Hydraulic properties and embolism in small-diameter roots of five temperate broad-leaved tree species with contrasting drought tolerance

Abstract

• Context It has been estimated that about half of a plant's total hydraulic resistance is located belowground, but it is not well known how temperate tree species differ in root hydraulic properties and how these traits vary with the species' drought tolerance. • Aims We examined root anatomical and hydraulic traits in five broad-leaved tree specieswith different drought tolerance, analyzed the relation between root anatomy and hydraulic conductivity and root embolism, and investigated the relation of these traits to the species' drought tolerance. • Methods In small-diameter roots (2-6 mm), we measured vessel diameters and vessel density, specific hydraulic conductivity, and the percental loss of conductivity ("native" embolism) during summer in a mixed forest. • Results Specific conductivity was positively related to vessel diameter but not to vessel density. Drought-tolerant Fraxinus showed the smallest mean vessel diameters and drought-sensitive Fagus the largest. Specific conductivity was highly variable among different similar-sized roots of the same species with a few roots apparently functioning as "high-conductivity roots". • Conclusion The results show that coexisting tree species can differ largely in root hydraulic traits with more droughtsensitive trees apparently having larger mean vessel diameters in their roots than tolerant species. However, this difference was not related to the observed root conductivity losses due to embolism. © INRA/Springer-Verlag France 2012.