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Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

Biologia Plantarum

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 March 2007

Abstract

Plant water potential (ψ), its components, and gas exchange data of two Mediterranean co-occurring woody species (Quercus ilex L. and Phillyrea latifolia L.) were measured in response to seasonal changes in water availability over two consecutive years. The relative contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance was assessed through Principal Component Analyses. There were large adjustments in stomatal conductance (∼36 % of accounted variance). Net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency were closely tuned to water availability and accounted for ∼17 % of variance. The slope of the water potential vs. relative water content (dψ/dRWC0) below zero pressure potential increased as a result of seasonal and ontogenic increases in apoplastic water fraction and accounted for ∼20 % variance. This tolerance mechanism was accompanied by an increased range of positive pressure potential, suggesting a functional role of sclerophylly in these Mediterranean evergreens. Similarly, changes in the slope of dψ/dRWC in the range of positive pressure potential (∼13 % of accounted variance) were associated to variations in cell wall elasticity and resulted in lower RWC at zero pressure potential. When considering the species studied separately, the results indicated the primary role of stomatal regulation in the drought resistance of Qilex, while increased apoplastic water fraction had a major contribution in the drought resistance of P. latifolia.

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Abbreviations

AWF:

apoplastic water fraction

dψ/dRWC:

slope of the water potential vs. relative water content above zero pressure potential

dψ/dRWC0 :

slope of the water potential vs. relative water content below zero pressure potential

E:

transpiration rate

gs :

stomatal conductance

HE:

hydraulic efficiency

PN :

net photosynthetic rate

RWC0 :

relative water content at zero pressure potential

WUE:

water use efficiency

Δψ:

diurnal amplitude of leaf water potential

ψmd :

midday leaf water potential

ψpd :

predawn leaf water potential

ɛ:

bulk modulus of elasticity

100 - π0):

range of positive pressure potential

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Correspondence to L. Serrano.

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This research was supported by Spanish CICYT grants CLI99-0479 and REN-2002-00633. L.S. acknowledges the financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (“Ramon y Cajal” program, Spain).

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10535-007-0087-8.

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Serrano, L., Penuelas, J. Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species. Biol Plant 49, 551–559 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-005-0049-y

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