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Tomasella M, Natale S, Petruzzellis F, Di Bert S, D’Amico L, Tromba G, Nardini A. No Evidence for Light-Induced Embolism Repair in Cut Stems of Drought-Resistant Mediterranean Species under Soaking. Plants 2022; 11:plants11030307. [PMID: 35161287 PMCID: PMC8840644 DOI: 10.3390/plants11030307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
(1) Recent studies suggested that stem photosynthesis could favor bark water uptake and embolism recovery when stem segments are soaked in water under light conditions, but evidence for this phenomenon in drought-resistant Mediterranean species with photosynthetic stems is missing. (2) Embolism recovery upon immersion in water for 2 h–4 h under light was assessed (i) via a classical hydraulic method in leafless Fraxinus ornus and Olea europaea branch segments stressed to xylem water potentials (Yxyl) inducing ca. 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) and (ii) via X-ray micro-CT imaging of the stem segments of drought-stressed potted F. ornus saplings. Hydraulic recovery was also assessed in vivo in intact drought-stressed F. ornus saplings upon soil re-irrigation. (3) Intact F. ornus plants recovered hydraulic function through root water uptake. Conversely, the soaked stem segments of both species did not refill embolized conduits, although Yxyl recovered to pre-stress levels (between −0.5 MPa and −0.2 MPa). (4) We hypothesize that xylem embolism recovery through bark water uptake, even in light conditions, may not be a common phenomenon in woody plants and/or that wounds caused by cutting short stem segments might inhibit the refilling process upon soaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Tomasella
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.T.); (S.N.); (F.P.); (S.D.B.)
| | - Sara Natale
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.T.); (S.N.); (F.P.); (S.D.B.)
| | - Francesco Petruzzellis
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.T.); (S.N.); (F.P.); (S.D.B.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università di Udine, Via delle Scienze 91, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Sara Di Bert
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.T.); (S.N.); (F.P.); (S.D.B.)
| | - Lorenzo D’Amico
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Area Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Italy (G.T.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Via A. Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuliana Tromba
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Area Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Italy (G.T.)
| | - Andrea Nardini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.T.); (S.N.); (F.P.); (S.D.B.)
- Correspondence:
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