Dynamics of freeze-thaw embolism in Smilax rotundifolia (Smilacaceae)

Stretched sapwood, ultra-widening permeability and ditching da Vinci: revising models of plant form and function

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms leading to dieback and death of trees under drought remain unclear. To gain an understanding of these mechanisms, addressing major empirical gaps regarding tree structure-function relations remains essential.

SCOPE

We give reasons to think that a central factor shaping plant form and function is selection simultaneously favouring constant leaf-specific conductance with height growth and isometric (1:1) scaling between leaf area and the volume of metabolically active sink tissues ('sapwood'). Sapwood volume-leaf area isometry implies that per-leaf area sapwood volumes become transversely narrower with height growth; we call this 'stretching'. Stretching means that selection must favour increases in permeability above and beyond that afforded by tip-to-base conduit widening ("ultra-widening permeability"), via fewer and wider vessels or tracheids with larger pits or larger margo openings. Leaf area-metabolically active sink tissue isometry would mean that it is unlikely that larger trees die during drought because of carbon starvation due to greater sink-source relationships as compared to shorter plants. Instead, an increase in permeability is most plausibly associated with greater risk of embolism, and this seems a more probable explanation of the preferential vulnerability of larger trees to climate change-induced drought. Other implications of selection favouring constant per-leaf area sapwood construction and maintenance costs are departure from the da Vinci rule expectation of similar sapwood areas across branching orders, and that extensive conduit furcation in the stem seems unlikely.

CONCLUSIONS

Because all these considerations impact the likelihood of vulnerability to hydraulic failure versus carbon starvation, both implicated as key suspects in forest mortality, we suggest that these predictions represent essential priorities for empirical testing.

Xylem embolism and bubble formation during freezing suggest complex dynamics of pressure in Betula pendula stems

Freeze-thaw-induced embolism, a key limiting factor for perennial plants results from the formation of gas bubbles during freezing and their expansion during thawing. However, the ice volumetric increase generates local pressures, which can affect the formation of bubbles. To characterize local dynamics of pressure tension and the physical state of the sap during freeze-thaw cycles, we simultaneously used ultrasonic acoustic emission analysis and synchrotron-based high-resolution computed tomography on the diffuse-porous species Betula pendula. Visualization of individual air-filled vessels and the distribution of gas bubbles in frozen xylem were performed.. Ultrasonic emissions occurred after ice formation, together with bubble formation, whereas the development of embolism took place after thawing. The pictures of frozen tissues indicated that the positive pressure induced by the volumetric increase of ice can provoke inward flow from the cell wall toward the lumen of the vessels. We found no evidence that wider vessels within a tissue were more prone to embolism, although the occurrence of gas bubbles in larger conduits would make them prone to earlier embolism. These results highlight the need to monitor local pressure as well as ice and air distribution during xylem freezing to understand the mechanism leading to frost-induced embolism.

Maintenance of xylem hydraulic function during winter in the woody bamboo Phyllostachys propinqua McClure

Background

Frost is a common environmental stress for temperate plants. Xylem embolism occurs in many overwintering plants due to freeze-thaw cycles, so coping with freeze-thaw-induced embolisms is essential for the survival of temperate plants.

Methods

This study was conducted on Phyllostachys propinqua McClure, a woody bamboo species that was grown under natural frost conditions to explore its responses to winter embolisms. From autumn to the following spring, the following measurements were recorded: predawn branch and leaf embolism, branch and leaf relative water content (RWC), root pressure and soil temperature, xylem sap osmotic potential, branch and leaf electrolyte leakage (EL), branch nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content and leaf net photosynthetic rate.

Results

P. propinqua had a mean vessel diameter of 68.95 ±1.27 µm but did not suffer severe winter embolism, peaking around  60% in winter (January), with a distinct reduction in March when root pressure returned. Leaves had a more severe winter embolism, up to 90%. Leaf RWC was much lower in winter, and leaf EL was significantly higher than branch EL in all seasons. Root pressure remained until November when soil temperature reached 9 °C, then appeared again in March when soil temperatures increased from -6 °C (January) to 11 °C. Xylem sap osmotic potential decreased from autumn to winter, reaching a minimum in March, and then increasing again. Soluble sugar (SS) concentration increased throughout the winter, peaked in March, and then decreased.

Conclusions

These results suggest that (1) there is a hydraulic segmentation between the stem and leaf, which could prevent stem water loss and further embolization in winter; (2) maintenance of root pressure in early winter played an important role in reducing the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the winter embolism; (3) the physiological process that resulted in a decrease in xylem sap osmotic potential and tissue water content, and an accumulation of SS associated with cold acclimation also aided in reducing the extent of freeze-thaw-induced embolism. All these strategies could be helpful for the maintenance of xylem hydraulic function of this bamboo species during winter.

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.

Positive pressure in xylem and its role in hydraulic function

Although transpiration-driven transport of xylem sap is well known to operate under absolute negative pressure, many terrestrial, vascular plants show positive xylem pressure above atmospheric pressure on a seasonal or daily basis, or during early developmental stages. The actual location and mechanisms behind positive xylem pressure remain largely unknown, both in plants that show seasonal xylem pressure before leaf flushing, and those that show a diurnal periodicity of bleeding and guttation. Available evidence shows that positive xylem pressure can be driven based on purely physical forces, osmotic exudation into xylem conduits, or hydraulic pressure in parenchyma cells associated with conduits. The latter two mechanisms may not be mutually exclusive and can be understood based on a similar modelling scenario. Given the renewed interest in positive xylem pressure, this review aims to provide a constructive way forward by discussing similarities and differences of mechanistic models, evaluating available evidence for hydraulic functions, such as rehydration of tissues, refilling of water stores, and embolism repair under positive pressure, and providing recommendations for future research, including methods that avoid or minimise cutting artefacts.

Across climates and species, higher vapour pressure deficit is associated with wider vessels for plants of the same height

While plant height is the main driver of variation in mean vessel diameter at the stem base (VD) across angiosperms, climate, specifically temperature, does play an explanatory role, with vessels being wider with warmer temperature for plants of the same height. Using a comparative approach sampling 537 species of angiosperms across 19 communities, we rejected selection favouring freezing-induced embolism resistance as being able to account for wider vessels for a given height in warmer climates. Instead, we give reason to suspect that higher vapour pressure deficit (VPD) accounts for the positive scaling of height-standardized VD (and potential xylem conductance) with temperature. Selection likely favours conductive systems that are able to meet the higher transpirational demand of warmer climates, which have higher VPD, resulting in wider vessels for a given height. At the same time, wider vessels are likely more vulnerable to dysfunction. With future climates likely to experience ever greater extremes of VPD, future forests could be increasingly vulnerable.

Functional anatomy and xylem cavitation resistance of three species of monocotyledons grown on flooded substrates

There are few investigations that analyze the xylem functional anatomy of monocotyledons, as the methods have been developed for woody plants. This study describes the root, rhizome and aerial stem xylem anatomy and functional anatomy of Canna indica, Cyperus papyrus and Phragmites communis grown on flooded substrates; and it aims to evaluate the relationship between the xylem anatomy and its cavitation resistance. To calculate the indexes of vulnerability, mesomorphy, collapse and relative hydraulic conductivity in the three organs mentioned, the diameter, number of vessels per mm² , thickness of the walls and the length of the tracheal elements were recorded. In addition, the xylem specific conductivity of the aerial stem was measured with the pipette method, and its resistance to cavitation was determined experimentally by the air injection technique. The protoxylem is xeromorphic, it has longer vessel elements, smaller diameters, thin walls and scalariform perforation plates, whereas the metaxylem is mesomorphic, with shorter vessel elements, larger diameters, thicker walls and simple perforation plates. Both present low collapse resistance but have a high relative hydraulic conductivity. P. communis recorded the highest cavitation resistance, and the number of vessels per mm² was related to xylem cavitation resistance in Canna indica and Cyperus papyrus. The experimental results of this investigation match partially the anatomical indexes and showed that the xylem of these species has a low specific conductivity and is more vulnerable to cavitation than that of other monocots.

Variation in Stem Xylem Traits is Related to Differentiation of Upper Limits of Tree Species along an Elevational Gradient

The distribution limits of many plants are dictated by environmental conditions and species’ functional traits. While many studies have evaluated how plant distribution is driven by environmental conditions, there are not many studies investigating xylem vessel properties with altitude, and whether these traits correlate with altitudinal distribution of tree. Here, we investigated the upper limits of distribution for ten deciduous broadleaf tree species from three temperate montane forest communities along a large elevational gradient on the north-facing slope of Changbai Mountain in Northeast China. We measured stem xylem traits associated with a species’ ability to transport water and resist freezing-induced cavitation that theoretically represent important adaptations to changes in climatic conditions along the elevational gradient. Hydraulically weighted vessel diameter (Dh) was negatively correlated with with the upper limit across the ten studied tree species; however, the correlation seems to be driven by the large differences between ring- and diffuse-porous tree species groups. The ring-porous tree species (e.g., Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr., Maackia amurensis Rupr. et Maxim., and Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) had considerably wider vessels than the diffuse-porous species and were all limited to low-elevation communities. The coefficient of variation (CV) for Dh was 0.53 among the 10 studied species, while the intraspecific analysis showed that the highest CV was only 0.22 among the 10 species. We found no evidence of a relationship between Dh and the upper limits across the seven diffuse-porous species. In contrast to elevation, hydraulic-related xylem traits had no clear patterns of change with precipitation, indicating that hydraulic functionality was largely decoupled from the influences of precipitation in the study area. This finding suggests that xylem traits are associated with altitudinal limits of species distribution, which is mostly evidenced by the contrasts between ring- and diffuse-porous species in xylem anatomy and their altitudinal distributions.

Short-time xylem tension relaxation prevents vessel refilling and alleviates cryo-fixation artifacts in diffuse-porous Carpinus tschonoskii and Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Xylem tension relaxation is an important procedure that closely resembles the in vivo xylem water distribution when measuring conductivity or observing water distribution of plant tissue samples by cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM). Recent studies have shown that partial xylem embolism occurs when samples under tension are cut under water and that gas-filled vessels are refilled during tension relaxation. Furthermore, the frequency of gas-filled vessels has been reported to increase in samples without tension relaxation before cryo-fixation by liquid nitrogen, particularly in samples with significant tension. Here, we examined the effect of tension relaxation on these artifacts in Carpinus tschonoskii and Cercidiphyllum japonicum using magnetic resonance imaging. We observed that xylem embolism rarely occurs in bench-dried samples cut under water. In both species, a small portion of the xylem was refilled within ~1 h after tension relaxation. Cryo-SEM observations revealed that short-time (<1 h) xylem tension relaxation decreases the frequency of gas-filled vessels in samples frozen after xylem tension relaxation regardless of the water potential compared with that in samples frozen without rehydration in both species. Therefore, short-time tension relaxation is necessary to retain xylem water distribution during sample preparation against artifacts.

Repair of severe winter xylem embolism supports summer water transport and carbon gain in flagged crowns of the subalpine conifer Abies veitchii

Xylem embolism induced by winter drought is a serious dysfunction in evergreen conifers growing at wind-exposed sites in the mountains. Some coniferous species can recover from winter embolism. The aim of this study was to determine whether wind direction influences embolism formation and/or repair dynamics on short windward and long leeward branches of asymmetrical `flagged' crowns. We analyzed the effect of branch orientation on percentage loss of xylem conductive area (PLC), leaf functional traits and the xylem:leaf area ratio for subalpine, wind-exposed flagged-crown Abies veitchii trees in the northern Yatsugatake Mountains of central Japan. In late winter, the shoot water potential was below -2.5 MPa, and the PLC exceeded 80% in 2-year-old branches, independent of branch orientation within a flagged crown. Both of these parameters almost fully recovered by summer. At branch internodes 4 years of age and older, seasonal changes in PLC were not found in either windward or leeward branches, but the PLC was higher in less leafy windward branches. The leaf nitrogen content and water-use efficiency of mature leaves were comparable between windward branches and leafy leeward branches. The ratio of xylem conductive area to total leaf area was the same for windward and leeward branches. These results indicate that the repair of winter xylem embolism allows leaf physiological functions to be maintained under sufficient leaf water supply, even on winter-wind-exposed branches. This permits substantial photosynthetic carbon gain during the following growing season on both windward and leeward branches. Thus, xylem recovery from winter embolism is a key trait for the survival of harsh winters and to support productivity on the individual level in flagged-crown A. veitchii trees.

Mitigating the open vessel artefact in centrifuge-based measurement of embolism resistance

Centrifuge-based techniques to assess xylem vulnerability to embolism are increasingly being used, although we are yet to reach a consensus on the nature and extent of artefactual embolism observed in some angiosperm species. In particular, there is disagreement over whether these artefacts influence both the spin (Cavitron) and static versions of the centrifuge technique equally. We tested two methods for inducing embolism: bench dehydration and centrifugation. We used three methods to measure the resulting loss of conductivity: gravimetric flow measured in bench-dehydrated and centrifuged samples (static centrifuge), in situ flow measured under tension during spinning in the centrifuge (Cavitron) and direct imaging using X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) observations in stems of two species of Hakea that differ in vessel length. Both centrifuge techniques were prone to artefactual embolism in samples with maximum vessel length longer than, or similar to, the centrifuge rotor diameter. Observations with microCT indicated that this artefactual embolism occurred in the outermost portions of samples. The artefact was largely eliminated if flow was measured in an excised central part of the segment in the static centrifuge or starting measurements with the Cavitron at pressures lower than the threshold of embolism formation in open vessels. The simulations of loss of conductivity in centrifuged samples with a new model, CAVITOPEN, confirmed that the impact of open vessels on the vulnerability to embolism curve was higher when vessels were long, samples short and when embolism is formed in open vessels at less negative pressures. This model also offers a robust and quantitative tool to test and correct for artefactual embolism at low xylem tensions.

Non-invasive imaging shows no evidence of embolism repair after drought in tree species of two genera

Drought stress can result in significant impairment of the plant hydraulic system via blockage of xylem conduits by gas emboli. Recovery after drought stress is an essential component of plant survival but is still a poorly understood process. In this study, we examined the capacity of woody species from two genera (Eucalyptus and Quercus) to refill embolized xylem vessels during a cycle of drought and recovery. Observations were made on intact plants of Eucalyptus calmudulensis, E. grandis, E. saligna and Quercus palustris using X-ray microtomography. We found no evidence of an effective xylem refilling mechanism in any of the plant species. Despite rehydration and recovery of plant water potential to near pre-drought levels, embolized vessels were not refilled up to 72 h after rewatering. In E. saligna, water droplets accumulated in previously air-filled vessels for a very small percentage of vessels. However, no instances of complete refilling that would restore embolized vessels to hydraulic function were observed. Our observations suggest that rapid refilling of embolized vessels after drought may not be a wide spread mechanism in woody plants and that embolism formed during drought represents long term cost to the plant hydraulic system.

The interaction between nonstructural carbohydrate reserves and xylem hydraulics in Korean pine trees across an altitudinal gradient

Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) have been proposed to play an important role in maintaining the hydraulic integrity of trees, particularly in environments with high risks of embolism formation, but knowledge about the interaction between NSC reserves and xylem hydraulics is still very limited. We studied the variation of NSC reserves and hydraulic traits in Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. (Korean pine) in March and June across a relatively large altitudinal gradient in Changbai Mountain of Northeast China. One of the major aims was to investigate the potential role NSC plays in maintaining hydraulic integrity of overwintering stems in facing freezing-induced embolism. Consistent with our hypotheses, substantial variations in both NSC contents and hydraulic traits were observed across altitudes and between the two seasons. In March, when relatively high degrees of winter embolism exist, the percentage loss of conductivity (PLC) showed an exponential increase with altitude. Most notably, positive correlations between branch and trunk soluble sugar content and PLC (P = 0.053 and 0.006) were observed across altitudes during this period. These correlations could indicate that more soluble sugars are required for maintaining stem hydraulic integrity over the winter by resisting or refilling freezing-induced embolism in harsher environments, although more work is needed to establish a direct causal relationship between NSC dynamics and xylem hydraulics. If the correlation is indeed directly associated with varying demands for maintaining hydraulic integrity across environmental gradients, greater carbon demands may compromise tree growth under conditions of higher risk of winter embolism leading to a trade-off between competitiveness and stress resistance, which may be at least partially responsible for the lower dominance of Korean pine trees at higher altitudes.

Annual patterns of xylem embolism in high-yield apple cultivars

Temperate angiosperm species show pronounced annual patterns in xylem embolism. In this study, we investigated whether high-yield cultivars of Malus domestica Borkh. growing under optimised soil water conditions follow similar patterns to wild-type plants, and evaluated crucial factors for the formation of winter embolism and the subsequent restoration of the hydraulic system in spring. In five different cultivars growing at three different sites, various hydraulic and microclimatic parameters were monitored over three successive years. In all cultivars on all sites and in all years, the percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) increased in autumn with freeze-thaw events and accumulated over winter. Maximum values were reached in late winter and differed significantly among cultivars. In spring, the hydraulic system was restored and PLC remained negligible during summer. Embolism formation in autumn was significantly correlated with the occurrence of freeze-thaw events, whereas further conductivity losses over winter were related to winter desiccation and influenced by climatic and cultivar-specific parameters. Restoration of the hydraulic system in spring was strongly linked to a decrease in the starch content of wood and buds, and soil temperature. Despite high soil water availability, hydraulic recovery took several weeks and was not completed before bud break. Spring is thus a critical phase for temperate angiosperms, especially for high-yield cultivars with risky hydraulic strategies.

In Situ Visualization of the Dynamics in Xylem Embolism Formation and Removal in the Absence of Root Pressure: A Study on Excised Grapevine Stems

Gas embolisms formed during drought can disrupt long-distance water transport through plant xylem vessels, but some species have the ability to remove these blockages. Despite evidence suggesting that embolism removal is linked to the presence of vessel-associated parenchyma, the underlying mechanism remains controversial and is thought to involve positive pressure generated by roots. Here, we used in situ x-ray microtomography on excised grapevine stems to determine if embolism removal is possible without root pressure, and if the embolism formation/removal affects vessel functional status after sample excision. Our data show that embolism removal in excised stems was driven by water droplet growth and was qualitatively identical to refilling in intact plants. When stem segments were rehydrated with H2O after excision, vessel refilling occurred rapidly (<1 h). The refilling process was substantially slower when polyethylene glycol was added to the H2O source, thereby providing new support for an osmotically driven refilling mechanism. In contrast, segments not supplied with H2O showed no refilling and increased embolism formation. Dynamic changes in liquid/wall contact angles indicated that the processes of embolism removal (i.e. vessel refilling) by water influx and embolism formation by water efflux were directly linked to the activity of vessel-associated living tissue. Overall, our results emphasize that root pressure is not required as a driving force for vessel refilling, and care should be taken when performing hydraulics measurements on excised plant organs containing living vessel-associated tissue, because the vessel behavior may not be static.

Dissolved atmospheric gas in xylem sap measured with membrane inlet mass spectrometry

A new method is described for measuring dissolved gas concentrations in small volumes of xylem sap using membrane inlet mass spectrometry. The technique can be used to determine concentrations of atmospheric gases, such as argon, as reported here, or for any dissolved gases and their isotopes for a variety of applications, such as rapid detection of trace gases from groundwater only hours after they were taken up by trees and rooting depth estimation. Atmospheric gas content in xylem sap directly affects the conditions and mechanisms that allow for gas removal from xylem embolisms, because gas can dissolve into saturated or supersaturated sap only under gas pressure that is above atmospheric pressure. The method was tested for red trumpet vine, Distictis buccinatoria (Bignoniaceae), by measuring atmospheric gas concentrations in sap collected at times of minimum and maximum daily temperature and during temperature increase and decline. Mean argon concentration in xylem sap did not differ significantly from saturation levels for the temperature and pressure conditions at any time of collection, but more than 40% of all samples were supersaturated, especially during the warm parts of day. There was no significant diurnal pattern, due to high variability between samples.

Cutting stems before relaxing xylem tension induces artefacts in Vitis coignetiae, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging

It was recently reported that cutting artefacts occur in some species when branches under tension are cut, even under water. We used non-destructive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the change in xylem water distribution at the cellular level in Vitis coignetiae standing stems before and after relaxing tension. Less than 3% of vessels were cavitated when stems under tension were cut under water at a position shorter than the maximum vessel length (MVL) from the MRI point, in three of four plants. The vessel contents remained at their original status, and cutting artefact vessel cavitation declined to <1% when stems were cut at a position farther than the MVL from the MRI point. Water infiltration into the originally cavitated vessels after cutting the stem, i.e. vessel refilling, was found in <1% of vessels independent of cutting position on three of nine plants. The results indicate that both vessel cavitation and refilling occur in xylem tissue under tension following stem cutting, but its frequency is quite small, and artefacts can be minimized altogether if the distance between the monitoring position and the cutting point is longer than the MVL.

Determinants of water circulation in a woody bamboo species: afternoon use and night-time recharge of culm water storage

To understand water-use strategies of woody bamboo species, sap flux density (Fd) in the culms of a woody bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendland) was monitored using the thermal dissipation method. The daytime and night-time Fd were analyzed in the dry and rainy seasons. Additionally, diurnal changes in root pressure, culm circumference, and stomatal conductance (gs) were investigated to characterize the mechanisms used to maintain diurnal water balance of woody bamboos. Both in the dry and rainy seasons, daytime Fd responded to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in an exponential fashion, with a fast initial increase in Fd when VPD increased from 0 to 1 kPa. The Fd and gs started to increase very fast as light intensity and VPD increased in the morning, but they decreased sharply once the maximum value was achieved. The Fd response of this woody bamboo to VPD was much faster than that of representative trees and palms growing in the same study site, suggesting its fast sap flow and stomatal responses to changes in ambient environmental factors. The Fd in the lower and higher culm positions started to increase at the same time in the morning, but the Fd in the higher culm position was higher than that of the lower culm in the afternoon. Consistently, distinct decreases in its culm circumference in the afternoon were detected. Therefore, unlike trees, water storage of bamboo culms was not used for its transpiration in the morning but in the afternoon. Nocturnal sap flow of this woody bamboo was also detected and related to root pressure. We conclude that this bamboo has fast sap flow/stomatal responses to irradiance and evaporative demands, and it uses substantial water storage for transpiration in the afternoon, while root pressure appears to be a mechanism resulting in culm water storage recharge during the night.

Contrasting drought-response strategies in California redwoods

We compared the physiology and growth of seedlings originating from different Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don.) Endl. (coast redwood) and Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchh. (giant sequoia) populations subjected to progressive drought followed by a recovery period in a controlled greenhouse experiment. Our objective was to examine how multiple plant traits interact to influence the response of seedlings of each species and seed population to a single drought and recovery cycle. We measured soil and plant water status, leaf gas exchange, stem embolism and growth of control (well-watered) and drought-stressed (water withheld) seedlings from each population at the beginning, middle and end of a 6-week drought period and again 2 weeks after re-watering. The drought had a significant effect on many aspects of seedling performance, but water-stressed seedlings regained most physiological functioning by the end of the recovery period. Sequoiadendron seedlings exhibited a greater degree of isohydry (water status regulation), lower levels of stem embolism, higher biomass allocation to roots and lower sensitivity of growth to drought compared with Sequoia. Only minor intra-specific differences were observed among populations. Our results show that seedlings of the two redwood species exhibit contrasting drought-response strategies that align with the environmental conditions these trees experience in their native habitats, and demonstrate trade-offs and coordination among traits affecting plant water use, carbon gain and growth under drought.

Synchrotron X-ray microtomography of xylem embolism in Sequoia sempervirens saplings during cycles of drought and recovery

The formation of emboli in xylem conduits can dramatically reduce hydraulic capacity and represents one of the principal mechanisms of drought-induced mortality in woody plants. However, our understanding of embolism formation and repair is constrained by a lack of tools to directly and nondestructively measure these processes at high spatial resolution. Using synchrotron-based microcomputed tomography (microCT), we examined embolism in the xylem of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) saplings that were subjected to cycles of drought and rewatering. Embolism formation was observed occurring by three different mechanisms: as tracheids embolizing in wide tangential bands; as isolated tracheids in seemingly random events; and as functional groups connected to photosynthetic organs. Upon rewatering, stem water potential recovered to predrought stress levels within 24 h; however, no evidence of embolism repair was observed even after a further 2 wk under well-watered conditions. The results indicate that intertracheid air seeding is the primary mechanism by which embolism spreads in the xylem of S. sempervirens, but also show that a small number of tracheids initially become gas-filled via another mechanism. The inability of S. sempervirens saplings to reverse drought-induced embolism is likely to have important ecological impacts on this species.

Rapid hydraulic recovery in Eucalyptus pauciflora after drought: linkages between stem hydraulics and leaf gas exchange

In woody plants, photosynthetic capacity is closely linked to rates at which the plant hydraulic system can supply water to the leaf surface. Drought-induced embolism can cause sharp declines in xylem hydraulic conductivity that coincide with stomatal closure and reduced photosynthesis. Recovery of photosynthetic capacity after drought is dependent on restored xylem function, although few data exist to elucidate this coordination. We examined the dynamics of leaf gas exchange and xylem function in Eucalyptus pauciflora seedlings exposed to a cycle of severe water stress and recovery after re-watering. Stomatal closure and leaf turgor loss occurred at water potentials that delayed the extensive spread of embolism through the stem xylem. Stem hydraulic conductance recovered to control levels within 6 h after re-watering despite a severe drought treatment, suggesting an active mechanism embolism repair. However, stomatal conductance did not recover after 10 d of re-watering, effecting tighter control of transpiration post drought. The dynamics of recovery suggest that a combination of hydraulic and non-hydraulic factors influenced stomatal behaviour post drought.

Methods for measuring plant vulnerability to cavitation: a critical review

Xylem cavitation resistance has profound implications for plant physiology and ecology. This process is characterized by a 'vulnerability curve' (VC) showing the variation of the percentage of cavitation as a function of xylem pressure potential. The shape of this VC varies from 'sigmoidal' to 'exponential'. This review provides a panorama of the techniques that have been used to generate such a curve. The techniques differ by (i) the way cavitation is induced (e.g. bench dehydration, centrifugation, or air injection), and (ii) the way cavitation is measured (e.g. percentage loss of conductivity (PLC) or acoustic emission), and a nomenclature is proposed based on these two methods. A survey of the literature of more than 1200 VCs was used to draw statistics on the usage of these methods and on their reliability and validity. Four methods accounted for more than 96% of all curves produced so far: bench dehydration-PLC, centrifugation-PLC, pressure sleeve-PLC, and Cavitron. How the shape of VCs varies across techniques and species xylem anatomy was also analysed. Strikingly, it was found that the vast majority of curves obtained with the reference bench dehydration-PLC method are 'sigmoidal'. 'Exponential' curves were more typical of the three other methods and were remarkably frequent for species having large xylem conduits (ring-porous), leading to a substantial overestimation of the vulnerability of cavitation for this functional group. We suspect that 'exponential' curves may reflect an open-vessel artefact and call for more precautions with the usage of the pressure sleeve and centrifugation techniques.

Investigating xylem embolism formation, refilling and water storage in tree trunks using frequency domain reflectometry

Trunks of large trees play an important role in whole-plant water balance but technical difficulties have limited most hydraulic research to small stems, leaves, and roots. To investigate the dynamics of water-related processes in tree trunks, such as winter embolism refilling, xylem hydraulic vulnerability, and water storage, volumetric water content (VWC) in the main stem was monitored continuously using frequency domain moisture sensors in adult Betula papyrifera trees from early spring through the beginning of winter. An air injection technique was developed to estimate hydraulic vulnerability of the trunk xylem. Trunk VWC increased in early spring and again in autumn, concurrently with root pressure during both seasons. Diurnal fluctuations and a gradual decrease in trunk VWC through the growing season were observed, which, in combination with VWC increase after significant rainfall events and depletion during periods of high water demand, indicate the importance of stem water storage in both short- and long-term water balance. Comparisons between the trunk air injection results and conventional branch hydraulic vulnerability curves showed no evidence of 'vulnerability segmentation' between the main stem and small branches in B. papyrifera. Measurements of VWC following air injection, together with evidence from air injection and xylem dye perfusion, indicate that embolized vessels can be refilled by active root pressure but not in the absence of root pressure. The precise, continuous, and non-destructive measurement of wood water content using frequency domain sensors provides an ideal way to probe many hydraulic processes in large tree trunks that are otherwise difficult to investigate.

Maintenance of xylem Network Transport Capacity: A Review of Embolism Repair in Vascular Plants

Maintenance of long distance water transport in xylem is essential to plant health and productivity. Both biotic and abiotic environmental conditions lead to embolism formation within the xylem resulting in lost transport capacity and ultimately death. Plants exhibit a variety of strategies to either prevent or restore hydraulic capacity through cavitation resistance with specialized anatomy, replacement of compromised conduits with new growth, and a metabolically active embolism repair mechanism. In recent years, mounting evidence suggests that metabolically active cells surrounding the xylem conduits in some, but not all, species are capable of restoring hydraulic conductivity. This review summarizes our current understanding of the osmotically driven embolism repair mechanism, the known genetic and anatomical components related to embolism repair, rehydration pathways through the xylem, and the role of capacitance. Anatomical differences between functional plant groups may be one of the limiting factors that allow some plants to refill while others do not, but further investigations are necessary to fully understand this dynamic process. Finally, xylem networks should no longer be considered an assemblage of dead, empty conduits, but instead a metabolically active tissue finely tuned to respond to ever changing environmental cues.

In vivo visualizations of drought-induced embolism spread in Vitis vinifera

Long-distance water transport through plant xylem is vulnerable to hydraulic dysfunction during periods of increased tension on the xylem sap, often coinciding with drought. While the effects of local and systemic embolism on plant water transport and physiology are well documented, the spatial patterns of embolism formation and spread are not well understood. Using a recently developed nondestructive diagnostic imaging tool, high-resolution x-ray computed tomography, we documented the dynamics of drought-induced embolism in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) plants in vivo, producing the first three-dimensional, high-resolution, time-lapse observations of embolism spread. Embolisms formed first in the vessels surrounding the pith at stem water potentials of approximately -1.2 megapascals in drought experiments. As stem water potential decreased, embolisms spread radially toward the epidermis within sectored vessel groupings via intervessel connections and conductive xylem relays, and infrequently (16 of 629 total connections) through lateral connections into adjacent vessel sectors. Theoretical loss of conductivity calculated from the high-resolution x-ray computed tomography images showed good agreement with previously published nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and hydraulic conductivity experiments also using grapevine. Overall, these data support a growing body of evidence that xylem organization is critically important to the isolation of drought-induced embolism spread and confirm that air seeding through the pit membranes is the principle mechanism of embolism spread.

Sixteen years of winter stress: an assessment of cold hardiness, growth performance and survival of hybrid poplar clones at a boreal planting site

In recent years, thousands of hectares of hybrid poplar plantations have been established in Canada for the purpose of carbon sequestration and wood production. However, boreal planting environments pose special challenges that may compromise the long-term survival and productivity of such plantations. In this study, we evaluated the effect of winter stress, that is, frequent freeze-thaw and extreme cold events, on growth and survival of 47 hybrid poplar clones in a long-term field experiment. We further assessed physiological and structural traits that are potentially important for cold tolerance for a selected set of seven clones. We found that trees with narrow xylem vessels showed reduced freezing-induced embolism and showed superior productivity after 16 growing seasons. With respect to cold hardiness of living tissues, we only observed small differences among clones in early autumn, which were nonetheless significantly correlated to growth. Maximum winter cold hardiness and the timing of leaf senescence and budbreak were not related to growth or survival. In conclusion, our data suggest that reduction of freezing-induced embolism due to small vessel diameters is an essential adaptive trait to ensure long-term productivity of hybrid poplar plantations in boreal planting environments.

Water stress, shoot growth and storage of non-structural carbohydrates along a tree height gradient in a tall conifer

We analysed concentrations of starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose in upper branch wood, foliage and trunk sapwood of Douglas-fir trees in height classes ranging from ~2 to ~57 m. Mean concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) for all tissues were highest in the tallest height class and lowest in the lowest height class, and height-related trends in NSC were most pronounced in branches. Throughout a 17-month sampling period, mean values of branch NSC from the 57 m trees ranged between 30 and 377% greater than the 2 m trees. Branch NSC was inversely correlated with midday shoot water potential (Ψ(l)), shoot osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψ) and shoot extension. Temporal fluctuation in branch NSC was inversely correlated with height, and positively correlated with midday Ψ(l) , Ψ and shoot extension. The positive correlation between height and storage of NSC, and the negative correlation between NSC storage and shoot extension provide evidence that size-related growth decline in trees is not strongly associated with constraints on photosynthesis. The negative correlation between height and fluctuation in NSC suggests that mobilization of photosynthate in taller trees is constrained by some factor such as reductions in turgor-driven cell expansion or constraints on phloem transport.

More than just a vulnerable pipeline: xylem physiology in the light of ion-mediated regulation of plant water transport

Major restrictions to the hydraulic conductance of xylem (K(XYL)) in vascular plants have traditionally been attributed to anatomical constraints. More recently, changes in the cationic concentration of xylem sap have been suggested to be responsible for short-term changes in K(XYL) based on data for 35 dicot species, and very few gymnosperms and ferns, indicating that xylem water transport may no longer be considered as an entirely passive process. Recent studies have revealed that this so-called ionic effect: (i) varies from little or no increase to >30%, (ii) is species specific, (iii) changes on a seasonal basis, (iv) depends on the cationic concentration, (v) is enhanced in embolized stems, and (vi) is positively correlated with vessel grouping. Furthermore, the ionic effect has been suggested to play functional roles in planta with respect to: (i) phloem-mediated control of xylem hydraulic properties, (ii) compensation of cavitation-induced loss of hydraulic conductance, with the result of optimizing light and water utilization, and (iii) differential regulation of water delivery to branches exposed to different levels of light. Pits are likely to play a key role in the ionic effect, which has largely been explained as a consequence of the poly-electrolytic nature and hydrogel properties of the pectic matrix of interconduit pit membranes, despite little evidence that pit membrane pectins remain present after cell hydrolysis. More research is needed to address the ionic effect in more species, physico-chemical properties of pit membranes, and how the ionic effect may increase xylem hydraulic conductance 'on demand'.

Xylem traits mediate a trade-off between resistance to freeze-thaw-induced embolism and photosynthetic capacity in overwintering evergreens

Hydraulic traits were studied in temperate, woody evergreens in a high-elevation heath community to test for trade-offs between the delivery of water to canopies at rates sufficient to sustain photosynthesis and protection against disruption to vascular transport caused by freeze-thaw-induced embolism. Freeze-thaw-induced loss in hydraulic conductivity was studied in relation to xylem anatomy, leaf- and sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity and gas exchange characteristics of leaves. We found evidence that a trade-off between xylem transport capacity and safety from freeze-thaw-induced embolism affects photosynthetic activity in overwintering evergreens. The mean hydraulically weighted xylem vessel diameter and sapwood-specific conductivity correlated with susceptibility to freeze-thaw-induced embolism. There was also a strong correlation of hydraulic supply and demand across species; interspecific differences in stomatal conductance and CO(2) assimilation rates were correlated linearly with sapwood- and leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity. Xylem vessel anatomy mediated an apparent trade-off between resistance to freeze-thaw-induced embolism and hydraulic and photosynthetic capacity during the winter. These results point to a new role for xylem functional traits in determining the degree to which species can maintain photosynthetic carbon gain despite freezing events and cold winter temperatures.

Mind the bubbles: achieving stable measurements of maximum hydraulic conductivity through woody plant samples

The maximum specific hydraulic conductivity (k(max)) of a plant sample is a measure of the ability of a plants' vascular system to transport water and dissolved nutrients under optimum conditions. Precise measurements of k(max) are needed in comparative studies of hydraulic conductivity, as well as for measuring the formation and repair of xylem embolisms. Unstable measurements of k(max) are a common problem when measuring woody plant samples and it is commonly observed that k(max) declines from initially high values, especially when positive water pressure is used to flush out embolisms. This study was designed to test five hypotheses that could potentially explain declines in k(max) under positive pressure: (i) non-steady-state flow; (ii) swelling of pectin hydrogels in inter-vessel pit membranes; (iii) nucleation and coalescence of bubbles at constrictions in the xylem; (iv) physiological wounding responses; and (v) passive wounding responses, such as clogging of the xylem by debris. Prehydrated woody stems from Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae) and Encelia farinosa (Asteraceae) collected from plants grown in the Fullerton Arboretum in Southern California, were used to test these hypotheses using a xylem embolism meter (XYL'EM). Treatments included simultaneous measurements of stem inflow and outflow, enzyme inhibitors, stem-debarking, low water temperatures, different water degassing techniques, and varied concentrations of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and copper salts in aqueous measurement solutions. Stable measurements of k(max) were observed at concentrations of calcium, potassium, and magnesium salts high enough to suppress bubble coalescence, as well as with deionized water that was degassed using a membrane contactor under strong vacuum. Bubble formation and coalescence under positive pressure in the xylem therefore appear to be the main cause for declining k(max) values. Our findings suggest that degassing of water is essential for achieving stable and precise measurements of k(max) through woody plant samples. For complete rehydration of woody samples, incubation in water under vacuum for 24 h is suggested as a reliable technique that avoids bubble problems associated with flushing under high positive pressure.

Tyloses and phenolic deposits in xylem vessels impede water transport in low-lignin transgenic poplars: a study by cryo-fluorescence microscopy

Of 14 transgenic poplar genotypes (Populus tremula × Populus alba) with antisense 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase that were grown in the field for 2 years, five that had substantial lignin reductions also had greatly reduced xylem-specific conductivity compared with that of control trees and those transgenic events with small reductions in lignin. For the two events with the lowest xylem lignin contents (greater than 40% reduction), we used light microscopy methods and acid fuchsin dye ascent studies to clarify what caused their reduced transport efficiency. A novel protocol involving dye stabilization and cryo-fluorescence microscopy enabled us to visualize the dye at the cellular level and to identify water-conducting pathways in the xylem. Cryo-fixed branch segments were planed in the frozen state on a sliding cryo-microtome and observed with an epifluorescence microscope equipped with a cryo-stage. We could then distinguish clearly between phenolic-occluded vessels, conductive (stain-filled) vessels, and nonconductive (water- or gas-filled) vessels. Low-lignin trees contained areas of nonconductive, brown xylem with patches of collapsed cells and patches of noncollapsed cells filled with phenolics. In contrast, phenolics and nonconductive vessels were rarely observed in normal colored wood of the low-lignin events. The results of cryo-fluorescence light microscopy were supported by observations with a confocal microscope after freeze drying of cryo-planed samples. Moreover, after extraction of the phenolics, confocal microscopy revealed that many of the vessels in the nonconductive xylem were blocked with tyloses. We conclude that reduced transport efficiency of the transgenic low-lignin xylem was largely caused by blockages from tyloses and phenolic deposits within vessels rather than by xylem collapse.

Ancestral xerophobia: a hypothesis on the whole plant ecophysiology of early angiosperms

Today, angiosperms are fundamental players in the diversity and biogeochemical functioning of the planet. Yet despite the omnipresence of angiosperms in today's ecosystems, the basic evolutionary understanding of how the earliest angiosperms functioned remains unknown. Here we synthesize ecophysiological, paleobotanical, paleoecological, and phylogenetic lines of evidence about early angiosperms and their environments. In doing so, we arrive at a hypothesis that early angiosperms evolved in evermoist tropical terrestrial habitats, where three of their emblematic innovations - including net-veined leaves, xylem vessels, and flowers - found ecophysiological advantages. However, the adaptation of early angiosperm ecophysiology to wet habitats did not initially promote massive diversification and ecological dominance. Instead, wet habitats were permissive for the ecological roothold of the clade, a critical phase of early diversification that entailed experimentation with a range of functional innovations in the leaves, wood, and flowers. Later, our results suggest that some of these innovations were co-opted gradually for new roles in the evolution of greater productivity and drought tolerance, which are characteristics seen across the vast majority of derived and ecologically dominant angiosperms today.

Invited Review: Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) in the advancement of functional plant biology. Morphological and anatomical applications

Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) is reviewed by exploring how the images obtained have changed paradigms of plant functions and interactions with their environment. Its power to arrest and stabilise plant parts in milliseconds, and to preserve them at full hydration for examination at micrometre resolution has changed many views of plant function. For example, it provides the only feasible way of accurately measuring stomatal aperture during active transpiration, and volume and shape changes in guard cells, or examining the contents of laticifers. It has revealed that many xylem conduits contain gas, not liquid, during the day, and that they can be refilled with sap and resume water transport. It has elucidated the management of ice to prevent cell damage in frost tolerant plants and has revealed for the first time inherent biological and physical features of root/soil interactions in the field. CSEM is increasingly used to reveal complementary structural information in studies of metabolism, fungal infection and symbiosis, molecular and genetic analysis.