H218O vapour labelling reveals evidence of radial Péclet effects, but in not all leaves

Abstract

Summary Contradictory evidence exists regarding the relevance of Péclet‐like gradients in leaf water isotopes, making it difficult to accurately predict variation in isotope composition. Here, we use H218O vapour labelling to directly test whether leaf water isotopes diffuse back into the xylem to be carried forward to more distal leaf portions. Backward diffusion has been assumed, due to observations of increasing enrichment towards the tip and outer edges of some leaves. Further complicating the selection of leaf water isotope models is the observation that some, but not all, leaves demonstrate a radial Péclet effect in bulk leaf water and that the hydraulic design of leaves may influence the development of isotope gradients in leaves. Carry‐forward of H218O vapour label was detected in the two monocot species assessed (oat and corn), but not in the two dicot species (foxglove and sunflower). Further, bulk leaf water measurements at differing transpiration rates indicated that a bulk leaf water Péclet effect was relevant for foxglove only. We conclude that both leaf hydraulic design and relative velocities of water within transport pathways influence leaf water isotope composition, reconciling seemingly contradictory previous results regarding the relevance of Péclet effects to leaf water isotopes.