Publication Date:
2013-08-10
Description:
Various structure–function relationships regarding drought-induced cavitation resistance of secondary xylem have been postulated. These hypotheses were tested on wood of 10 Prunus species showing a range in P 50 (i.e., the pressure corresponding to 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity) from –3.54 to –6.27 MPa. Hydraulically relevant wood characters were quantified using light and electron microscopy. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to investigate evolutionary correlations using a phylogenetically independent contrast (PIC) analysis. Vessel-grouping characters were found to be most informative in explaining interspecific variation in P 50 , with cavitation-resistant species showing more solitary vessels than less resistant species. Co-evolution between vessel-grouping indices and P 50 was reported. P 50 was weakly correlated with the shape of the intervessel pit aperture, but not with the total intervessel pit membrane area per vessel . A negative correlation was found between P 50 and intervessel pit membrane thickness, but this relationship was not supported by the PIC analysis. Cavitation resistance has co-evolved with vessel grouping within Prunus and was mainly influenced by the spatial distribution of the vessel network.
Print ISSN:
0829-318X
Electronic ISSN:
1758-4469
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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