Relationships between Xylem Transport, Anatomical, and Mechanical Traits at Organ Level of Two Cupressaceae Species

Abstract

Compared to arid regions, forests in humid regions can be more vulnerable to drought as they are not used to, and thus not adapted to, water stress. Therefore, it is vital to understand the drought responses of woodland species in humid areas. Xylem structures and functions of species growing in the humid regions are the key to their drought responses. Two Cupressaceae species (including three taxa: Sequoia sempervirens, Taxodium distichum and its variety Taxodium distichum var. imbricatum) grown in a mesic common garden were targeted, and their xylem hydraulic function (hydraulic conductivity, Ks; cavitation resistance, P50), anatomical structure (tracheid and pit structure), and mechanical support (wood density, WD; tracheid thickness-to-span ratio, Ttob) were measured. Likewise, we analyzed the differences in hydraulic function and anatomical structure of xylem in branches and roots, and the quantitative relationship between xylem water transport, anatomical structure, and mechanical support. Our results showed that roots had a higher hydraulic conductivity and a weaker cavitation resistance than branches. There was no safety–efficiency trade-off in the branches and roots within species. Tracheid mechanical support had a trade-off relationship with Ks or P50 (negative correlation appeared in branch Ks ~ WD and root Ks ~ Ttob of S. sempervirens, root P50 ~ Ttob of T. distichum var. imbricatum, and branch P50 ~ WD). There was no trade-off in anatomical structure, which led to no safety–efficiency trade-off in xylem function. Our results suggest that the two species exhibit both low efficiency and low safety in xylem, and that there is no safety–efficiency trade-off in branches and roots. The reason behind this is that the structural demand for high safety and high efficiency differs (i.e., the root Ks of S. sempervirens was strongly controlled by Dh; in contrast, the root P50 of S. sempervirens was strongly determined by tracheid density, N). Namely, the structural basis for a safety–efficiency trade-off does not exist and therefore trade-offs cannot be achieved.