Soil water affects transpiration response to rainfall and vapor pressure deficit in poplar plantation

Influences of environmental factors on transpiration are interactive. Sensitivities of transpiration responses to both evaporative demand and rainfall under contrasting soil water conditions constitute the physiological basis of the drought tolerance of trees. Such knowledge is practically significant for plantation management, especially for irrigation management. We therefore conducted a 6-year study on the transpiration of a poplar plantation in temperate China to elucidate the existence and pattern of the influence of the soil water over stand transpiration responses to (1) vapor pressure deficit (VPD), the major indicator of air dryness and (2) the rainfall, in terms of total amount and event size. The results showed that the response of plantation transpiration (E _c ) to VPD was conditioned by soil moisture. There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of maximum sap flux under contrasting soil relative extractable water. E _c after rainfall of different sizes varied under similar VPD. The increasing occurrences of only large rainfall events led to enhanced total E _c during the growing season, but prolonged rainless intervals did not lead to a continuous decrease of E _c , suggesting appreciable supplements from the soil water were present to sustain transpiration. In addition, the balance of soil water between replenishment and extraction also conditioned the influence of rainfall over subsequent E _c during the respective rainless intervals. Based on the E _c responses to VPD and rainfall under different soil moisture levels, irrigation that directly replenishes the deep soil layers in order to alleviate water stress on transpiration during the small-rain event-dominated growing season is an effective and water-saving approach to guarantee trees survival during drought period.     

Influence of irrigation and fertilization on transpiration and hydraulic properties of Populus deltoides

Long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability was explored in 3-year-old Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. clones by examining transpiration, leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (G(L)), canopy stomatal conductance (G(S)) and leaf to sapwood area ratio (A(L):A(S)) in response to irrigation (13 and 551 mm year(-1) in addition to ambient precipitation) and fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)). Sap flow was measured continuously over one growing season with thermal dissipation probes. Fertilization had a greater effect on growth and hydraulic properties than irrigation, and fertilization effects were independent of irrigation treatment. Transpiration on a ground area basis (E) ranged between 0.3 and 1.8 mm day(-1), and increased 66% and 90% in response to irrigation and fertilization, respectively. Increases in G(L), G(S) at a reference vapor pressure deficit of 1 kPa, and transpiration per unit leaf area in response to increases in resource availability were associated with reductions in A(L):A(S) and consequently a minimal change in the water potential gradient from soil to leaf. Irrigation and fertilization increased leaf area index similarly, from an average 1.16 in control stands to 1.45, but sapwood area was increased from 4.0 to 6.3 m(2) ha(-1) by irrigation and from 3.7 to 6.7 m(2) ha(-1) by fertilization. The balance between leaf area and sapwood area was important in understanding long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability and mechanisms controlling maximum productivity in Populus deltoides.     

Use of temporal patterns in vapor pressure deficit to explain spatial autocorrelation dynamics in tree transpiration

To quantify the relationship between temporal and spatial variation in tree transpiration, we measured sap flow in 129 trees with constant-heat sap flow sensors in a subalpine forest in southern Wyoming, USA. The forest stand was located along a soil water gradient from a stream side to near the top of a ridge. The stand was dominated by Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. with Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm and Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. present near the stream and scattered individuals of Populus tremuloides Michx. throughout the stand. We used a cyclic sampling design that maximized spatial information with a minimum number of samples for semivariogram analyses. All species exhibited previously established responses to environmental variables in which the dominant driver was a saturating response to vapor pressure deficit (D). This response to D is predictable from tree hydraulic theory in which stomatal conductance declines as D increases to prevent excessive cavitation. The degree to which stomatal conductance declines with D is dependent on both species and individual tree physiology and increases the variability in transpiration as D increases. We quantified this variability spatially by calculating the spatial autocorrelation within 0.2-kPa D bins. Across 11 bins of D, spatial autocorrelation in individual tree transpiration was inversely correlated to D and dropped from 45 to 20 m. Spatial autocorrelation was much less for transpiration per unit leaf area and not significant for transpiration per unit sapwood area suggesting that spatial autocorrelation within a particular D bin could be explained by tree size. Future research should focus on the mechanisms underlying tree size spatial variability, and the potentially broad applicability of the inverse relationship between D and spatial autocorrelation in tree transpiration.     

Sap-flux-scaled transpiration responses to light,vapor pressure deficit,and leaf area reduction in a flooded Taxodium distichum forest

We used 20-mm-long, Granier-type sensors to quantify the effects of tree size, azimuth and radial position in the xylem on the spatial variability in xylem sap flux in 64-year-old trees of Taxodium distichum L. Rich. growing in a flooded forest. This information was used to scale flux to the stand level to investigate variations in half-hourly and daily (24-hour) sums of sap flow, transpiration per unit of leaf area, and stand transpiration in relation to vapor pressure deficit (D) and photosynthetically active radiation (Q(o)). Measurements of xylem sap flux density (J(s)) indicated that: (1) J(s) in small diameter trees was 0.70 of that in medium and large diameter trees, but the relationship between stem diameter as a continuous variable and J(s) was not significant; (2) J(s) at 20-40 mm depth in the xylem was 0.40 of that at 0-20 mm depth; and (3) J(s) on the north side of trees was 0.64 of that in directions 120 degrees from the north. Daily transpiration was linearly related to daily daytime mean D, and reached a modest value of 1.3 mm day(-1), reflecting the low leaf area index (LAI = 2.2) of the stand. Because there was no soil water limitation, half-hourly water uptake was nearly linearly related to D at D < 0.6 kPa during both night and day, increasing to saturation during daytime at higher values of D. The positive effect of Q(o) on J(s) was significant, but relatively minor. Thus, a second-order polynomial with D explained 94% of the variation in J(s) and transpiration. An approximately 40% reduction in LAI by a hurricane resulted in decreases of about 18% in J(s) and stand transpiration, indicating partial stomatal compensation.     

美洲黑杨不同生长势无性系生长和生理特征的差异

以高(A)、低(B)生长势2个群体为试验材料,通过表型性状和生理指标的连续采集开展生长性状、光合生理特征及养分吸收等特性相关研究。结果表明:A系号与B系号在根、茎、叶的干质量及总干质量上差异显著或极显著,不同器官干物质分配上根干质量比例最小,且A系号干物质分配倾向于茎,而B系号倾向于叶;从6—9月,生长和生理特征变化呈现一定的规律性,不同月份间7月份各系号生长最快,生理特征值变化幅度最大;相关性分析表明:苗高和地径与单叶面积、夜间呼吸速率、NH4+的吸收速率及总光合速率均呈显著相关(R>0.826,P<0.05),说明幼苗生长主要受自身总光合能力、养分吸收和夜间呼吸消耗的影响,而A系号在这些因子上均优于B系号,由此构建了其高生长势的生理基础。     

造林密度对美洲黑杨幼林生长的影响

在昆明市宜良县千亩杨树种植基地内,依据完全随机区组试验设计,设置美洲黑杨3组造林密度试验。通过对5年生引种美洲黑杨不同造林密度幼林的生长指标观测与分析,结果表明,造林密度对美洲黑杨幼林的胸径、树高和冠幅均有极显著影响,胸径、树高和冠幅随着造林密度的减小而极显著地增加,低密度的造林有利于美洲黑杨树木的生长。     

南方型美洲黑杨基因库物候期及生长比较

以美国不同区域引种的美洲黑杨为材料建立基因库,通过对基因库资源物候期和生长调查发现,基因库资源内存在普遍的遗传变异,遗传多样性丰富。落叶晚的系号比落叶早的系号最长可多60 d左右的生长期;相关分析发现,叶片长、宽、叶宽基距等决定叶片大小的指标与树高和胸径呈负相关,甚至达到显著或极显著水平,说明单个叶片越大越不利于植株材积量增加。正态分布检验结果为树高、叶片长、叶柄长呈显著正态分布(P0.05),而其他特征虽然不呈显著正态分布(P0.05),但峰度和偏度值也较低,接近正态分布;基因库资源中不同性状变异系数从11%到29%不等。胸径超出群体均值25%的系号有32个,占到总数的7.13%。总体上,引进的美洲黑杨资源变异丰富,选育潜力巨大。     

Ⅰ-69杨人工林生长规律与营养特性的研究

1982年以来在湖南省汉寿进行了Ⅰ-69杨人工林生长规律与营养特性的定位研究。前三年(1982～1984年)结果表明,当地的气候、土壤生态因子适于Ⅰ-69杨生长,胸径生长年、月变异极显著。第一年生长慢,8月为高峰期;第三年较第二年次之,6月为高峰期。三年胸径年平均增长4.78 cm。主要营养元素(除Mg外)的月变异极显著,与胸径生长规律一致。年变化无显著差异,年平均含量较高,N为3.25％～3.31％,P_2O_5为0.58％～0.59％,K_2O为1.59％～1.61％,CaO为3.17％～3.28％,MgO为0.54％～0.70％,反映了Ⅰ-69杨生长与主要营养元素吸收、利用以及土壤养分的供给,处于动态平衡的良好状态。     

Genotypic variation in physiological and growth responses of Populus tremuloides to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

Physiological and biomass responses of six genotypes of Populus tremuloides Michx., grown in ambient t (357 micromol mol(-1)) or twice ambient (707 micromol mol(-1)) CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and in low-N or high-N soils, were studied in 1995 and 1996 in northern Lower Michigan, USA. There was a significant CO2 x genotype interaction in photosynthetic responses. Net CO2 assimilation (A) was significantly enhanced by elevated [CO2] for five genotypes in high-N soil and for four genotypes in low-N soil. Enhancement of A by elevated [CO2] ranged from 14 to 68%. Genotypes also differed in their biomass responses to elevated [CO2], but biomass responses were poorly correlated with A responses. There was a correlation between magnitude of A enhancement by elevated [CO2] and stomatal sensitivity to CO2. Genotypes with low stomatal sensitivity to CO2 had a significantly higher A at elevated [CO2] than at ambient [CO2], but elevated [CO2] did not affect the ratio of intercellular [CO2] to leaf surface [CO2]. Stomatal conductance and A of different genotypes responded differentially to recovery from drought stress. Photosynthetic quantum yield and light compensation point were unaffected by elevated [CO2]. We conclude that P. tremuloides genotypes will respond differentially to rising atmospheric [CO2], with the degree of response dependent on other abiotic factors, such as soil N and water availability. The observed genotypic variation in growth could result in altered genotypic representation within natural populations and could affect the composition and structure of plant communities in a higher [CO2] environment in the future.     

美洲黑杨引种试验及开发利用

试验结果表明：美洲黑杨完全适应景宁的气候条件,具有很强的耐寒性和速生性;培育一般用材林,栽植后１０年即可主伐;培育菇木林、栽植后３－４年即可采伐利用。现有研究结果已表明,美洲黑杨木屑栽培香菇比混合木屑产量高６．９％,用以种植黑木耳比常规混合木屑产量增加７．７％。景宁是香菇、黑木耳的主产区,引各推广美洲黑杨,并引进美洲黑杨菇、耳超短轮伐期两用林营建技术,开展杨树木屑栽培袋料香菇、木耳最佳基质配比的研     

Growth and dry-matter partitioning of young Populus trichocarpa in response to carbon dioxide concentration and mineral nutrient availability

Young individuals of a single black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray) clone were raised for three growing seasons in whole-tree chambers and exposed to either ambient or elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), with either a high or a low mineral nutrient supply, in a factorial experimental design. Nutrient availability had a larger effect on growth and dry matter partitioning than did [CO2]. Total biomass did not differ significantly with CO2 treatment when nutrient availability was low. However, elevated [CO2] increased whole-plant biomass by 47% in the high nutrient availability treatment. Carbon dioxide enrichment reduced leaf area ratio and specific leaf area significantly, but had no significant effect on mean leaf size or leaf mass ratio. Root mass ratio was significantly increased by elevated [CO2] at low, but not at high nutrient availability. A modified "demographic harvesting approach" made possible the retrospective estimation of stem and branch dry masses for different years. The relative growth rates of stem and branch were significantly enhanced by elevated [CO2] with high, but not with low nutrient availability. Canopy productivity index (CPI), i.e., the amount of stem and branch wood produced annually per unit leaf area, was raised 12% by elevated [CO2] when nutrient availability was high, but was reduced when nutrient availability was low, because of increased below ground allocation.     

Morphological and physiological plasticity response to low nitrogen stress in black cottonwood(Populus deltoides Marsh.)OA

It is important to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen tolerance of trees in order to improve their productivity. In this study, both were evaluated for 338 Populus deltoides genotypes from six provenances. The plants were cultured under normal nitrogen(750 μM NH₄ NO₃) and low nitrogen(5 μM NH₄ NO₃) conditions for 3 months. Growth, chlorophyll content and glutamine synthetase activity of each genotype were measured. Under low nitrogen, height...     

The response of Pinus sylvestris to drought: stomatal control of transpiration and hydraulic conductance

We investigated the impact of drought on the physiology of 41-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in central Scotland. Measurements were made of the seasonal course of transpiration, canopy stomatal conductance, needle water potential, xylem water content, soil-to-needle hydraulic resistance, and growth. Comparison was made between drought-treated plots and those receiving average precipitation. In response to drought, transpiration rate declined once volumetric water content (VWC) over the top 20 cm of soil reached a threshold value of 12%. Thereafter, transpiration was a near linear function of soil water content. As the soil water deficit developed, the hydraulic resistance between soil and needles increased by a factor of three as predawn needle water potential declined from -0.54 to -0.71 MPa. A small but significant increase in xylem embolism was detected in 1-year-old shoots. Stomatal control of transpiration prevented needle water potential from declining below -1.5 MPa. Basal area, and shoot and needle growth were significantly reduced in the drought treatment. In the year following the drought, canopy stomatal conductance and soil-to-needle hydraulic resistance recovered. Current-year needle extension recovered, but a significant reduction in basal area increment was evident one year after the drought. The results suggest that, in response to soil water deficit, mature Scots pine closes its stomata sufficiently to prevent the development of substantial xylem embolism. Reduced growth in the year after a severe soil water deficit is most likely to be the result of reduced assimilation in the year of the drought, rather than to any residual embolism carried over from one year to the next.     

Stomatal sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit and its relationship to hydraulic conductance in Pinus palustris

We studied the response of stomatal conductance at leaf (gS) and canopy (GS) scales to increasing vapor pressure deficit (D) in mature Pinus palustris Mill. (longleaf pine) growing in a sandhill habitat in the coastal plain of the southeastern USA. Specifically, we determined if variation in the stomatal response to D was related to variation in hydraulic conductance along the soil-to-leaf pathway (KL) over the course of a growing season. Reductions in KL were associated with a severe growing season drought that significantly reduced soil water content (theta) in the upper 90-cm soil profile. Although KL recovered partially following the drought, it never reached pre-drought values. Stomatal sensitivity to D was well correlated with maximum gS at low D at both leaf and canopy scales, and KL appeared to influence this response by controlling maximum gS. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that stomatal response to D occurs to regulate minimum leaf water potential, and that the sensitivity of this response is related to changes in whole-plant hydraulics.     

美洲黑杨与不同种源青杨杂种苗叶片和生长性状多水平变异研究

利用美洲黑杨 5 0号为母本和青杨 5个种源 (各 10个单株 )为父本杂交 ,获得杂种F1代无性系 ,对此多水平杂交育种体系叶片和生长遗传变异进行了研究。结果表明 ,父本青杨种源间及种源内单株间均达到极显著差异 ,F1代无性系的种源间、种源内家系间和家系内无性系间存在不同差异。杂种F1代无性系扦插苗父本种源不同的杂交组合间和组合内家系间成活率差异不显著 ,1、2、3年生苗的生长性状在不同层次变异水平上差异显著或极显著 ,表明父本青杨种源间和种源内变异对F1代生长有显著影响 ,F1代无性系存在丰富的遗传变异 ,具有选择潜力。杂种F1代叶片形态与苗期生长性状间未发现有较大相关性     

美洲黑杨与不同种源青杨杂种苗叶片和生长性状多水平变异研究

利用美洲黑杨50号为母本和青杨5个种源(各10个单株)为父本杂交,获得杂种F1代无性系,对此多水平杂交育种体系叶片和生长遗传变异进行了研究.结果表明,父本青杨种源间及种源内单株间均达到极显著差异,F1代无性系的种源间、种源内家系间和家系内无性系间存在不同差异.杂种F1代无性系扦插苗父本种源不同的杂交组合间和组合内家系间成活率差异不显著,1、2、3年生苗的生长性状在不同层次变异水平上差异显著或极显著,表明父本青杨种源间和种源内变异对F1代生长有显著影响,F1代无性系存在丰富的遗传变异,具有选择潜力.杂种F1代叶片形态与苗期生长性状间未发现有较大相关性.     

Responses of trembling aspen and hazelnut to vapor pressure deficit in a boreal deciduous forest

The branch bag method was used to monitor photosynthesis and transpiration of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and hazelnut (Corylus cornuta Marsh.) over a 42-day midsummer period in 1996, as part of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS). During the same period, daytime measurements of stomatal conductance (g(s)) and leaf water potential (Psi(leaf)) were made on these species, and sap flow was monitored in aspen stems by the heat pulse method. Weather conditions during the study period were similar to the long-term average. Despite moist soils, both species showed an inverse relationship between daytime g(s) and vapor pressure deficit (D) when D was > 0.5 kPa. Daytime Psi(leaf) was below -2 MPa in aspen and near -1.5 MPa in hazelnut, except on rainy days. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that stomatal responses are constrained by hydraulic resistance from root to leaf, and by the need to maintain Psi(leaf) above a minimum threshold value. Reductions in g(s) on sunny afternoons with elevated ambient D (maximum 2.3 kPa) were associated with a significant decrease in photosynthetic rates. However, day-to-day variation in mean carbon assimilation rate was small in both species, and appeared to be governed more by solar radiation than D. These results may be generally applicable to healthy aspen stands under normal midsummer conditions in the southern boreal forest. However, strong reductions in carbon uptake may be expected at the more extreme values of D (> 4 kPa) that occur during periods of regional drought, even if soil water is not locally limiting.     

Growth response of three plantation species of the tropics exposed to elevated CO2 levels

The response of forest trees, the largest carbon sinks on the earth, to continuing rise in atmospheric carbon levels is unknown. Reports state that increasing levels of atmospheric CO₂ will stimulate photosynthesis and productivity in most ecosystems. However, the duration and magnitude of this stimulation, particularly in the tropics, remains a question. To investigate the effects of CO₂ fertilization on plant growth, seedlings of three common plantation species, Casuarina equisetifolia, Ailanthus excelsa and Tectona grandis were grown in closed chambers enriched with CO₂. After 180 days of treatment, morphological traits of seedling height, biomass of root and shoot and root-shoot allometric co-efficient were measured. The activity of carbonic anhydrase and contents of chlorophylls, total carbohydrates and soluble proteins were determined. In Tectona grandis, significant effects of CO₂ supply were found on chlorophylls, root-shoot allometric ratio and seedling quality index. Ailanthus excelsa showed significant effect on only the shoot characteristics on exposure to elevated CO₂ but the root characteristics and concentrations of chlorophylls were not significantly different. Casuarina equisetifolia also showed significant effects on exposure to elevated CO₂ in terms of shoot characteristics and concentrations of chlorophylls. Total sugars, the major photosynthates, did not show any significant variation to elevated CO₂ in any of the three species. Carbonic anhydrase, the key enzyme responsible for transfer of CO₂ into the tissues significantly increased in all three species. Overall, all the variables responded to elevated CO₂, reflecting the positive effects of one parameter of climate change conditions on seedling quality. A positive response of these three plantation species to elevated CO₂ content is a good indication for their future existence in potentially changed climatic conditions.     

美洲黑杨叶片主要化学物质差异及其对杨四瘿螨的抗性

研究18个美洲黑杨无性系苗期叶片可溶性糖、蛋白质和总酚等主要化学物质含量差异及对杨四瘿螨抗性差异的影响.结果表明,苗期叶片中可溶性糖、蛋白质和总酚含量等性状无性系间存在极显著差异.相关分析结果表明:美洲黑杨苗期叶片可溶性糖和总酚含量等性状差异与抗杨四瘿螨有密切关系,而蛋白质含量的高低与抗性关系不密切.苗期叶片中总酚含量越高,美洲黑杨对杨四瘿螨抗性越强,反之抗性就越弱.     

美洲黑杨木质素合成关键基因的克隆及反义表达载体的构建

以美洲黑杨Populus deltoides新萌叶片为材料,通过自行设计引物,用RT—PCR的方法克隆了美洲黑杨木质素合成关键基因4CL和CAD基因部分序列。测序结果表明:这两个基因片段长度分别为859 bp和493 bp。此外,人工合成了4CL基因木质部特异表达启动子4CLp,长度为1 180 bp。分别用限制性内切酶Hind III/BamH I、BamHI/Sma I和Sma I/Sac I对4CLp、4CL和CAD基因序列进行双酶切,同时用Hind III/Sac I对pBI121表达载体进行双酶切,回收了目的片段。酶切回收后用T4DNA连接酶克隆到植物表达载体pBI121中,并转化至大肠杆菌感受态细胞DH5α。经质粒PCR和双酶切分析,确定获得了pBI—4CLp—a4CL—aCAD反义植物表达载体。