Treesearch
Do ray cells provide a pathway for radial water movement in the stems of conifer trees?
| Authors: | David M. Barnard, Barbara Lachenbruch, Katherine A. McCulloh, Peter Kitin, Frederick Meinzer |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Pacific Northwest Research Station |
| Source: | American Journal of Botany. 100(2): 322-331 |
Download (PDF 1.40 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/45325.pdf
Abstract
The pathway of radial water movement in tree stems presents an unknown with respect to whole-tree hydraulics. Radial profiles have shown substantial axial sap flow in deeper layers of sapwood (that may lack direct connection to transpiring leaves), which suggests the existence of a radial pathway for water movement. Rays in tree stems include ray tracheids and/or ray parenchyma cells and may offer such a pathway for radial water transport. This study investigated relationships between radial hydraulic conductivity and ray anatomical and stem morphological characteristics in the stems of three conifer species whose distributions span a natural aridity gradient across the Cascade Mountain range in Oregon, United States.