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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (11): 118-126.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20221111

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship between Hydraulic Efficiency and Gas Exchange and Growth of Six Poplar Clones

Youjing Zhang1,Yueyang Li1,Han Zhao1,Yuwan Cheng1,Wei Wang1,Zaimin Jiang2,Jing Cai1,3,*   

  1. 1. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University Yangling 712100
    2. College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University Yangling 712100
    3. Qinling National Forest Ecosystem Research Station Yangling 712100
  • Received:2021-04-28 Online:2022-11-25 Published:2023-03-08
  • Contact: Jing Cai

Abstract:

Objective: Xylem water transport is the basis of photosynthetic process and tree growth. Exploring the effect of hydraulic efficiency on gas exchange and growth performance will help to deepen the understanding of the internal relationship between hydraulic efficiency and gas exchange and growth, and provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of new drought-resistant forest varieties. Method: The 2-year-old seedlings of six poplar hybrid clonesPopulus alba 'I-101'×(P. alba×P. Glandulosa '84K') were used to measure gas exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate Anet, stomatal conductance gs, reference stomatal conductance gs-ref, water use efficiency WUE), leaf water status (midday leaf water potential Ψmd), hydraulic efficiency (whole crown hydraulic efficiency KCL, main branch hydraulic efficiency KMSL and root hydraulic efficiency KRL), stomatal characteristics (stomatal density SD, stomatal length SL, stomatal area index SPI) and growth parameters (ground diameter absolute growth rate AGRD and relative growth rate RGRD). Results: 1) Six poplar clones showed significant difference in hydraulic efficiency, and the changes of the hydraulic efficiency of roots, main branches and crowns were consistent, that is, the clones with high or low hydraulic efficiency had higher or lower KRL, KMSL and KCL. 2) The change in Ψmd was closely related to that of gs. After Ψmd decreased to -1.1 Mpa, gs decreased sharply, resulting in a corresponding decrease in Anet. AGRD was significantly positively correlated with Anet. 3) SL was significantly positively correlated with KCL, KMSL, gs-ref, AGRD and RGRD, and SD was significantly negatively correlated with KMSL, Anet and AGRD. 4) KCL and KMSL were significantly correlated with gs-re, and KCL had a stronger correlation with gs-ref, indicating that higher hydraulic efficiency was beneficial to stomatal opening. 5) KCL was significantly positively correlated with KMSL, and KMSL was always greater than KCL (about 37.3% higher on average). KCL and KMSL were significantly positively correlated with AGRD and RGRD, among which KCL had a stronger correlation with RGRD. Conclusion: In this study, ,it is found that the hydraulic efficiency of each part of the tree is coordinated at the intraspecific clonal level, and the hydraulic efficiency of the root system, main branch, crown can reflect the ability of the tree to transport water. The water transport efficiency is closely related to the gas exchange process of leaves, and the structural characteristics of leaf stomata are coordinated with the water transport capacity. Efficient water transport improves the leaf water status, promotes stomatal opening, and improves carbon assimilation capacity, and thereby promotes growth.

Key words: poplar, hydraulic efficiency, gas exchange, growth rate

CLC Number: