The impact of vessel size on vulnerability curves: data and models for within-species variability in saplings of aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx

Jing Cai; Melvin Tyree

doi:10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02127.x

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The impact of vessel size on vulnerability curves: data and models for within-species variability in saplings of aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Jing Cai, Melvin Tyree

Year:

2010

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02127.x

Source:

Plant, Cell & Environment. 33: 1059-1069.

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between vulnerability to cavitation and vessel diameter within a species. We measured vulnerability curves (VCs: percentage loss hydraulic conductivity versus tension) in aspen stems and measured vessel-size distributions. Measurements were done on seed-grown, 4-month-old aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) grown in a greenhouse. VCs of stem segments were measured using a centrifuge technique and by a staining technique that allowed a VC to be constructed based on vessel diameter size-classes (D).

Keywords

Populus tremuloides, air-seeding hypothesis, pit area hypothesis, vessel diameter, Weibull functions

Citation

Cai, Jing; Tyree, Melvin T. 2010. The impact of vessel size on vulnerability curves: data and models for within-species variability in saplings of aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. Plant, Cell & Environment. 33: 1059-1069.