This study tested the hypothesis that water stress increases the hydraulic efficiency of Eucalyptus nitens × E. grandis saplings as a result of osmotic and elastic adjustments. Eucalyptus nitens × E. grandis clones (NH00, NH58, NH69 and NH70) were potted in coarse river sand supplemented with a slow-release fertiliser, drip-irrigated four times daily and exposed to full sunlight for eight months. Thereafter, irrigation was withheld twice for seven consecutive days from half of the saplings of each clone, with a seven-day recovery period (regular irrigation) in-between. Relative soil moisture content did not correlate with stomatal conductance (gs) at pre-dawn and at midday. Leaves of plants subjected to the water-stress treatment wilted in 7 d, and the reduction in gs was significant at midday with no significant differences between clones. Stomatal conductance and all traits derived from pressure-volume graphs (e.g. osmotic potential at full turgor) were constant in the control treatment. There were no clear patterns in osmotic and elastic adjustments in both treatments. Root hydraulic conductance was constant between treatments and clones. However, water stress reduced shoot hydraulic conductance and stem hydraulic conductivity with significant interclonal effects. Plant biomass, leaf area and leaf weight ratio were significantly lower in the water-stressed plants, but there were no differences between the clones. In conclusion, the water-stress treatment did not introduce significant differences in stomatal conductance and tissue-water relations of Eucalyptus nitens × E. grandis clones. Interclonal variation in water-stress response was found in shoot hydraulic traits, and clone NH58 may be more suitable for planting across sites prone to moderate water stress. 相似文献
The combined effect of drought and light on different physiological and biochemical traits was assessed in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings grown under two levels of light availability and submitted to a long-standing drought. Watering was withdrawn after germination and seedlings were allowed to dry to a water content of ca. 50% of field capacity. At this point, water-stressed seedlings were grown under moderate drought and two light regimes: high light (HL—50%) and low light (LL—2%). Soil water in control plants was kept close to field capacity (90–100%) for both light environments. Water-relations parameters derived from P–V curves, gas exchange and water status at predawn (Ψpd) were evaluated at twice during the experiment. Nitrogen and chlorophyll contents were determined in the same leaves used for the gas exchange measurements. In addition, maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electronic transport (Jmax) were derived from A–Ci curves in well-watered seedlings.
The variation on moisture availability during the experiment was the same under both light environments. In control plants, Ψpd was over −0.3 MPa at the two harvests, while stressed seedlings decreased to −0.9 MPa, with no differences between light treatments. Water stress decreased osmotic potentials at full (Ψπ100) and zero turgor (Ψπ0). The regressions between both potentials and Ψpd showed a higher intercept in shade grown seedlings. This fact will point out the higher osmoregulation capacity in sun seedlings whatever water availability.
Nitrogen investment on a per leaf mass (Nmass), chlorophyll content (Chlmass) and SLA tended to show a typical pattern of sun-shade acclimation. Thus, the three parameters increased with shade. Only for Nmass there was a significant effect of watering, since water stress increased Nmass.
LL plants showed a lower photosynthetic capacity in terms of maximum net photosynthesis at saturating light (Amax), which was related to a decrease in Vcmax and Jmax. Both parameters varied with specific leaf area (SLA) in a similar way. The low-light environment brought about a higher nitrogen investment in chlorophyll, while under high-light environment the investment was higher in carboxylation (Vcmax) and electronic transport (Fmax).
Stomatal conductance to water vapour (gwv) and Amax were lower in low-light seedlings independently of watering. In addition, there was a trend to keep higher intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE) under high light environment. The increase of IWUE under water stress was higher in HL seedlings. This was as consequence of the steeper decline in gwv as Ψpd decreased. The decrease of Amax with Ψpd occurred in a similar way in LL and HL seedlings. Thus, the HL seedlings tended to sustain a higher ability to increase IWUE than LL seedlings when they were submitted to the same water stress. 相似文献
Mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Quercus faginea Lamk., Quercus petraea Liebl., and Pinus halepensis Mill. one-year-old seedlings inoculated with Tuber melanosporum Vitt. have been analyzed with the purpose of studying the influence of mycorrhization on their growth, water relations, and
mineral nutrition. The mycorrhization improved Q. petraea and P. halepensis seedling growth. In addition, the mycorrhization created an elastic adjustment in P. halepensis, although it did not cause any osmotic adjustment. Additionally, the mycorrhization increased phosphorus uptake in Q. faginea and P. halepensis, content of all nutrients in P. halepensis, and N content in Q. petraea. 相似文献