Concomitant dendrometer and leaf patch pressure probe measurements reveal the effect of microclimate and soil moisture on diurnal stem water and leaf turgor variations in young oak trees
Wilhelm Ehrenberger A B , Simon Rüger A B , Ronald Fitzke A , Pierre Vollenweider C , Madeleine Günthardt-Goerg C , Thomas Kuster C , Ulrich Zimmermann A and Matthias Arend C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A ZIM Plant Technology GmbH, Neuendorfstr. 19, D-16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany.
B Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany.
C Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf/ZH, Switzerland.
D Corresponding author. Email: matthias.arend@wsl.ch
Functional Plant Biology 39(4) 297-305 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP11206
Submitted: 15 September 2011 Accepted: 2 February 2012 Published: 14 March 2012
Abstract
Tree water relations and their dependence on microclimate and soil moisture were studied over several months in young oaks (Quercus robur L.) subjected in large lysimeter-based open top chambers to environments with a controlled soil water supply. Automated single point dendrometers and the recently developed leaf patch clamp pressure (LPCP) probe were used for monitoring water-related stem radius variations (ΔW) and turgor-dependent leaf patch pressures (Pp). Both parameters showed distinct diurnal patterns with sharp negative and positive peaking of ΔW and Pp, respectively, after solar noon and recovery to initial levels in the evening. During the day, varying solar radiation was responsible for short time fluctuations of Pp in the range of minutes to hours reflecting feedback regulation of leaf turgor by sunlight driven stomatal movements. At longer timescales, i.e. days to months, atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and soil water content (SWC) were the main determinants of ΔW and Pp. Daily minimum and maximum values of ΔW and Pp decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing VPD or decreasing SWC and recovery of ΔW and Pp in the evening was impeded by low SWC. In well-watered oaks, daily positive peaking of Pp preceded daily negative peaking of ΔW; these time lags gradually increased with increasing soil drought, suggesting hydraulic uncoupling of stem and leaves.
Additional keywords: drought, solar radiation, stem radius variation, stem water storage, tree water relations, vapour pressure deficit.
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