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Water supply and demand remain balanced during leaf acclimation of Nothofagus cunninghamii trees

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 07:09 authored by Timothy BrodribbTimothy Brodribb, Gregory JordanGregory Jordan
• Higher leaf vein density (Dvein) enables higher rates of photosynthesis because enhanced water transport allows higher leaf conductances to CO2 and water. If the total cost of leaf venation rises in proportion to the density of minor veins, the most efficient investment in leaf xylem relative to photosynthetic gain should occur when the water transport capacity of the leaf (determined by Dvein) matches potential transpirational demand (determined by stomatal size and density). • We tested whether environmental plasticity in stomatal density (Dstomata) and Dvein were linked in the evergreen tree Nothofagus cunninghamii to achieve a balance between liquid and gas phase water conductances. Two sources of variation were examined; within-tree light acclimation, and differences in sun leaves among plants from ecologically diverse populations. • Strong, linear correlations between Dvein and Dstomata were found at all levels of comparison. The correlations between liquid- and vapour-phase conductances implied by these patterns of leaf anatomy were confirmed by direct measurement of leaf conductance in sun and shade foliage of an individual tree. • Our results provide strong evidence that the development of veins and stomata are coordinated so that photosynthetic yield is optimized relative to carbon investment in leaf venation.

History

Publication title

New Phytologist

Volume

192

Pagination

437-448

ISSN

0028-646X

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2Dg

Rights statement

Copyright © 2011 New Phytologist Trust The definitive published version is available online at: http://www.interscience.wiley.com

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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