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Abstract

This study examined the linkage between xylem vulnerability,
stomatal response to leaf water potential (
Y
L
), and
loss of leaf turgor in eight species of seasonally dry tropical
forest trees. In order to maximize the potential variation in
these traits species that exhibit a range of leaf habits and
phenologies were selected. It was found that in all species
stomatal conductance was responsive to
Y
L
over a narrow
range of water potentials, and that
Y
L
inducing 50% stomatal
closure was correlated with both the
Y
L
inducing a
20% loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity and leaf water
potential at turgor loss in all species. In contrast, there was
no correlation between the water potential causing a 50%
loss of conductivity in the stem xylem, and the water potential
at stomatal closure (
Y
SC
) amongst species. It was concluded
that although both leaf and xylem characters are
correlated with the response of stomata to
Y
L,
there is
considerable flexibility in this linkage. The range of
responses is discussed in terms of the differing leaf-loss
strategies exhibited by these species.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Brodribb, TJ and Holbrook, NM and Edwards, EJ and Gutierrez, MV
Keywords:	cavitation; percentage loss of conductivity; pressure–volume curve; stomatal closure; tropical dry forest trees; turgor loss point; water potential.
Journal or Publication Title:	Plant, Cell and Environment
ISSN:	1365-3040
DOI / ID Number:	10.1046/j.1365-3040.2003.00975.x
Additional Information:	The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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