Anatomical explanations for acute depressions in radial pattern of axial sap flow in two diffuse-porous mangrove species: implications for water use. (16th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Hewei; Yang, Shengchang; Guo, Xudong; Peng, Congjiao; Gu, Xiaoxuan; Deng, Chuanyuan; Chen, Luzhen
• Is Part Of: Tree physiology. Volume 38:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2018-01-16
• Subjects: blockages -- hydraulic architecture -- mangroves -- pits -- sap flow/sap flux -- water use -- wood anatomy; Trees -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 582.16
• DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpx172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0829-318X

Abstract

Abstract: Mangrove species have developed uniquely efficient water-use strategies in order to survive in highly saline and anaerobic environments. Herein, we estimated the stand water use of two diffuse-porous mangrove species of the same age, Sonneratia apetala Buch. Ham and Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl., growing in a similar intertidal environment. Specifically, to investigate the radial patterns of axial sap flow density ( J s ) and understand the anatomical traits associated with them, we measured axial sap flow density in situ together with micromorphological observations. A significant decrease of J s was observed for both species. This result was accompanied by the corresponding observations of wood structure and blockages in xylem sapwood, which appeared to influence and, hence, explained the acute radial reductions of axial sap flow in the stems of both species. However, higher radial resistance in sapwood of S. caseolaris caused a steeper decline of J s radially when compared with S. apetala, thus explaining the latter's more efficient use of water. Without first considering acute reductions in J s into the sapwood from the outer bark, a total of ~55% and 51% of water use would have been overestimated, corresponding to average discrepancies in stand water use of 5.6 mm day −1 for S. apetala trees and 2.5 mm day −1 for S. caseolaris trees. This suggests that measuring radial pattern of J s is a critical factor in determining whole-tree or stand water use.