叶片厚度、叶片密度不存在相关性;叶脉密度与气孔密度呈较强的相关性,说明红树林植物叶片水分运输与散失相关的叶片结构之间存在协同关系;叶片导水率不受叶脉密度影响,并且与叶肉导度、最大光合速率也不存在相关性,这很可能与红树林植物叶片的肉质化、有发达的储水组织有关,体现了红树林植物叶片结构和功能的特殊性。     

Flooding and drought tolerance in seeds and seedlings of two Mora species segregated along a soil hydrological gradient in the tropical rain forest of Guyana

Mora excelsa and M. gonggrijpii are well segregated along a soil hydrological gradient. M. excelsa is positively associated with soil hydromorphic characteristics such as gley, mottling and groundwater within 1.20 m, whereas M. gonggrijpii is negatively associated with these characteristics. Growth and mortality of artificially installed seedlings were studied in both species in occasionally flooded forest and dryer uphill forest. In a moderate year (1992, no pronounced flooding, no drought), there was no difference between the two species in growth or mortality in the two forest types. M. gonggrijpii was larger in both forest types. Flooding tolerance of seeds and seedlings were studied under controlled water regimes. Seeds of M. gonggrijpii appeared to be very intolerant to flooding, since germination in this species dropped to 50% after only 11 days of flooding. Seeds of M. excelsa floated and 80% of the seeds were viable after as much as 50 days of flooding. Artificially submerged seeds of the latter species had an intermediate survival response. Flooding in seedlings resulted in cessation of growth in both species. Mortality was nil in most treatments, but all M. gonggrijpii individuals died after a treatment of 8 weeks of continuous flooding. Drought tolerance of seedlings of M. excelsa and M. gonggrijpii was studied in a drying-out experiment. Seedlings of both species of approximately equal size differed widely in a number of characteristics: total leaf area, leaf dry weight, leaf thickness, leaf size and leaf area ratio (LAR) were all larger in M. gonggrijpii, while stomatal density and specific leaf area (SLA) were smaller in this species. Seedlings did not differ in stem hydraulic conductivity. M. excelsa showed lower osmotic potential at full hydration. Turgor potential loss points were not nearly approached in the forest during the middle of the dry season in either species. M. gonggrijpii had much lower stomatal conductance than M. excelsa, due to lower stomatal density. Boundary layer conductance was of the same magnitude as stomatal conductance, especially in the morning. In a drying-out experiment, total plant transpiration was higher in M. gonggrijpii, as the lower conductance observed in this species was compensated for by its larger leaf area. M. gonggrijpii was able to extract water from dryer soils than M. excelsa and may be able to utilize its higher leaf water content under moderate drought in the forest understorey.     

Growth of tree seedlings in a tropical dry forest in relation to soil moisture and leaf traits

"AimsThe growth of plant species in tropical dry forest (TDF) is expected to be largely governed by the availability of soil moisture. In this study we attempt to identify mechanisms by which seedlings of dry tropical trees cope with water stress by adjusting their leaf characteristics to water availability and micro environments, and address following questions: How are leaf traits and relative growth rate (RGR) of the dominant seedling species of TDF affected by seasonal changes in soil moisture content (SMC)? What is the relationship of functional traits with each other? Can leaf traits singly or in combination predict the growth rate of seedling species of TDF? The study was conducted in situ on four sites (viz., Hathinala, Gaighat, Harnakachar and Ranitali, listed in order of decreasing SMC) within the tropical dry deciduous forest in northern India. Methods Five leaf traits viz., specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), concentrations of leaf nitrogen (leaf N), phosphorus (leaf P) and chlorophyll (Chl) and two physiological processes, viz., stomatal conductance (Gs net) and photosynthetic rate (A net), and RGR, of four dominant tree seedling species of a TDF (viz., Buchanania lanzan, Diospyros melanoxylon, Shorea robusta and Terminalia tomentosa) on four sites were analysed for species, site and season effects over a 2-year period. Step-wise multiple regression was performed to predict RGR from mean values of SMC, leaf traits and physiological processes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to observe the extent of intra- vs. inter-specific variability in the leaf traits and physiological rates.Important findings All the traits and physiological rates were interrelated and showed significant positive relationship with RGR except for the correlation of LDMC with RGR which was not significant. Further, relationships of SMC with all leaf traits, physiological rates and RGR were significant, except for that between SMC and SLA for B. lanzan and D. melanoxylon. The slope of seedling trait:SMC relationship, a measure of phenotypic plasticity in response to soil moisture gradient, varied among species. Among the four species, T. tomentosa was the most plastic and S. robusta the least. In conclusion, leaf traits and physiological processes were strongly related to soil water availability on the one hand and seedling growth on the other. Gs net is the most important variable which accounted for the greatest amount of variability (62%) in RGR, emphasizing the role of stomatal conductance in shaping growth patterns across spatial and temporal gradients of soil water availability. Gs net and SMC together explained 64% variability in RGR, indicating that other traits/factors, not studied by us are also important in modulating the growth of tropical tree seedlings.     

Correlations of stomatal conductance with hydraulic and chemical factors in several deciduous tree species in a natural habitat

Recent research in whole-plant stomatal physiology, conducted largely with potted plants in controlled environments, suggests that stomatal conductance ( g _s) might be more closely linked to plant chemical variables than to hydraulic variables. To test this in a field situation, seasonal g _s was examined in relation to a number of plant and environmental variables in 11 temperate, deciduous forest tree species. Stomatal conductance was generally better correlated with environmental variables (air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, PPFD) than with plant variables, and slightly better correlated with plant hydraulic variables (shoot water and osmotic potentials) than with plant chemical variables (xylem sap ABA concentration, xylem sap pH). We examined a model, developed previously for maize, which describes regulation of g _s by xylem sap ABA concentration with leaf water status acting to modify stomatal sensitivity to the ABA signal. This model explained slightly more variation in seasonal g _s in the forest trees than did single plant variables but not more variation than most single environmental variables. Response surface models, especially those incorporating environmental variables, were more consistently successful at explaining g _s across species.