A broad survey of hydraulic and mechanical safety in the xylem of conifers.

dc.contributor.author

Bouche, Pauline S

dc.contributor.author

Larter, Maximilien

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Domec, Jean-Christophe

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Burlett, Régis

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Gasson, Peter

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Jansen, Steven

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Delzon, Sylvain

dc.date.accessioned

2020-02-01T14:53:36Z

dc.date.available

2020-02-01T14:53:36Z

dc.date.issued

2014-08

dc.date.updated

2020-02-01T14:53:33Z

dc.description.abstract

Drought-induced forest dieback has been widely reported over the last decades, and the evidence for a direct causal link between survival and hydraulic failure (xylem cavitation) is now well known. Because vulnerability to cavitation is intimately linked to the anatomy of the xylem, the main objective of this study was to better understand the xylem anatomical properties associated with cavitation resistance. An extensive data set of cavitation resistance traits and xylem anatomical properties was developed for 115 conifer species, with special attention given to the micro-morphology of bordered pits. The ratio of torus to pit aperture diameter, so-called torus overlap, increased with increasing cavitation resistance, while the flexibility of the margo does not seem to play a role, suggesting that air-seeding is located at the seal between the aspirated torus and pit aperture. Moreover, punctured tori were reported in various Pinaceae species. Species resistant to cavitation had thicker tracheid walls, while their lumen diameter (conduit size) was only slightly reduced, minimizing the impact on hydraulic conductance. The results also demonstrated (i) the existence of an indirect trade-off between hydraulic safety and mechanical strength; and (ii) a consistency between species distribution and xylem anatomy: species with a wide torus overlap and high valve effects are found in arid environments such as the Mediterranean region.

dc.identifier

eru218

dc.identifier.issn

0022-0957

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1460-2431

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19895

dc.language

eng

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Oxford University Press (OUP)

dc.relation.ispartof

Journal of experimental botany

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10.1093/jxb/eru218

dc.subject

Coniferophyta

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Water

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Xylem

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Mechanical Phenomena

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Biological Evolution

dc.title

A broad survey of hydraulic and mechanical safety in the xylem of conifers.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Domec, Jean-Christophe|0000-0003-0478-2559

pubs.begin-page

4419

pubs.end-page

4431

pubs.issue

15

pubs.organisational-group

Nicholas School of the Environment

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Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Environmental Sciences and Policy

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

65

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