Synchronous changes in tissue water parameters of mature foliage from well-watered and periodically droughted tree seedlings
1994
Abrams, M.D. | Kubiske, M.E.
Tissue water relations using pressure-volume analysis were examined in mature foliage of continuously well-watered and twice droughted seedlings of two contrasting tree species over a 75 d period. One species, Liriodendron tulipifera L., exhibited no osmotic adjustment in droughted plants, but had significant decreases in osmotic potential in well-watered plants. Droughted plants of Quercus prinus L. had significant decreases and increases in osmotic potential during and after drought, but synchronous changes in osmotic potential in the well-watered control plants accounted for 40-89% of this variation. During a one month period, osmotic potential in droughted and well-watered Q. prinus decreased by 0.36 and 0.32 MPa, respectively, indicating that almost all of the osmotic adjustment in droughted plants could be attributed to phenological shifts. Liriodendron had higher mean (+/- s.e.) relative solute content (RNs) (4.1 +/- 0.3 mmol g-1) and relative symplast volume (Rsv) (46.8 +/- 3.3%) than did Q. prinus (2.5 +/- 0.2 mmol g-1 and 35.7 +/- 2.9%, respectively). However, there were no differences in mean RNs and Rsv or the relationship of RNs and Rsv versus osmotic potential between well-watered and droughted plants within each species. The results of this study indicate that synchronous changes in tissue water parameters may occur in well-watered and droughted plants, that drought effects need to be defined as the difference in change between well-watered and droughted plants, rather than the change in droughted plants alone, and that seasonal changes in RNs and Rsv may be responsible for the previously unexplained phenological shifts in mature leaves of well-watered plants.
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