Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest
The characterisation of ecological strategies to predict drought response is still lacking for Caribbean dry forest seedlings. This study documents growth characteristics and tolerance to drought via xylem hydraulic and leaf cell properties of three dominant native species of the Caribbean dry fores...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/697 |
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| author | Eléonore Mira Hervé Cochard André Evette Maguy Dulormne |
| author_facet | Eléonore Mira Hervé Cochard André Evette Maguy Dulormne |
| author_sort | Eléonore Mira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The characterisation of ecological strategies to predict drought response is still lacking for Caribbean dry forest seedlings. This study documents growth characteristics and tolerance to drought via xylem hydraulic and leaf cell properties of three dominant native species of the Caribbean dry forest. Twenty morphological and physiological traits were assessed in <i>Citharexylum spinosum</i>, <i>Guaiacum officinale</i> and <i>Guapira fragrans</i> in greenhouse conditions. The seedlings displayed contrasting growth rates, which were positively correlated with the capacity to quickly develop a large leaf area and root fraction. The three species had a similar xylem tolerance to embolism (P<sub>50</sub>: −4 MPa) but differed in leaf cell tolerance to dehydration, which was negatively correlated with RGR (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.87). The slowest-growing, <i>G. officinale</i>, had high leaf tolerance to cell dehydration due to low Ψ<sub>TLP</sub> and πo, but displayed a narrow hydraulic safety margin. The leaves of the fast-growing <i>C. spinosum</i> were sensitive to leaf dehydration but exhibited a surprisingly wide stem hydraulic safety margin. <i>G. fragrans</i> had intermediate traits. Our results showed that dry forest seedling growth in similar environments can exhibit distinct carbon growth strategies as well as contrasting water-use strategies, primarily as they relate to drought resistance, due to variation in root development and leaf cell resistance to dehydration. Our study thus provides an approach to estimate species performance under drought conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:01:12Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:01:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a9c45a061c344a2b1f4cc1488debca82023-11-17T19:16:35ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-03-0114469710.3390/f14040697Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry ForestEléonore Mira0Hervé Cochard1André Evette2Maguy Dulormne3UMR EcoFoG, Université des Antilles, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université de Guyane, UFR SEN, BP. 592, F-97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, FranceINRAE, UMR 547 PIAF, F-63100 Clermont-Ferrand, FranceLESSEM, INRAE, University Grenoble Alpes, F-38402 Saint-Martin-d’Hères, FranceUMR EcoFoG, Université des Antilles, CNRS, CIRAD, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université de Guyane, UFR SEN, BP. 592, F-97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, FranceThe characterisation of ecological strategies to predict drought response is still lacking for Caribbean dry forest seedlings. This study documents growth characteristics and tolerance to drought via xylem hydraulic and leaf cell properties of three dominant native species of the Caribbean dry forest. Twenty morphological and physiological traits were assessed in <i>Citharexylum spinosum</i>, <i>Guaiacum officinale</i> and <i>Guapira fragrans</i> in greenhouse conditions. The seedlings displayed contrasting growth rates, which were positively correlated with the capacity to quickly develop a large leaf area and root fraction. The three species had a similar xylem tolerance to embolism (P<sub>50</sub>: −4 MPa) but differed in leaf cell tolerance to dehydration, which was negatively correlated with RGR (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.87). The slowest-growing, <i>G. officinale</i>, had high leaf tolerance to cell dehydration due to low Ψ<sub>TLP</sub> and πo, but displayed a narrow hydraulic safety margin. The leaves of the fast-growing <i>C. spinosum</i> were sensitive to leaf dehydration but exhibited a surprisingly wide stem hydraulic safety margin. <i>G. fragrans</i> had intermediate traits. Our results showed that dry forest seedling growth in similar environments can exhibit distinct carbon growth strategies as well as contrasting water-use strategies, primarily as they relate to drought resistance, due to variation in root development and leaf cell resistance to dehydration. Our study thus provides an approach to estimate species performance under drought conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/697<i>Citharexylum spinosum</i>droughtecological strategy<i>Guaiacum officinale</i><i>Guapira fragrans</i>hydraulic failure |
| spellingShingle | Eléonore Mira Hervé Cochard André Evette Maguy Dulormne Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest Forests <i>Citharexylum spinosum</i> drought ecological strategy <i>Guaiacum officinale</i> <i>Guapira fragrans</i> hydraulic failure |
| title | Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest |
| title_full | Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest |
| title_fullStr | Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest |
| title_short | Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest |
| title_sort | growth xylem vulnerability to cavitation and leaf cell response to dehydration in tree seedlings of the caribbean dry forest |
| topic | <i>Citharexylum spinosum</i> drought ecological strategy <i>Guaiacum officinale</i> <i>Guapira fragrans</i> hydraulic failure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/4/697 |
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