Stomatal Closure, Basal Leaf Embolism, and Shedding Protect the Hydraulic Integrity of Grape Stems

Overcoming drought: life traits driving tree strategies to confront drought stress

This insight article comments on: Ziegler C, Cochard, H, Stahl C, Bastien Gérard LF, Goret J, Heuret P, Levionnois S, Maillard P, Bonal D, Coste S. 2024. Residual water losses mediate the trade-off between growth and drought survival across saplings of 12 tropical rainforest tree species with contrasting hydraulic strategies. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 4128-4147.

Coordinated hydraulic traits influence the two phases of time to hydraulic failure in five temperate tree species differing in stomatal stringency

Worldwide, forests are increasingly exposed to extreme droughts causing tree mortality. Because of the complex nature of the mechanisms involved, various traits have been linked to tree drought responses with contrasting results. This may be due to species-specific strategies in regulating water potential, a process that unfolds in two distinct phases: a first phase until stomatal closure, and a second phase until reaching lethal xylem hydraulic thresholds. We conducted dry-down experiments with five broadleaved temperate tree species differing in their degree of isohydry to estimate the time to stomatal closure (tsc) and subsequent time to critical hydraulic failure (tcrit). We measured various traits linked to tree drought responses, such as the water potentials at turgor loss point (Ptlp), stomatal closure (Pgs90), and 12%, 50% and 88% loss of xylem hydraulic conductance (P12, P50, P88), hydraulic capacitance (C), minimum leaf conductance (gmin), hydroscape area (HSA) and hydraulic safety margins (HSM). We found that Pgs90 followed previously recorded patterns of isohydry and was associated with HSA. Species ranked from more to less isohydric in the sequence Acer pseudoplatanus < Betula pendula < Tilia cordata < Sorbus aucuparia < Fagus sylvatica. Their degree of isohydry was associated with leaf safety (Ptlp and gmin), drought avoidance (C) and tsc, but decoupled from xylem safety (HSM and P88) and tcrit. Regardless of their stomatal stringency, species with wider HSM and lower P88 reached critical hydraulic failure later. We conclude that the duration of the first phase is determined by stomatal regulation, while the duration of the second phase is associated with xylem safety. Isohydry is thus linked to water use rather than to drought survival strategies, confirming the proposed use of HSA as a complement to HSM for describing plant drought responses before and after stomatal closure.

Potassium deficiency enhances imbalances in rice water relations under water deficit by decreasing leaf hydraulic conductance

Potassium (K+) is an essential macronutrient for appropriate plant development and physiology. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the regulation of leaf water relations by K under water deficit. A pot experiment with two K supplies of 0.45 and 0 g K2O per pot (3 kg soil per pot) and two watering conditions (well-watered and water-deficit) was conducted to explore the effects of K deficiency on canopy transpiration characteristics, leaf water status, photosynthesis, and hydraulic traits in two rice genotypes with contrasting resistance to drought. The results showed that K deficiency reduced canopy transpiration rate by decreasing stomatal conductance, which led to higher canopy temperatures, resulting in limited water deficit tolerance in rice. In addition, K deficiency led to further substantial reductions in leaf relative water content and water potential under water deficit, which increased the imbalance in leaf water relations under water deficit. Notably, K deficiency limited leaf gas exchange by reducing leaf hydraulic conductance, but decreased the intrinsic water use efficiency under water deficit, especially for the drought-resistant cultivar. Further analysis of the underlying process of leaf hydraulic resistance revealed that the key limiting factor of leaf hydraulic conductance under K deficiency was the outside-xylem hydraulic conductance rather than the xylem hydraulic conductance. Overall, our results provide a comprehensive perspective for assessing leaf water relations under K deficiency, water deficit, and their combined stresses, which will be useful for optimal rice fertilization strategies.

New approaches to dissect leaf hydraulics reveal large gradients in living tissues of tomato leaves

The water status of the living tissue in leaves is critical in determining plant function and global exchange of water and CO2. Despite significant advances in the past two decades, persistent questions remain about the tissue-specific origins of leaf hydraulic properties and their dependence on water status. We use a fluorescent nanoparticle reporter that provides water potential in the mesophyll apoplast adjacent to the epidermis of intact leaves to complement existing methods based on the Scholander Pressure Chamber (SPC). Working in tomato leaves, this approach provides access to the hydraulic conductance of the whole leaf, xylem, and outside-xylem tissues. These measurements show that, as stem water potential decreases, the water potential in the mesophyll apoplast can drop below that assessed with the SPC and can fall significantly below the turgor loss point of the leaf. We find that this drop in potential, dominated by the large loss (10-fold) of hydraulic conductance of the outside-xylem tissue, is not however strong enough to significantly limit transpiration. These observations highlight the need to reassess models of water transfer through the outside-xylem tissues, the potential importance of this tissue in regulating transpiration, and the power of new approaches for probing leaf hydraulics.

Stomatal response to VPD is not triggered by changes in soil-leaf hydraulic conductance in Arabidopsis or Callitris

Stomatal closure under high VPDL (leaf to air vapour pressure deficit) is a primary means by which plants prevent large excursions in transpiration rate and leaf water potential (Ψleaf) that could lead to tissue damage. Yet, the drivers of this response remain controversial. Changes in Ψleaf appear to drive stomatal VPDL response, but many argue that dynamic changes in soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance (Ks-l) make an important contribution to this response pathway, even in well-hydrated soils. Here, we examined whether the regulation of whole plant stomatal conductance (gc) in response to typical changes in daytime VPDL is influenced by dynamic changes in Ks-l. We use well-watered plants of two species with contrasting ecological and physiological features: the herbaceous Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia-0) and the dry forest conifer Callitris rhomboidea. The dynamics of Ks-l and gc were continuously monitored by combining concurrent in situ measurements of Ψleaf using an open optical dendrometer and whole plant transpiration using a balance. Large changes in VPDL were imposed to induce stomatal closure and observe the impact on Ks-l. In both species, gc was observed to decline substantially as VPDL increased, while Ks-l remained stable. Our finding suggests that stomatal regulation of transpiration is not contingent on a decrease in Ks-l. Static Ks-l provides a much simpler explanation for transpiration control in hydrated plants and enables simplified modelling and new methods for monitoring plant water use in the field.

Localized measurements of water potential reveal large loss of conductance in living tissues of maize leaves

The water status of the living tissue in leaves between the xylem and stomata (outside xylem zone (OXZ) plays a critical role in plant function and global mass and energy balance but has remained largely inaccessible. We resolve the local water relations of OXZ tissue using a nanogel reporter of water potential (ψ), AquaDust, that enables an in situ, nondestructive measurement of both ψ of xylem and highly localized ψ at the terminus of transpiration in the OXZ. Working in maize (Zea mays L.), these localized measurements reveal gradients in the OXZ that are several folds larger than those based on conventional methods and values of ψ in the mesophyll apoplast well below the macroscopic turgor loss potential. We find a strong loss of hydraulic conductance in both the bundle sheath and the mesophyll with decreasing xylem potential but not with evaporative demand. Our measurements suggest the OXZ plays an active role in regulating the transpiration path, and our methods provide the means to study this phenomenon.

The legacy of past droughts induces water-sparingly behaviour in Grüner Veltliner grapevines

Drought is becoming more frequent and severe in numerous wine-growing regions. Nevertheless, limited research has examined the legacy of recurrent droughts, focusing on leaf physiology and anatomy over consecutive seasons. We investigated drought legacies (after 2 years of drought exposure) in potted grapevines, focusing on stomatal behaviour under well-watered conditions during the third year. Vines were subjected for two consecutive years to short- (SD) or long-term (LD) seasonal droughts, or well-watered conditions (WW). In the third year, all plants were grown without water limitation. Water potential and gas exchange were monitored throughout the three seasons, while leaf morpho-anatomical traits were measured at the end of the third year. During droughts (1st and 2nd year), stem water potential of SD and LD plants fell below -1.1 MPa, with a consequent 75% reduction in stomatal conductance (gs ) compared to WW. In the 3rd year, when all vines were daily irrigated to soil capacity (midday stem water potential ~ -0.3 MPa), 45% lower values of gs were observed in the ex-LD group compared to both ex-SD and ex-WW. Reduced midrib vessel diameter, lower leaf theoretical hydraulic conductivity, and smaller stomata were measured in ex-LD leaves compared to ex-SD and ex-WW, likely contributing to the reduced gas exchange. Our findings suggest that grapevines exposed to drought may adopt a more water-conserving strategy in subsequent seasons, irrespective of current soil water availability, with the degree of change influenced by the intensity and duration of past drought events.

Herb hydraulics: Variation and correlation for traits governing drought tolerance and efficiency of water transport

Hydraulic traits dictate plant response to drought, thus enabling better understanding of community dynamics under global climate change. Despite being intensively documented in woody species, herbaceous species (graminoids and forbs) are largely understudied, hence the distribution and correlation of hydraulic traits in herbaceous species remains unclear. Here, we collected key hydraulic traits for 436 herbaceous species from published literature, including leaf hydraulic conductivity (Kleaf), water potential inducing 50 % loss of hydraulic conductivity (P50), stomatal closure (Pclose) and turgor loss (Ptlp). Trait variation of herbs was analyzed and contrasted with angiosperm woody species within the existing global hydraulic traits database, as well as between different growth forms within herbs. Furthermore, hydraulic traits coordination was also assessed for herbaceous species. We found that herbs showed overall more negative Pclose but less negative Ptlp compared with angiosperm woody species, while P50 did not differ between functional types, regardless of the organ (leaf and stem). In addition, correlations were found between Kleaf and P50 of leaf (P50leaf), as well as between Pclose, P50leaf and Kleaf. Within herbs, graminoids generally exhibited more negative P50 and Ptlp, but lower Kleaf, relative to forbs. Within herbs, no clear pattern regarding hydraulic traits-climate relationship was found. Our analysis provided insights into herb hydraulic, and highlighted the knowledge gaps need to be filled regarding the response of herbs to drought.

An analytical complete model of root pressure generation: Theoretical bases for studying hydraulics of bamboo

To better understand the dynamics and functional roles of root pressure, we represent a novel and the first complete analytical model for root pressure, which can be applied to complex roots/shoots. The osmotic volume of a single root is equal to that of the vessel lumen in fine roots and adjacent apoplastic spaces. Water uptake occurs via passive osmosis and active solute uptake (J s * , osmol s-1 ), resulting in the osmolyte concentration Cr (mol·kg-1 of water) at a fixed osmotic volume. Solute loss occurs via two passive processes: radial diffusion of solute Km (Cr - Csoil ) from fine roots to soil, where Km is the diffusional constant and Csoil is the soil-solute concentration, and the mass flow of solute and water into the plant from the fine roots. The proposed model predicts the quadratic function of root pressure (Pr ),P r 2 + b P r + c = 0 , where b and c are the functions of plant hydraulic resistance, soil water potential, solute flux and gravitational potential. The model demonstrates the root pressure-mediated distribution of water through the hydraulic architecture of a 6.8-m-tall bamboo shoot. This model provides a theoretical basis to test the functional roles of root pressure in shaping the hydraulic architecture and refilling potential xylem embolisms.

Assessing inter-intraspecific variability of leaf vulnerability to embolism for 10 alpine Rhododendron species growing in Southwestern China

Alpine Rhododendron species are prominent constituents and renowned ornamental plants in alpine ecosystems. Consequently, evaluating the genetic variation in embolism resistance within the genus Rhododendron and predicting their adaptability to future climate change is important. Nevertheless, the assessment of embolism resistance in Rhododendron species remains limited. This investigation aimed to examine leaf vulnerability to embolism across ten alpine Rhododendron species, which are frequently employed as ornamental species in Rhododendron forests in Southwest China. The study analyzed the correlation between embolism resistance and various morphological traits, while also conducting water control experiments to evaluate the relationship between embolism resistance and drought resistance. The outcomes indicated pronounced variations in leaf vulnerability to embolism among species, as reflected by the water potential at 50% of embolized pixels (P50 ). Furthermore, the leaf P50 exhibited a significant positive correlation with vessel diameter (D) (R2  = 0.44, P = 0.03) and vessel wall span (b) (R2  = 0.64, P = 0.005), while displaying a significant negative correlation with vessel reinforcement ((t/b)2 ) (R2  = 0.67, P = 0.004). These findings underscore the reliability of selecting species based on embolism vulnerability to preserve the diversity of alpine ecosystems and foster resilience to climate change.

Assessing the agreement between the pneumatic and the flow-centrifuge method for estimating xylem safety in temperate diffuse-porous tree species

The increasing frequency of global change-type droughts has created a need for fast, accurate and widely applicable techniques for estimating xylem embolism resistance to improve forecasts of future forest changes. We used data from 12 diffuse-porous temperate tree species covering a wide range of xylem safety to compare the pneumatic and flow-centrifuge method, two rapid methods used for constructing xylem vulnerability curves. We evaluated the agreement between parameters estimated with both methods and the sensitivity of pneumatic measurements to the duration of air discharge (AD) measurements. There was close agreement between xylem water potentials at 50% air discharged (PAD), estimated with the Pneumatron, and 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC), estimated with the flow-centrifuge method (mean signed deviation: 0.12 MPa, Pearson correlation: 0.96 after 15 s of gas extraction). However, the relationship between the estimated slopes was more variable, resulting in lower agreement in the xylem water potential at 12% and 88% PAD/PLC. The agreement between the two methods was not affected by species-specific vessel length distributions. All pneumatic parameters were sensitive to AD time. Overall agreement was highest at relatively short AD times, with an optimum at 16 s. Our results highlight the value of the Pneumatron as an easy and reliable tool to estimate 50% embolism thresholds for a wide range of diffuse-porous temperate angiosperms. Further, our study provides a set of useful metrics for methodological comparisons of vulnerability curves in terms of systematic and random deviations, as well as overall agreement.

Drought survival in conifer species is related to the time required to cross the stomatal safety margin

The regulation of water loss and the spread of xylem embolism have mostly been considered separately. The development of an integrated approach taking into account the temporal dynamics and relative contributions of these mechanisms to plant drought responses is urgently needed. Do conifer species native to mesic and xeric environments display different hydraulic strategies and temporal sequences under drought? A dry-down experiment was performed on seedlings of four conifer species differing in embolism resistance, from drought-sensitive to extremely drought-resistant species. A set of traits related to drought survival was measured, including turgor loss point, stomatal closure, minimum leaf conductance, and xylem embolism resistance. All species reached full stomatal closure before the onset of embolism, with all but the most drought-sensitive species presenting large stomatal safety margins, demonstrating that highly drought-resistant species do not keep their stomata open under drought conditions. Plant dry-down time to death was significantly influenced by the xylem embolism threshold, stomatal safety margin, and minimum leaf conductance, and was best explained by the newly introduced stomatal margin retention index (SMRIΨ50) which reflects the time required to cross the stomatal safety margin. The SMRIΨ50 may become a key tool for the characterization of interspecific drought survival variability in trees.

Rapid leaf xylem acclimation diminishes the chances of embolism in grapevines

Under most conditions tight stomatal regulation in grapevines (Vitis vinifera) avoids xylem embolism. The current study evaluated grapevine responses to challenging scenarios that might lead to leaf embolism and consequential leaf damage. We hypothesized that embolism would occur if the vines experienced low xylem water potential (Ψx) shortly after bud break or later in the season under a combination of extreme drought and heat. We subjected vines to two potentially dangerous environments: (i) withholding irrigation from a vineyard grown in a heatwave-prone environment, and (ii) subjecting potted vines to terminal drought 1 month after bud break. In the field experiment, a heatwave at the beginning of August resulted in leaf temperatures over 45 °C. However, effective stomatal response maintained the xylem water potential (Ψx) well above the embolism threshold, and no leaf desiccation was observed. In the pot experiment, leaves of well-watered vines in May were relatively vulnerable to embolism with 50% embolism (P50) at -1.8 MPa. However, when exposed to drought, these leaves acclimated their leaf P50 by 0.65 MPa in less than a week and before reaching embolism values. When dried to embolizing Ψx, the leaf damage proportion matched (percentage-wise) the leaf embolism level. Our findings indicate that embolism and leaf damage are usually avoided by the grapevines' efficient stomatal regulation and rapid acclimation of their xylem vulnerability.

Relationships between xylem embolism and tree functioning during drought, recovery, and recurring drought in Aleppo pine

Recent findings suggest that trees can survive high levels of drought-induced xylem embolism. In many cases, the embolism is irreversible and, therefore, can potentially affect post-drought recovery and tree function under recurring droughts. We examined the development of embolism in potted Aleppo pines, a common species in hot, dry Mediterranean habitats. We asked (1) how post-drought recovery is affected by different levels of embolism and (2) what consequences this drought-induced damage has under a recurring drought scenario. Young trees were dehydrated to target water potential (Ψx ) values of -3.5, -5.2 and -9.5 MPa (which corresponded to ~6%, ~41% and ~76% embolism), and recovery of the surviving trees was measured over an 8-months period (i.e., embolism, leaf gas-exchange, Ψx ). An additional group of trees was exposed to Ψx of -6.0 MPa, either with or without preceding drought (Ψx of -5.2 MPa) to test the effect of hydraulic damage during repeated drought. Trees that reached -9.5 MPa died, but none from the other groups. Embolism levels in dying trees were on average 76% of conductive xylem and no tree was dying below 62% embolism. Stomatal recovery was negatively proportional to the level of hydraulic damage sustained during drought, for at least a month after drought relief. Trees that experienced drought for the second time took longer to reach fatal Ψx levels than first-time dehydrating trees. Decreased stomatal conductance following drought can be seen as "drought legacy," impeding recovery of tree functioning, but also as a safety mechanism during a consecutive drought.

Photosynthesis, leaf hydraulic conductance and embolism dynamics in the resurrection plant Barbacenia purpurea

The main parameters determining photosynthesis are stomatal and mesophyll conductance and electron transport rate, and for hydraulic dynamics they are leaf hydraulic conductance and the spread of embolism. These parameters have scarcely been studied in desiccation-tolerant (resurrection) plants exposed to drought. Here, we characterized photosynthesis and hydraulics during desiccation and rehydration in a poikilochlorophyllous resurrection plant, Barbacenia purpurea (Velloziaceae). Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf water status were monitored along the whole dehydration-rehydration cycle. Simultaneously, embolism formation and hydraulic functioning recovery were measured at leaf level using micro-computed tomography imaging. Photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance ceased at relatively high water potential (-1.28 and -1.54 MPa, respectively), whereas the onset of leaf embolism occurred after stomatal closure and photosynthesis cessation (<-1.61 MPa). This sequence of physiological processes during water stress may be associated with the need to delay dehydration, to prepare the molecular changes required in the desiccated state. Complete rehydration occurred rapidly in the mesophyll, whereas partial xylem refilling, and subsequent recovery of photosynthesis, occurred at later stages after rewatering. These results highlight the importance of stomata as safety valves to protect the vascular system from embolism, even in a plant able to fully recover after complete embolism.

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) agroforestry systems: intraspecific differences in water relations and hydraulic architecture

Intensive farming systems benefit from the additional ecosystem services provided by tree integration, which generate different growing conditions for the main crop. We studied yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis ) responses to growing conditions in monoculture (the conventional cropping system of yerba mate) and in three agroforestry systems: (1) yerba mate+Balfourodendron riedelianum ; (2) yerba mate+Peltophorum dubium ; and (3) yerba mate+Toona ciliata . Mainly, we focused on water relations and the hydraulic architecture of yerba mate. Agroforestry cropping systems provided a shade cover of around 34-45% and yielded as high as the conventional system. The shade cover influenced the allocation pattern to enhance leaf light capture, incrementing the leaf area to the sapwood area at the branch level. We also found a higher specific hydraulic conductivity in stems of yerba mate plants in consortium with T. ciliata than in the conventional cropping system, as well as higher resistance to water deficits due to lower vulnerability to embolism in the stems. During a severe drought, yerba mate plants had a similar stem and leaf water potential in both agricultural systems. Still, plants in monoculture had lower hydraulic safety margins and higher signs of leaf damage and mortality. This indicates that integrating trees into the yerba mate cultivation increases water stress resistance which would be beneficial to avoid restrictions on crop productivity under severe droughts induced by climate change.

Climate lags and genetics determine phenology in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Spatiotemporal patterns of phenology may be affected by mosaics of environmental and genetic variation. Environmental drivers may have temporally lagged impacts, but patterns and mechanisms remain poorly known. We combine multiple genomic, remotely sensed, and physically modeled datasets to determine the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of canopy phenology in quaking aspen, a widespread clonal dioecious tree species with diploid and triploid cytotypes. We show that over 391 km² of southwestern Colorado: greenup date, greendown date, and growing season length vary by weeks and differ across sexes, cytotypes, and genotypes; phenology has high phenotypic plasticity and heritabilities of 31-61% (interquartile range); and snowmelt date, soil moisture, and air temperature predict phenology, at temporal lags of up to 3 yr. Our study shows that lagged environmental effects are needed to explain phenological variation and that the effect of cytotype on phenology is obscured by its correlation with topography. Phenological patterns are consistent with responses to multiyear accumulation of carbon deficit or hydraulic damage.

Seeing plants as never before

Imaging has long supported our ability to understand the inner life of plants, their development, and response to a dynamic environment. While optical microscopy remains the core tool for imaging, a suite of novel technologies is now beginning to make a significant contribution to visualize plant metabolism. The purpose of this review was to provide the scientific community with an overview of current imaging methods, which rely variously on either nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) or infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and to present some examples of their application in order to illustrate their utility. In addition to providing a description of the basic principles underlying these technologies, the review discusses their various advantages and limitations, reveals the current state of the art, and suggests their potential application to experimental practice. Finally, a view is presented as to how the technologies will likely develop, how these developments may encourage the formulation of novel experimental strategies, and how the enormous potential of these technologies can contribute to progress in plant science.

Xylem resistance to cavitation increases during summer in Pinus halepensis

Cavitation resistance has often been viewed as a relatively static trait, especially for stems of forest trees. Meanwhile, other hydraulic traits, such as turgor loss point (Ψ_tlp ) and xylem anatomy, change during the season. In this study, we hypothesized that cavitation resistance is also dynamic, changing in coordination with Ψ_tlp . We began with a comparison of optical vulnerability (OV), microcomputed tomography (µCT) and cavitron methods. All three methods significantly differed in the slope of the curve,Ψ₁₂ and Ψ₈₈ , but not in Ψ₅₀ (xylem pressures that cause 12%, 88%, 50% cavitation, respectively). Thus, we followed the seasonal dynamics (across 2 years) of Ψ₅₀ in Pinus halepensis under Mediterranean climate using the OV method. We found that Ψ₅₀ is a plastic trait with a reduction of approximately 1 MPa from the end of the wet season to the end of the dry season, in coordination with the dynamics of the midday xylem water potential (Ψ_midday ) and the Ψ_tlp . The observed plasticity enabled the trees to maintain a stable positive hydraulic safety margin and avoid cavitation during the long dry season. Seasonal plasticity is vital for understanding the actual risk of cavitation to plants and for modeling species' ability to tolerate harsh environments.

Quantifying the grapevine xylem embolism resistance spectrum to identify varieties and regions at risk in a future dry climate

Maintaining wine production under global warming partly relies on optimizing the choice of plant material for a given viticultural region and developing drought-resistant cultivars. However, progress in these directions is hampered by the lack of understanding of differences in drought resistance among Vitis genotypes. We investigated patterns of xylem embolism vulnerability within and among 30 Vitis species and sub-species (varieties) from different locations and climates, and assessed the risk of drought vulnerability in 329 viticultural regions worldwide. Within a variety, vulnerability to embolism decreased during summer. Among varieties, we have found wide variations in drought resistance of the vascular system in grapevines. This is particularly the case within Vitis vinifera, with varieties distributed across four clusters of embolism vulnerability. Ugni blanc and Chardonnay featured among the most vulnerable, while Pinot noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ranked among the most resistant. Regions possibly at greater risk of being vulnerable to drought, such as Poitou-Charentes, France and Marlborough, New Zealand, do not necessarily have arid climates, but rather bear a significant proportion of vulnerable varieties. We demonstrate that grapevine varieties may not respond equally to warmer and drier conditions, and highlight that hydraulic traits are key to improve viticulture suitability under climate change.

Physiological response and photosynthetic recovery to an extreme drought: Evidence from plants in a dry-hot valley savanna of Southwest China

The frequency of extreme drought events has been rising worldwide, but due to its unpredictability, how plants will respond remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to characterize how the hydraulics and photosynthesis of savanna plants respond to extreme drought, and tested whether they can subsequently recover photosynthesis after drought. There was an extreme drought in 2019 in Southwest (SW) China. We investigated photosynthetic gas exchange, leaf-, stem-, and whole-shoot hydraulic conductance of 18 plant species with diverse leaf habits (deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen) and growth forms (tree and shrub) from a dry-hot valley savanna in SW China for three rainy seasons from 2019 to 2021. We also compared photosynthetic gas exchange to those of a regular year (2014). We found that leaf stomatal and hydraulic conductance and maximum photosynthetic rate were significantly lower during the drought in 2019 than in the wetter years. In 2019, all studied plants maintained stomatal conductance at their minimum level observed, which could be related to high vapor pressure deficits (VPD, >2 kPa). However, no significant difference in stem and shoot hydraulic conductance was detected across years. The reductions in leaf hydraulic conductance and stomatal regulation under extreme drought might help keep the stem hydraulic function. Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis after drought (2020 and 2021) showed comparable or even higher values compared to that of 2014, suggesting high recovery of photosynthetic gas exchange. In addition, the response of hydraulic and photosynthetic traits to extreme drought was convergent across leaf habits and growth forms. Our results will help better understand the physiological mechanism underlying the response of savanna ecosystems to climate change.

A bitter future for coffee production? Physiological traits associated with yield reveal high vulnerability to hydraulic failure in Coffea canephora

The increase in frequency and intensity of drought events have hampered coffee production in the already threatened Amazon region, yet little is known about key aspects underlying the variability in yield potential across genotypes, nor to what extent higher productivity is linked to reduced drought tolerance. Here we explored how variations in morphoanatomical and physiological leaf traits can explain differences in yield and vulnerability to embolism in 11 Coffea canephora genotypes cultivated in the Western Amazon. The remarkable variation in coffee yield across genotypes was tightly related to differences in their carbon assimilation and water transport capacities, revealing a diffusive limitation to photosynthesis linked by hydraulic constraints. Although a clear trade-off between water transport efficiency and safety was not detected, all the studied genotypes operated in a narrow and/or negative hydraulic safety margin, suggesting a high vulnerability to leaf hydraulic failure (HF), especially on the most productive genotypes. Modelling exercises revealed that variations in HF across genotypes were mainly associated with differences in leaf water vapour leakage when stomata are closed, reflecting contrasting growth strategies. Overall, our results provide a new perspective on the challenges of sustaining coffee production in the Amazon region under a drier and warmer climate.

Decrypting the multi-functional biological activators and inducers of defense responses against biotic stresses in plants

Plant diseases are still the main problem for the reduction in crop yield and a threat to global food security. Additionally, excessive usage of chemical inputs such as pesticides and fungicides to control plant diseases have created another serious problem for human and environmental health. In view of this, the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for controlling plant disease incidences has been identified as an eco-friendly approach for coping with the food security issue. In this review, we have identified different ways by which PGPRs are capable of reducing phytopathogenic infestations and enhancing crop yield. PGPR suppresses plant diseases, both directly and indirectly, mediated by microbial metabolites and signaling components. Microbial synthesized anti-pathogenic metabolites such as siderophores, antibiotics, lytic enzymes, hydrogen cyanide, and several others act directly on phytopathogens. The indirect mechanisms of reducing plant disease infestation are caused by the stimulation of plant immune responses known as initiation of systemic resistance (ISR) which is mediated by triggering plant immune responses elicited through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The ISR triggered in the infected region of the plant leads to the development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) throughout the plant making the plant resistant to a wide range of pathogens. A number of PGPRs including Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera have proven their ability to stimulate ISR. However, there are still some challenges in the large-scale application and acceptance of PGPR for pest and disease management. Further, we discuss the newly formulated PGPR inoculants possessing both plant growth-promoting activities and plant disease suppression ability for a holistic approach to sustaining plant health and enhancing crop productivity.

Mechanisms and Applications of Bacterial Inoculants in Plant Drought Stress Tolerance

Agricultural systems are highly affected by climatic factors such as temperature, rain, humidity, wind, and solar radiation, so the climate and its changes are major risk factors for agricultural activities. A small portion of the agricultural areas of Brazil is irrigated, while the vast majority directly depends on the natural variations of the rains. The increase in temperatures due to climate change will lead to increased water consumption by farmers and a reduction in water availability, putting production capacity at risk. Drought is a limiting environmental factor for plant growth and one of the natural phenomena that most affects agricultural productivity. The response of plants to water stress is complex and involves coordination between gene expression and its integration with hormones. Studies suggest that bacteria have mechanisms to mitigate the effects of water stress and promote more significant growth in these plant species. The underlined mechanism involves root-to-shoot phenotypic changes in growth rate, architecture, hydraulic conductivity, water conservation, plant cell protection, and damage restoration through integrating phytohormones modulation, stress-induced enzymatic apparatus, and metabolites. Thus, this review aims to demonstrate how plant growth-promoting bacteria could mitigate negative responses in plants exposed to water stress and provide examples of technological conversion applied to agroecosystems.

The Rootstock Genotypes Determine Drought Tolerance by Regulating Aquaporin Expression at the Transcript Level and Phytohormone Balance

Grapevine rootstocks may supply water to the scion according to the transpiration demand, thus modulating plant responses to water deficit, but the scion variety can alter these responses, as well. The rootstock genotypes' effect on the scion physiological response, aquaporin expression, and hormone concentrations in the xylem and the leaf was assessed under well watered (WW) and water stress (WS) conditions. Under WW, vines grafted onto 1103P and R110 rootstocks (the more vigorous and drought-tolerant) showed higher photosynthesis (A_N), stomatal conductance (g_s), and hydraulic conductance (Kh_plant) compared with the less vigorous and drought-sensitive rootstock (161-49C), while under WS, there were hardly any differences between vines depending on the rootstock grafted. Besides, stomatal traits were affected by drought, which was related to g_s, but not by the rootstock. Under WS conditions, all VvPIP and VvTIP aquaporins were up-regulated in the vines grafted onto 1103P and down-regulated in the ones grafted onto 161-49C. The 1103P capability to tolerate drought was enhanced by the up-regulation of all VvPIP and VvTIP aquaporins, lower ABA synthesis, and higher ACC/ABA ratios in leaves during WS compared with 161-49C. It was concluded that, under WW conditions, transpiration and stomatal control were rootstock-dependent. However, under WS conditions, alterations in the molecular components of water transport and hormone concentration of the scion resulted in similar gas exchange values in the studied scions grafted onto different rootstocks.

Xylem conduit deformation across vascular plants: an evolutionary spandrel or protective valve?

The hydraulic system of vascular plants and its integrity is essential for plant survival. To transport water under tension, the walls of xylem conduits must approximate rigid pipes. Against this expectation, conduit deformation has been reported in the leaves of a few species and hypothesized to function as a 'circuit breaker' against embolism. Experimental evidence is lacking, and its generality is unknown. We demonstrated the role of conduit deformation in protecting the upstream xylem from embolism through experiments on three species and surveyed a diverse selection of vascular plants for conduit deformation in leaves. Conduit deformation in minor veins occurred before embolism during slow dehydration. When leaves were exposed to transient increases in transpiration, conduit deformation was accompanied by large water potential differences from leaf to stem and minimal embolism in the upstream xylem. In the three species tested, collapsible vein endings provided clear protection of upstream xylem from embolism during transient increases in transpiration. We found conduit deformation in diverse vascular plants, including 11 eudicots, ginkgo, a cycad, a fern, a bamboo, and a grass species, but not in two bamboo and a palm species, demonstrating that the potential for 'circuit breaker' functionality may be widespread across vascular plants.

The relative area of vessels in xylem correlates with stem embolism resistance within and between genera

The resistance of xylem conduits to embolism is a major factor defining drought tolerance and can set the distributional limits of species across rainfall gradients. Recent work suggests that the proximity of vessels to neighbors increases the vulnerability of a conduit. We therefore investigated whether the relative vessel area of xylem correlates with intra- and inter-generic variation in xylem embolism resistance in species pairs or triplets from the genera Acer, Cinnamomum, Ilex, Quercus and Persea, adapted to environments differing in aridity. We used the optical vulnerability method to assess embolism resistance in stems and conducted anatomical measurements on the xylem in which embolism resistance was quantified. Vessel lumen fraction (VLF) correlated with xylem embolism resistance across and within genera. A low VLF likely increases the resistance to gas movement between conduits, by diffusion or advection, whereas a high VLF enhances gas transport thorough increased conduit-to-conduit connectivity and reduced distances between conduits and therefore the likelihood of embolism propagation. We suggest that the rate of gas movement due to local pressure differences and xylem network connectivity is a central driver of embolism propagation in angiosperm vessels.

Critical water contents at leaf, stem and root level leading to irreversible drought-induced damage in two woody and one herbaceous species

Plant water content is a simple and promising parameter for monitoring drought-driven plant mortality risk. However, critical water content thresholds leading to cell damage and plant failure are still unknown. Moreover, it is unclear whether whole-plant or a specific organ water content is the most reliable indicator of mortality risk. We assessed differences in dehydration thresholds in leaf, stem and root samples, hampering the organ-specific rehydration capacity and increasing the mortality risk. We also tested eventual differences between a fast experimental dehydration of uprooted plants, compared to long-term water stress induced by withholding irrigation in potted plants. We investigated three species with different growth forms and leaf habits i.e., Helianthus annuus (herbaceous), Populus nigra (deciduous tree) and Quercus ilex (evergreen tree). Results obtained by the two dehydration treatments largely overlapped, thus validating bench dehydration as a fast but reliable method to assess species-specific critical water content thresholds. Regardless of the organ considered, a relative water content value of 60% induced significant cell membrane damage and loss of rehydration capacity, thus leading to irreversible plant failure and death.

Stem and leaf xylem of angiosperm trees experiences minimal embolism in temperate forests during two consecutive summers with moderate drought

Drought events may increase the likelihood that the plant water transport system becomes interrupted by embolism. Yet our knowledge about the temporal frequency of xylem embolism in the field is frequently lacking, as it requires detailed, long-term measurements. We measured xylem embolism resistance and midday xylem water potentials during the consecutive summers of 2019 and 2020 to estimate maximum levels of embolism in leaf and stem xylem of ten temperate angiosperm tree species. We also studied vessel and pit membrane characteristics based on light and electron microscopy to corroborate potential differences in embolism resistance between leaves and stems. Apart from A. pseudoplatanus and Q. petraea, eight species experienced minimum xylem water potentials that were close to or below those required to initiate embolism. Water potentials corresponding to ca. 12% loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) could occur in six species, while considerable levels of embolism around 50% PLC were limited to B. pendula and C. avellana. There was a general agreement in embolism resistance between stems and leaves, with leaves being equally or more resistant than stems. Also, xylem embolism resistance was significantly correlated to intervessel pit membrane thickness (T_PM ) for stems, but not to vessel diameter and total intervessel pit membrane surface area of a vessel. Our data indicate that low amounts of embolism occur in most species during moderate summer drought, and that considerable levels of embolism are uncommon. Moreover, our experimental and T_PM data show that leaf xylem is generally no more vulnerable than stem xylem.

Challenges and advances in measuring sap flow in agriculture and agroforestry: A review with focus on nuclear magnetic resonance

Sap flow measurement is one of the most effective methods for quantifying plant water use.A better understanding of sap flow dynamics can aid in more efficient water and crop management, particularly under unpredictable rainfall patterns and water scarcity resulting from climate change. In addition to detecting infected plants, sap flow measurement helps select plant species that could better cope with hotter and drier conditions. There exist multiple methods to measure sap flow including heat balance, dyes and radiolabeled tracers. Heat sensor-based techniques are the most popular and commercially available to study plant hydraulics, even though most of them are invasive and associated with multiple kinds of errors. Heat-based methods are prone to errors due to misalignment of probes and wounding, despite all the advances in this technology. Among existing methods for measuring sap flow, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an appropriate non-invasive approach. However, there are challenges associated with applications of NMR to measure sap flow in trees or field crops, such as producing homogeneous magnetic field, bulkiness and poor portable nature of the instruments, and operational complexity. Nonetheless, various advances have been recently made that allow the manufacture of portable NMR tools for measuring sap flow in plants. The basic concept of the portal NMR tool is based on an external magnetic field to measure the sap flow and hence advances in magnet types and magnet arrangements (e.g., C-type, U-type, and Halbach magnets) are critical components of NMR-based sap flow measuring tools. Developing a non-invasive, portable and inexpensive NMR tool that can be easily used under field conditions would significantly improve our ability to monitor vegetation responses to environmental change.

Increasing temperature and vapour pressure deficit lead to hydraulic damages in the absence of soil drought

Temperature (T) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) are important drivers of plant hydraulic conductivity, growth, mortality, and ecosystem productivity, independently of soil water availability. Our goal was to disentangle the effects of T and VPD on plant hydraulic responses. Young trees of Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus pubescens Willd. and Quercus ilex L. were exposed to a cross-combination of a T and VPD manipulation under unlimited soil water availability. Stem hydraulic conductivity and leaf-level hydraulic traits (e.g., gas exchange and osmotic adjustment) were tracked over a full growing season. Significant loss of xylem conductive area (PLA) was found in F. sylvatica and Q. pubescens due to rising VPD and T, but not in Q. ilex. Increasing T aggravated the effects of high VPD in F. sylvatica only. PLA was driven by maximum hydraulic conductivity and minimum leaf conductance, suggesting that high transpiration and water loss after stomatal closure contributed to plant hydraulic stress. This study shows for the first time that rising VPD and T lead to losses of stem conductivity even when soil water is not limiting, highlighting their rising importance in plant mortality mechanisms in the future.

Phloem turgor is maintained during severe drought in Ricinus communis

The phloem is a key player in whole plant functioning-transporting carbon from sites of production to sites of demand-and is likely influenced by drought due to its dependence on water for generating pressure-driven bulk flow transport. Yet, phloem functioning during drought remains largely unknown due to a lack of experimental studies. Here, we use a phloem-bleeding species, Ricinus communis, to investigate phloem loss-of-function in the context of leaf physiological processes, the mechanisms of phloem turgor maintenance during drought, and the role of turgor in phloem loss-of-function. We found that the solute concentration in the phloem sap doubled over the drought, which allowed phloem turgor to be maintained past the point at which leaves have reached permanent stomatal closure. We also found that phloem turgor did not decline before bleeding ceased, which suggests that phloem bleeding ceassation (interpreted as the cessation of transport) occurred when the phloem still had turgor. In sum, our findings highlight the robustness of phloem functioning, with important implications for forecasting whole-plant carbon dynamics and drought-induced tree mortality.

Extreme undersaturation in the intercellular airspace of leaves: a failure of Gaastra or Ohm?

BACKGROUND

Recent reports of extreme levels of undersaturation in internal leaf air spaces have called into question one of the foundational assumptions of leaf gas exchange analysis, that leaf air spaces are effectively saturated with water vapour at leaf surface temperature. Historically, inferring the biophysical states controlling assimilation and transpiration from the fluxes directly measured by gas exchange systems has presented a number of challenges, including: (1) a mismatch in scales between the area of flux measurement, the biochemical cellular scale and the meso-scale introduced by the localization of the fluxes to stomatal pores; (2) the inaccessibility of the internal states of CO2 and water vapour required to define conductances; and (3) uncertainties about the pathways these internal fluxes travel. In response, plant physiologists have adopted a set of simplifying assumptions that define phenomenological concepts such as stomatal and mesophyll conductances.

SCOPE

Investigators have long been concerned that a failure of basic assumptions could be distorting our understanding of these phenomenological conductances, and the biophysical states inside leaves. Here we review these assumptions and historical efforts to test them. We then explore whether artefacts in analysis arising from the averaging of fluxes over macroscopic leaf areas could provide alternative explanations for some part, if not all, of reported extreme states of undersaturation.

CONCLUSIONS

Spatial heterogeneities can, in some cases, create the appearance of undersaturation in the internal air spaces of leaves. Further refinement of experimental approaches will be required to separate undersaturation from the effects of spatial variations in fluxes or conductances. Novel combinations of current and emerging technologies hold promise for meeting this challenge.

Exploring leaf hydraulic traits to predict drought tolerance of Eucalyptus clones

Ongoing changes in climate, and the consequent mortality of natural and cultivated forests across the globe, highlight the urgent need to understand the plant traits associated with greater tolerance to drought. Here, we aimed at assessing key foliar traits, with a focus on the hydraulic component, that could confer a differential ability to tolerate drought in three commercial hybrids of the most important Eucalyptus species utilized in tropical silviculture: E. urophyla, E. grandis and E. camaldulensis. All genotypes exhibited similar water potential when the 90% stomatal closure (Ψgs90) occurs with Ψgs90 always preceding the start of embolism events. The drought-tolerant hybrid showed a higher leaf resistance to embolism, but the leaf hydraulic efficiency was similar among all genotypes. Other traits presented by the drought-tolerant hybrid were a higher cell wall reinforcement, lower value of osmotic potential at full turgor and greater bulk modulus of elasticity. We also identified that the leaf capacitance after the turgor loss, the ratio between cell wall thickness (t) and lumen breadth (b) ratio (t/b)3, and the minimal conductance might be good proxies for screening drought-tolerant Eucalyptus genotypes. Our findings suggest that xylem resistance to embolism can be an important component of drought tolerance in Eucalyptus in addition to other traits aimed at delaying the development of high tensions in the xylem. Highlight Drought tolerance in tropical Eucalyptus hybrids encompasses a high leaf resistance to embolism and a suite of traits aimed at delaying the development of high tensions in the xylem.

Seasonal adjustment of leaf embolism resistance and its importance for hydraulic safety in deciduous trees

Embolism resistance is often viewed as seasonally stable. Here we examined the seasonality in the leaf xylem vulnerability curve (VC) and turgor loss point (Ψ_TLP ) of nine deciduous species that originated from Mediterranean, temperate, tropical, or sub-tropical habitats and were growing on the Volcani campus, Israel. All four Mediterranean/temperate species exhibited a shift of their VC to lower xylem pressures (Ψ_x ) along the dry season, in addition to two of the five tropical/sub-tropical species. In three of the species that exhibited VC seasonality, it was critical for avoiding embolism in the leaf. In total, seven out of the nine species avoided embolism. The seasonal VC adjustment was over two times higher as compared with the seasonal adjustment of Ψ_TLP , resulting in improved hydraulic safety as the season progressed. The results suggest that seasonality in the leaf xylem vulnerability is common in species that originate from Mediterranean or temperate habitats that have large seasonal environmental changes. This seasonality is advantageous because it enables a gradual seasonal reduction in the Ψ_x without increasing the danger of embolism. The results also highlight that measuring the minimal Ψ_x and the VC at different times can lead to erroneous estimations of the hydraulic safety margins. Changing the current hydraulic dogma into a seasonal dynamic in the vulnerability of the xylem itself should enable physiologists to understand plants' responses to their environment better.

Tracheid buckling buys time, foliar water uptake pays it back: Coordination of leaf structure and function in tall redwood trees

Tracheid buckling may protect leaves in the dynamic environments of forest canopies, where rapid intensifications of evaporative demand, such as those brought on by changes in light availability, can result in sudden increases in transpiration rate. While treetop leaves function in reliably direct light, leaves below the upper crown must tolerate rapid, thermally driven increases in evaporative demand. Using synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography, we visualized impacts of experimentally induced water stress and subsequent fogging on living cells in redwood leaves, adding ecological and functional context through crown-wide explorations of variation in leaf physiology and microclimate. Under drought, leaf transfusion tracheids buckle, releasing water that supplies sufficient temporal reserves for leaves to reduce stomatal conductance safely while stopping the further rise of tension. Tracheid buckling fraction decreases with height and is closely coordinated with transfusion tissue capacity and stomatal conductance to provide temporal reserves optimized for local variation in microclimate. Foliar water uptake fully restores collapsed and air-filled transfusion tracheids in leaves on excised shoots, suggesting that trees may use aerial water sources for recovery. In the intensely variable deep-crown environment, foliar water uptake can allow for repetitive cycles of tracheid buckling and unbuckling, protecting the tree from damaging levels of hydraulic tension and supporting leaf survival.

Examining physiological, water relations, and hydraulic vulnerability traits to determine anisohydric and isohydric behavior in almond (Prunus dulcis) cultivars: Implications for selecting agronomic cultivars under changing climate

The search for drought tolerant species or cultivars is important to address water scarcity caused by climate change in Mediterranean regions. The anisohydric-isohydric behavior concept has been widely used to describe stomatal regulation during drought, simply in terms of variation of minimal water potential (Ψ_min) in relation to pre-dawn water potential (Ψ_pd). However, its simplicity has sometimes failed to deliver consistent results in describing a complex behavior that results from the coordination of several plant functional traits. While Prunus dulcis (almond) is known as a drought tolerant species, little information is available regarding consistent metrics to discriminate among cultivars or the mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in almond. Here we show a sequence of plant stomatal, hydraulic, and wilting responses to drought in almonds, and the main differences between anisohydric and isohydric cultivars. In a pot desiccation experiment we observed that stomatal closure in P. dulcis is not driven by loss in turgor or onset of xylem cavitation, but instead, occurs early in response to decreasing Ψ_min that could be related to the protection of the integrity of the hydraulic system, independently of cultivar. Also, we report that anisohydric cultivars of P. dulcis are characterized by maximum stomatal conductance, lower water potentials for stomatal closure and turgor loss, and lower vulnerability to xylem cavitation, which are traits that correlated with metrics to discriminate anisohydric and isohydric behavior. Our results demonstrate that P. dulcis presents a strategy to avoid cavitation by closing stomata during the early stages of drought. Future research should also focus on below-ground hydraulic traits, which could trigger stomatal closure in almond.

Seeing is believing: what visualising bubbles in the xylem has revealed about plant hydraulic function

Maintaining water transport in the xylem is critical for vascular plants to grow and survive. The drought-induced accumulation of embolism, when gas enters xylem conduits, causes declines in hydraulic conductance (K ) and is ultimately lethal. Several methods can be used to estimate the degree of embolism in xylem, from measuring K in tissues to directly visualising embolism in conduits. One method allowing a direct quantification of embolised xylem area is the optical vulnerability (OV) technique. This method has been used across different organs and has a high spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we review studies using the OV technique, discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of this method, and summarise key advances arising from its use. Vulnerability curves generated by the OV method are regularly comparable to other methods, including the centrifuge and X-ray microtomography. A major advantage of the OV technique over other methods is that it can be simultaneously used to determine in situ embolism formation in leaves, stems and roots, in species spanning the phylogeny of land plants. The OV method has been used to experimentally investigate the spreading of embolism through xylem networks, associate embolism with downstream tissue death, and observe embolism formation in the field.

In situ, direct observation of seasonal embolism dynamics in Aleppo pine trees growing on the dry edge of their distribution

Xylem embolism impairs hydraulic conductivity in trees and drives drought-induced mortality. While embolism has been monitored in vivo in potted plants, and research has revealed evidence of embolism in field-grown trees, continuous in situ monitoring of cavitation in forests is lacking. Seasonal patterns of embolism were monitored in branchlets of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) trees growing in a dry Mediterranean forest. Optical visualization (OV) sensors were installed on terminal branches, in addition to monthly sampling for micro computed tomography scans. We detected 208 cavitation events among four trees, which represented an embolism increase from zero to c. 12% along the dry season. Virtually all the cavitation events occurred during daytime hours, with 77% occurring between 10:00 and 17:00 h. The probability for cavitation in a given hour increased as vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increased, up to a probability of 42% for cavitation when VPD > 5 kPa. The findings uniquely reveal the instantaneous environmental conditions that lead to cavitation. The increased likelihood of cavitation events under high VPD in water-stressed pines is the first empirical support for this long hypothesized relationship. Our observations suggest that low levels of embolism are common in Aleppo pine trees at the dry edge of their distribution.

Water stress signaling and hydraulic traits in three congeneric citrus species under water deficit

Morpho-physiological strategies to deal with water deficit vary among citrus species and the chemical signaling through ABA and anatomical, hydraulic, and physiological traits were evaluated in saplings of Rangpur lime, Swingle citrumelo and Valencia sweet orange. Trunk and roots of Swingle citrumelo presented lower vessel diameter and higher vessel frequency as compared to the other species. However, relative water content at the turgor loss point (RWC_TLP), the osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψ₀), the osmotic potential at the turgor loss point (Ψ_TLP), bulk modulus of elasticity (ε) and the xylem water potential when hydraulic conductivity is reduced by 50% (Ψ₅₀) and 88% (Ψ₈₈) indicated similar hydraulic traits among citrus species, with Rangpur lime showing the highest hydraulic safety margin. Roots of Rangpur lime and Swingle citrumelo were more water conductive than ones of Valencia sweet orange, which was linked to higher stomatal conductance. Chemical signaling through ABA prevented shoot dehydration in Rangpur lime under water deficit, with this species showing a more conservative stomatal behavior, sensing, and responding rapidly to low soil moisture. Taken together, our results suggest that Rangpur lime - the drought tolerant species - has an improved control of leaf water status due to chemical signaling and effective stomatal regulation for reducing water loss as well as decreased root hydraulic conductivity for saving water resources under limiting conditions.

High safety margins to drought-induced hydraulic failure found in five pasture grasses

Determining the relationship between reductions in stomatal conductance (g_s ) and leaf water transport during dehydration is key to understanding plant drought responses. While numerous studies have analysed the hydraulic function of woody species, minimal research has been conducted on grasses. Here, we sought to characterize hydraulic vulnerability in five widely-occurring pasture grasses (including both C3 and C4 grasses) and determine whether reductions in g_s and leaf hydraulic conductance (K_leaf ) during dehydration could be attributed to xylem embolism. Using the optical vulnerability (OV) technique, we found that all species were highly resistant to xylem embolism when compared to other herbaceous angiosperms, with 50% xylem embolism (P_X50 ) occurring at xylem pressures ranging from -4.4 to -6.1 MPa. We observed similar reductions in g_s and K_leaf under mild water stress for all species, occurring well before P_X50 . The onset of xylem embolism (P_X12 ) occurred consistently after stomatal closure and 90% reduction of K_leaf . Our results suggest that factors other than xylem embolism are responsible for the majority of reductions in g_s and K_leaf during drought and reductions in the productivity of pasture species under moderate drought may not be driven by embolism.

Response of four evergreen savanna shrubs to an incidence of extreme drought: high embolism resistance, branch shedding and maintenance of nonstructural carbohydrates

Extreme drought events are becoming frequent globally, resulting in widespread plant mortality and forest dieback. Although savanna vegetation cover ~20% of the earth's land area, their responses to extreme drought have been less studied than that of forests. Herein, we quantified branch dieback, individual mortality and the associated physiological responses of four evergreen shrubs (Tarenna depauperate Hutch., Maytenus esquirolii (H. Lév.) C.Y. Cheng, Murraya exotica L., Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl.) in a savanna ecosystem in Southwest China to an incidence of extreme drought during 2019 and 2020. We found that 80-100% of the individuals of these species exhibited branch dieback, whereas individual mortality was only found in T. depauperate (4.5%). All species showed high resistance to stem embolism (P50, water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity ranged from -5.62 to -8.6 MPa), whereas the stem minimum water potentials reached -7.6 to ca -10.0 MPa during the drought. The low water potential caused high native embolism levels (percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) 23-65%) in terminal branches, and the remaining stems maintained 15-35% PLC at the end of the drought. Large within-individual variations in stem vulnerability to embolism were detected, and shedding of vulnerable branches could be a mechanism for shrubs to reduce water and carbon consumption. Overall, the content of total nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and their components in the stem were generally comparable to or higher than those in the rainy season in three of the four species. Because the leaves were turgor-less for most time during the drought, high NSC levels during the drought could be due to recycling of NSC from dead branches or translocation from roots. Our results suggest high tolerance of savanna shrub species to extreme drought, which could be facilitated by high embolism resistance in some stems and shedding of vulnerable branches to maintain individual water and carbon balance.

Unlocking Drought-Induced Tree Mortality: Physiological Mechanisms to Modeling

Drought-related tree mortality has become a major concern worldwide due to its pronounced negative impacts on the functioning and sustainability of forest ecosystems. However, our ability to identify the species that are most vulnerable to drought, and to pinpoint the spatial and temporal patterns of mortality events, is still limited. Model is useful tools to capture the dynamics of vegetation at spatiotemporal scales, yet contemporary land surface models (LSMs) are often incapable of predicting the response of vegetation to environmental perturbations with sufficient accuracy, especially under stressful conditions such as drought. Significant progress has been made regarding the physiological mechanisms underpinning plant drought response in the past decade, and plant hydraulic dysfunction has emerged as a key determinant for tree death due to water shortage. The identification of pivotal physiological events and relevant plant traits may facilitate forecasting tree mortality through a mechanistic approach, with improved precision. In this review, we (1) summarize current understanding of physiological mechanisms leading to tree death, (2) describe the functionality of key hydraulic traits that are involved in the process of hydraulic dysfunction, and (3) outline their roles in improving the representation of hydraulic function in LSMs. We urge potential future research on detailed hydraulic processes under drought, pinpointing corresponding functional traits, as well as understanding traits variation across and within species, for a better representation of drought-induced tree mortality in models.

Mechanisms of xylem hydraulic recovery after drought in Eucalyptus saligna

The mechanisms by which woody plants recover xylem hydraulic capacity after drought stress are not well understood, particularly with regard to the role of embolism refilling. We evaluated the recovery of xylem hydraulic capacity in young Eucalyptus saligna plants exposed to cycles of drought stress and rewatering. Plants were exposed to moderate and severe drought stress treatments, with recovery monitored at time intervals from 24 h to 6 months after rewatering. The percentage loss of xylem vessels due to embolism (PLV) was quantified at each time point using microcomputed tomography with stem water potential (Ψ_x ) and canopy transpiration (E_c ) measured before scans. Plants exposed to severe drought stress suffered high levels of embolism (47.38% ± 10.97% PLV) and almost complete canopy loss. No evidence of embolism refilling was observed at 24 h, 1 week, or 3 weeks after rewatering despite rapid recovery in Ψ_x . Recovery of hydraulic capacity was achieved over a 6-month period by growth of new xylem tissue, with canopy leaf area and E_c recovering over the same period. These findings indicate that E. saligna recovers slowly from severe drought stress, with potential for embolism to persist in the xylem for many months after rainfall events.

Testing the limits of plant drought stress and subsequent recovery in four provenances of a widely distributed subtropical tree species

Drought-induced tree mortality may increase with ongoing climate change. Unraveling the links between stem hydraulics and mortality thresholds, and the effects of intraspecific variation, remain important unresolved issues. We conducted a water manipulation experiment in a rain-out shelter, using four provenances of Schima superba originating from a gradient of annual precipitation (1124-1796 mm) and temperature (16.4-22.4°C). Seedlings were droughted to three levels of percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (i.e., P₅₀ , P₈₈  and P₉₉₎ and subsequently rewatered to field capacity for 30 days; traits related to water and carbon relations were measured. The lethal water potential associated with incipient mortality was between P₅₀ and P₈₈ . Seedlings exhibited similar drought responses in xylem water potential, hydraulic conductivity and gas exchange. Upon rehydration, patterns of gas exchange differed among provenances but were not related to the climate at the origin. The four provenances exhibited a similar degree of stem hydraulic recovery, which was correlated with the magnitude of antecedent drought and stem soluble sugar at the end of the drought. Results suggest that there were intraspecific differences in the capacity of S. superba seedlings for carbon assimilation during recovery, indicating a decoupling between gas exchange recovery and stem hydraulics across provenances.

Canopy damage during a natural drought depends on species identity, physiology and stand composition

Vulnerability to xylem cavitation is a strong predictor of drought-induced damage in forest communities. However, biotic features of the community itself can influence water availability at the individual tree-level, thereby modifying patterns of drought damage. Using an experimental forest in Tasmania, Australia, we determined the vulnerability to cavitation (leaf P₅₀ ) of four tree species and assessed the drought-induced canopy damage of 2944 6-yr-old trees after an extreme natural drought episode. We examined how individual damage was related to their size and the density and species identity of neighbouring trees. The two co-occurring dominant tree species, Eucalyptus delegatensis and Eucalyptus regnans, were the most vulnerable to drought-induced xylem cavitation and both species suffered significantly greater damage than neighbouring, subdominant species Pomaderris apetala and Acacia dealbata. While the two eucalypts had similar leaf P₅₀ values, E. delegatensis suffered significantly greater damage, which was strongly related to the density of neighbouring P. apetala. Damage in E. regnans was less impacted by neighbouring plants and smaller trees of both eucalypts sustained significantly more damage than larger trees. Our findings demonstrate that natural drought damage is influenced by individual plant physiology as well as the composition, physiology and density of the surrounding stand.

Limited plasticity of anatomical and hydraulic traits in aspen trees under elevated CO2 and seasonal drought

The timing of abiotic stress elicitors on wood formation largely affects xylem traits that determine xylem efficiency and vulnerability. Nonetheless, seasonal variability of elevated CO2 (eCO2) effects on tree functioning under drought remains largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, 1-year-old aspen (Populus tremula L.) trees were grown under ambient (±445 ppm) and elevated (±700 ppm) CO2 and exposed to an early (spring/summer 2019) or late (summer/autumn 2018) season drought event. Stomatal conductance and stem shrinkage were monitored in vivo as xylem water potential decreased. Additional trees were harvested for characterization of wood anatomical traits and to determine vulnerability and desorption curves via bench dehydration. The abundance of narrow vessels decreased under eCO2 only during the early season. At this time, xylem vulnerability to embolism formation and hydraulic capacitance during severe drought increased under eCO2. Contrastingly, stomatal closure was delayed during the late season, while hydraulic vulnerability and capacitance remained unaffected under eCO2. Independently of the CO2 treatment, elastic, and inelastic water pools depleted simultaneously after 50% of complete stomatal closure. Our results suggest that the effect of eCO2 on drought physiology and wood traits are small and variable during the growing season and question a sequential capacitive water release from elastic and inelastic pools as drought proceeds.

Drought stress recovery of hydraulic and photochemical processes in Neotropical tree saplings

Climate models predict an increase in the severity and the frequency of droughts. Tropical forests are among the ecosystems that could be highly impacted by these droughts. Here, we explore how hydraulic and photochemical processes respond to drought stress and re-watering. We conducted a pot experiment on saplings of five tree species. Before the onset of drought, we measured a set of hydraulic traits, including minimum leaf conductance, leaf embolism resistance and turgor loss point. During drought stress, we monitored traits linked to leaf hydraulic functioning (leaf water potential (ψmd) and stomatal conductance (gs)) and traits linked to leaf photochemical functioning (maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax)) at different wilting stages. After re-watering, the same traits were measured after 3, 7 and 14 days. Hydraulic trait values decreased faster than photochemical trait values. After re-watering, the values of the four traits recovered at different rates. Fv/Fm recovered very fast close to their initial values only 3 days after re-watering. This was followed by ETRmax, Ψmd and gs. Finally, we show that species with large stomatal and leaf safety margin and low πtlp are not strongly impacted by drought, whereas they have a low recovery on photochemical efficiency. These results demonstrate that πtlp, stomatal and leaf safety margin are a good indicators of plant responses to drought stress and also to recovery for photochemical efficiency.

In vivo monitoring of drought-induced embolism in Callitris rhomboidea trees reveals wide variation in branchlet vulnerability and high resistance to tissue death

Damage to the plant water transport system through xylem cavitation is known to be a driver of plant death in drought conditions. However, a lack of techniques to continuously monitor xylem embolism in whole plants in vivo has hampered our ability to investigate both how this damage propagates and the possible mechanistic link between xylem damage and tissue death. Using optical and fluorescence sensors, we monitored drought-induced xylem embolism accumulation and photosynthetic damage in vivo throughout the canopy of a drought-resistant conifer, Callitris rhomboidea, during drought treatments of c. 1 month duration. We show that drought-induced damage to the xylem can be monitored in vivo in whole trees during extended periods of water stress. Under these conditions, vulnerability of the xylem to cavitation varied widely among branchlets, with photosynthetic damage only recorded once > 90% of the xylem was cavitated. The variation in branchlet vulnerability has important implications for understanding how trees like C. rhomboidea survive drought, and the high resistance of branchlets to tissue damage points to runaway cavitation as a likely driver of tissue death in C. rhomboidea branch tips.

Morpho-Anatomical Traits and Soluble Sugar Concentration Largely Explain the Responses of Three Deciduous Tree Species to Progressive Water Stress

A better understanding of plant drought responses is essential to improve plant water use efficiency, productivity, and resilience to ever-changing climatic conditions. Here, we investigated the growth, morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical responses of Quercus acutissima Carruth., Quercus serrata Murray, and Betula schmidtii Regel to progressive water-stress. Seedlings were subjected to well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) conditions while regularly monitoring the soil volumetric water content, stem diameter (SD), height, biomass, stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and leaf relative water content (RWC). We also investigated the variation in stomatal pore (SP) area, specific leaf area (SLA), root xylem vessel diameter (VD), and total soluble sugar (TSS) concentration between treatments. After 2 months, WS significantly suppressed SD growth of Q. acutissima and B. schmidtii but had no impact on Q. serrata. Total biomass significantly declined at WS-treated seedlings in all species. WS resulted in a smaller SLA than WW in all species. The SP of WS-treated seedlings of Q. acutissima and B. schmidtii significantly decreased, whereas it increased significantly with time in Q. serrata. Larger vessels (i.e., >100 to ≤ 130) were more frequent at WS for Q. acutissima and B. schmidtii, whereas smaller vessels (i.e., >40 to ≤ 90) were more frequent at WS than at WW for Q. serrata after 8 weeks. Tylosis was more frequent at WS than WW for Q. serrata and B. schmidtii at eighth week. WS seedlings showed lower gs, Ci, and RWC compared with WW-treated ones in Q. acutissima and B. schmidtii. TSS concentration was also higher at WS-treated seedlings in two Quercus species. Overall, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that SLA and SP are associated with WS seedlings of Q. serrata and B. schmidtii and the tylosis frequency, TSS, and VD are associated with WS seedlings of Q. acutissima. Therefore, water-stressed plants from all species responded positively to water stress with increasing experimental duration and stress intensity, and that is largely explained by morpho-anatomical traits and soluble sugar concentration. The present study should enhance our understanding of drought-induced tree growth and short-term tree-seedling responses to drought.