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Seasonal changes in hydraulic conductance, xylem embolism and leaf area in Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Eucalyptus miniata saplings in a north Australian savanna

Prior, LD and Eamus, D (2000). Seasonal changes in hydraulic conductance, xylem embolism and leaf area in Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Eucalyptus miniata saplings in a north Australian savanna. Plant, Cell and Environment,23(9):955-965.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 25 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 24 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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ISI LOC 000165802700006
Title Seasonal changes in hydraulic conductance, xylem embolism and leaf area in Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Eucalyptus miniata saplings in a north Australian savanna
Author Prior, LD
Eamus, D
Journal Name Plant, Cell and Environment
Publication Date 2000
Volume Number 23
Issue Number 9
ISSN 0140-7791   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-0033832110
Start Page 955
End Page 965
Total Pages 11
Place of Publication UK
Publisher Blackwell Science
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Eucalypt saplings in north Australian savannas commonly die back, sometimes to ground level, during the 5 months of the long dry season. Water potentials are lower in saplings than large trees during the dry season, and we hypothesized that low water potentials may lead to high levels of xylem embolism and consequent death of branches and whole shoots. As the dry season progressed, hydraulic conductance of terminal branches decreased by 50% in Eucalyptus tetrodonta but not in Eucalyptus miniata saplings. Hydraulic conductance per leaf area decreased seasonally by 34% in E. tetrodonta branches. These decreases may be associated with the loss of leaves recorded from E. tetrodonta but not E. miniata branches. We modelled the effect of sequential loss of parallel resistors, representing petioles on a branch. This showed there is a non-linear decrease in flow as basal resistors are lost, which can lead to a decrease in mean flow per resistor due to increased mean path-length. Thus the observed loss of basal leaves, together with xylem embolism, probably contributed to the seasonal loss of hydraulic conductance in E. tetrodonta saplings. Loss of hydraulic conductance due to xylem embolism was generally low (< 15%) in both species, and the seasonal increase in embolism could not fully account for the decline in hydraulic conductance of E. tetrodonta branches. There was little evidence that branch and shoot death was caused by these levels of embolism. Developing an embolism vulnerability curve for species with long vessels is problematic and this issue is discussed.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3040.2000.00612.x   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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