Effect of increased air temperature and vapour pressure deficit on water relations, gas exchange, and stem increment in saplings of Norway spruce (Picea abies)
Gristin Rohula-Okunev
A * , Priit Kupper A , Arvo Tullus A , Mai Kukumägi A B , Marili Sell A and Ivika Ostonen A
A
B
Abstract
Whilst temperature (T) increase on tree function has been well studied, the associated effect of vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is less clear. We investigated the impact of increasing T and VPD on canopy transpiration rate (E), shoot gas exchange, and stem growth in Norway spruce (Picea abies) saplings grown in organic and mineral soils in climate chambers with three treatment conditions for 12 weeks: (1) ‘ambient’ (VPD ≈ 0.5 kPa); (2) ‘highT’ treatment (+3°C relative to ambient; VPD ≈ 0.6 kPa); and (3) ‘highT/lowRH’ treatment (+3°C and −7% RH relative to ambient; VPD ≈ 0.8 kPa). The stem diameter increment, assimilation rate (A), and E were highest, and the needle-to-fine root biomass ratio was smallest in ‘highT/lowRH’ treatment (P < 0.05). The A of trees grown in organic soil was higher (P < 0.05) in ‘highT/lowRH’ treatment compared to ambient conditions, but no significant difference was found in mineral soil. Our findings indicate that the effect of a 3-°C temperature increase on spruce was marginal under well-watered conditions, and moderate VPD increase instead improved the tree’s functioning. Thus, aside from temperature, the impact of the RH as a primary driver of the VPD should be considered when predicting spruce response to global warming.
Keywords: biomass allocation, growth, humidity, net photosynthesis, Picea abies, temperature, transpiration rate, VPD.
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