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Juvenile and adult leaves of heteroblastic Eucalyptus globulus vary in xylem vulnerability

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 05:14 authored by Christopher LucaniChristopher Lucani, Timothy BrodribbTimothy Brodribb, Gregory JordanGregory Jordan, Mitchell, P

Key message

Comparing juvenile and adult shoots of Eucalyptus globulus reveals that juvenile leaves are more vulnerable to hydraulic failure than adults while stems show no significant differences.

Abstract

Understanding variation in the susceptibility for xylem tissue to cavitate and lose its function during water stress exposure is critical for predicting plant mortality during drought. An increasing number of studies examine variation in xylem vulnerability to water-stress-induced damage among species, but very few studies explore variation associated with ontogeny and development. Here, we assess stem and leaf vulnerability to cavitation in the heteroblastic tree species Eucalyptus globulus using a non-invasive optical technique to measure the accumulation of air embolisms during dehydration. No significant difference between the vulnerability of stem xylem was found between juvenile and adult stems, but the xylem of juvenile leaves was more susceptible to cavitation during dehydration than adult leaves. Analysis of vessel diameters indicates differences in maximum vessel diameter but little differences in hydraulically weighted mean vessel diameter. The results are discussed in context of similar studies that compare juvenile and adult plants, as well as potential anatomical and functional trade-offs associated with phase change and growth in E. globulus, which presents a complex relationship across its broad distribution.

History

Publication title

Trees

Volume

33

Pagination

1167-1178

ISSN

0931-1890

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Springer

Place of publication

Germany

Rights statement

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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