Global analysis of plasticity in turgor loss point, a key drought tolerance trait. (17th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bartlett, Megan K.; Zhang, Ya; Kreidler, Nissa; Sun, Shanwen; Ardy, Rico; Cao, Kunfang; Sack, Lawren; Gurevitch, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 17:Number 12(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1580
• Page End: 1590
• Publication Date: 2014-10-17
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.12374
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ele12374-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Many species face increasing drought under climate change. Plasticity has been predicted to strongly influence species' drought responses, but broad patterns in plasticity have not been examined for key drought tolerance traits, including turgor loss or 'wilting' point (π_tlp). As soil dries, plants shift π_tlp by accumulating solutes (i.e. 'osmotic adjustment'). We conducted the first global analysis of plasticity in Δπ_tlp and related traits for 283 wild and crop species in ecosystems worldwide. Δπ_tlp was widely prevalent but moderate (−0.44 MPa), accounting for 16% of post‐drought π_tlp. Thus, pre‐drought π_tlp was a considerably stronger predictor of post‐drought π_tlp across species of wild plants. For cultivars of certain crops Δπ_tlp accounted for major differences in post‐drought π_tlp. Climate was correlated with pre‐ and post‐drought π_tlp, but not Δπ_tlp. Thus, despite the wide prevalence of plasticity, π_tlp measured in one season can reliably characterise most species' constitutive drought tolerances and distributions relative to water supply.</p> </abstract>