Leaf water status and stem xylem flux in relation to soil drought in five temperate broad-leaved tree species with contrasting water use strategies

? Five temperate broad-leaved tree species were compared with respect to their water consumption strategies under ample and restricted water supply. We measured synchronously leaf conductance (g _L) in the sun canopy, xylem sap flux (J _s) and leaf water potential (predawn, ψ_pd and noon, ψ_noon) in adult trees in a mixed stand and related them to the fluctuations in vapor pressure deficit (D) and soil moisture.

? Maximum g _L was particularly high in F. excelsior, C. betulus and T. cordata and revealed a higher D sensitivity. ψ_pd remained constantly high in A. pseudoplatanus, C. betulus and F. excelsior, but decreased in T. cordata and F. sylvatica with decreasing soil moisture.

? J _sddecreased linearly with decreasing soil matrix potential in all species except for F. excelsior. Apparent hydraulic conductance in the soil-to-leaf flow path (L _c) was higher in A. pseudoplatanus than in the other species.

? F. sylvatica maintained a low maximum g _L and reduced J _sd markedly upon drought, but faced severe decreases in ψ_pd and ψ_noon. F. excelsior represents an opposite strategy with high maximum g _L and stable ψ_pd.

? The species drought sensitivity increases in the sequence F. excelsior < C. betulus < T. cordata < A. pseudoplatanus < F. sylvatica.