Divergent gas-exchange, physiological, isotopic and compositional responses of two wood-crop species to water deficit: Ziziphus nummularia and Corymbia citriodora

Abstract

We assessed the response to drought in Corymbia citriodora, a fast growing wood-crop with high levels of water-loss, and Ziziphus nummularia, a tree species that occurs in arid areas of Asia and a potential alternative wood-crop plantation species in drought-prone regions. Z. nummularia was able to sustain higher levels of stomatal conductance at lower levels of soil water availability than C. citriodora. The leaves of Z. nummularia also contained higher levels of the antioxidant peroxidase, offering enhanced protection from drought induced oxidative stress. The carbon isotopic and nitrogen concentration of C. citriodora foliage was strongly affected by decreasing soil water availability, but a compositional effect was only apparent in Z. nummularia leaves at the lowest level of soil water. The higher leaf levels of stomatal conductance and nitrogen are indicative of relatively high assimilation rates in Z. nummularia, suggesting that this species is capable of fully exploiting brief periods where conditions are limited for growth. These attributes, in combination with its inherent tolerance to drought, may make Z. nummularia a suitable wood crop species for rain-fed plantations in drought-prone areas.