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Fradera-Soler M, Mravec J, Schulz A, Taboryski R, Jørgensen B, Grace OM. Revisiting an ecophysiological oddity: Hydathode-mediated foliar water uptake in Crassula species from southern Africa. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:460-481. [PMID: 37876364 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Hydathodes are usually associated with water exudation in plants. However, foliar water uptake (FWU) through the hydathodes has long been suspected in the leaf-succulent genus Crassula (Crassulaceae), a highly diverse group in southern Africa, and, to our knowledge, no empirical observations exist in the literature that unequivocally link FWU to hydathodes in this genus. FWU is expected to be particularly beneficial on the arid western side of southern Africa, where up to 50% of Crassula species occur and where periodically high air humidity leads to fog and/or dew formation. To investigate if hydathode-mediated FWU is operational in different Crassula species, we used the apoplastic fluorescent tracer Lucifer Yellow in combination with different imaging techniques. Our images of dye-treated leaves confirm that hydathode-mediated FWU does indeed occur in Crassula and that it might be widespread across the genus. Hydathodes in Crassula serve as moisture-harvesting structures, besides their more common purpose of guttation, an adaptation that has likely played an important role in the evolutionary history of the genus. Our observations suggest that ability for FWU is independent of geographical distribution and not restricted to arid environments under fog influence, as FWU is also operational in Crassula species from the rather humid eastern side of southern Africa. Our observations point towards no apparent link between FWU ability and overall leaf surface wettability in Crassula. Instead, the hierarchically sculptured leaf surfaces of several Crassula species may facilitate FWU due to hydrophilic leaf surface microdomains, even in seemingly hydrophobic species. Overall, these results confirm the ecophysiological relevance of hydathode-mediated FWU in Crassula and reassert the importance of atmospheric humidity for some arid-adapted plant groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fradera-Soler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK
| | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Plant Science and Biodiversity Center, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Alexander Schulz
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Rafael Taboryski
- National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization (DTU Nanolab), Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bodil Jørgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Fan X, Hao X, Zhang S, Zhao Z, Zhang J, Li Y. Populus euphratica counteracts drought stress through the dew coupling and root hydraulic redistribution processes. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 131:451-461. [PMID: 36624896 PMCID: PMC10072085 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In arid and semi-arid areas, plants can directly absorb and use dew through their leaves, and some plants have the ability for hydraulic redistribution of their roots. Therefore, in arid areas, plants may redistribute dew to the soil, using the soil as a reservoir for short-term dry seasons, i.e. dew may participate in the hydraulic redistribution process of plants. This process plays an important role in plant survival and community stability. METHODS To verify this hypothesis, we investigated the water use mechanism of Populus euphratica through a comprehensive observation of sap flow, water potential and soil water content using a heavy water tracer experiment under in situ field conditions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Dewdrops contributed 28.3 % of soil moisture near the roots, and applying dew on leaves for several days significantly improved soil moisture status. Hydraulic redistribution in the roots mainly occurred from 2200 h at night to 800 h the following day and mainly occurred in the 20- to 80-cm soil layer. Water storage in the trunk is the intermediate link in the coupling process of foliar water uptake and hydraulic redistribution; water storage in the trunk is mainly replenished from May to July and consumed throughout the rest of the year. In conclusion, dew redistributes water into soil through the coupling process of foliar water uptake and hydraulic redistribution. Populus euphratica uses the trunk and soil for water storage to cope with water stress during short-term drought periods. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the restoration of different species in water-deficient areas, which is conducive to maintaining vegetation ecosystem stability in areas of desertification and improving the soil water balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Akesu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Akesu 843017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xingming Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- Akesu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Akesu 843017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Sen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Akesu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Akesu 843017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhuoyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Akesu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Akesu 843017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Akesu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Akesu 843017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yuanhang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
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Qin J, Si J, Jia B, Zhao C, Zhou D, He X, Wang C, Zhu X. Water use strategies of Ferula bungeana on mega-dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:957421. [PMID: 36561438 PMCID: PMC9763701 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.957421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In desert ecosystems, ephemeral plants have developed specialized water use strategies in response to long-term natural water stress. To examine the water use strategies of desert ephemeral plants under natural extreme drought conditions, we investigated the water absorption sources, water potential, hydraulic conductivity, and water use efficiency of Ferula bungeana at different elevations on the slopes of mega-dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia, during a period of extreme drought. We found that the water utilized by F. bungeana was mostly absorbed from the 0-60 cm soil layers (80.47 ± 4.28%). With progression of the growing season, the source of water changed from the 0-30 cm soil layer to the 30-60 cm layer. The water potentials of the leaves, stems, and roots of F. bungeana were found to be characterized by clear diurnal and monthly variation, which were restricted by water availability and the hydraulic conductivity of different parts of the plant. The root hydraulic conductivity of F. bungeana was found to be considerably greater than that of the canopy, both of which showed significant diurnal and monthly variation. The water use efficiency of F. bungeana under extreme drought conditions was relatively high, particularly during the early and late stages of the growing season. Variations in water availability led to the regulation of water uptake and an adjustment of internal water conduction, which modified plant water use efficiency. These observations tend to indicate that the water use strategies of F. bungeana are mainly associated with the growth stage of plants, whereas the distribution pattern of plants on mega-dunes appeared to have comparatively little influence. Our findings on the water use of ephemeral plants highlight the adaptive mechanisms of these plants in desert habitats and provide a theoretical basis for selecting plants suitable for the restoration and reconstruction of desert ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Qin
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Si
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bing Jia
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dongmeng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui He
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunlin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinglin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydrology of Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Gimeno TE, Stangl ZR, Barbeta A, Saavedra N, Wingate L, Devert N, Marshall JD. Water taken up through the bark is detected in the transpiration stream in intact upper-canopy branches. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:3219-3232. [PMID: 35922889 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alternative water uptake pathways through leaves and bark complement water supply with interception, fog or dew. Bark water-uptake contributes to embolism-repair, as demonstrated in cut branches. We tested whether bark water-uptake could also contribute to supplement xylem-water for transpiration. We applied bandages injected with 2 H-enriched water on intact upper-canopy branches of Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica in a boreal and in a temperate forest, in summer and winter, and monitored transpiration and online isotopic composition (δ2 H and δ18 O) of water vapour, before sampling for analyses of δ2 H and δ18 O in tissue waters. Xylem, bark and leaf waters from segments downstream from the bandages were 2 H-enriched whereas δ18 O was similar to controls. Transpiration was positively correlated with 2 H-enrichment. Isotopic compositions of transpiration and xylem water allowed us to calculate isotopic exchange through the bark via vapour exchange, which was negligible in comparison to estimated bark water-uptake, suggesting that water-uptake occurred via liquid phase. Results were consistent across species, forests and seasons, indicating that bark water-uptake may be more ubiquitous than previously considered. We suggest that water taken up through the bark could be incorporated into the transpiration stream, which could imply that sap-flow measurements underestimate transpiration when bark is wet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa E Gimeno
- CREAF, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Leioa, Spain
| | - Zsofia R Stangl
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Adrià Barbeta
- BEECA, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Noelia Saavedra
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
| | | | | | - John D Marshall
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
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