Comparison of Branch Water Relations in Two Riparian Species: Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima

Duan Li, Jianhua Si, Xiaoyou Zhang, Yayu Gao, Huan Luo, Jie Qin and Guanlong Gao
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Duan Li: Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Jianhua Si: Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xiaoyou Zhang: Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yayu Gao: Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Huan Luo: Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Guanlong Gao: Department of environment and resources, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: Water relations in plants maintain healthy tree branches and drought conditions during plant growth may affect water relations, but the mechanisms are poorly known. In our study, we determined the stomatal conductance, hydraulic conductance, water potential and ion concentration of xylem sap to increase the understanding of changes in water relations in branches of Populus euphratica ( P. euphratica ) and Tamarix ramosissima ( T. ramosissima ), which are the dominant plant species in the lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin in China. The results showed that both species responded to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) during the growing season by adjusting stomatal conductance to achieve homeostasis in leaf water potentials. The leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (LSC) of the branch was determined using water status in the branch, and the LSC of the leaf was determined using water status in the leaf. Because of homeostasis in leaf water potentials, hydraulic conductance in leaves remained stable. As a result, branch dieback, which might be induced by deficits in water supply, could rarely be seen in T. ramosissima owing to the homeostasis in branch and leaf water status. The ion sensitivity of xylem hydraulic conductance in P. euphratica induced an increase in hydraulic conductance caused by the deficits in the water supply which might lead to branch dieback. The evaluation of water relations provides a further understanding of the internal mechanisms of drought acclimation for riparian plants.

Keywords: Populus euphratica; Tamarix ramosissima; water relations; stomatal conductance; hydraulic characteristics; water status; ion sensitivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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