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Drought acclimation of two deciduous tree species of different layers in a temperate forest canopy

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Abstract

Water-use strategies of Populus tremula and Tilia cordata, and the role of abscisic acid in these strategies, were analysed. P. tremula dominated in the overstorey and T. cordata in the lower layer of the tree canopy of the temperate deciduous forest canopy. Shoot water potential (Ψ), bulk-leaf abscisic acid concentration ([ABA]leaf), abscisic acid concentration in xylem sap ([ABA]xyl), and rate of stomatal closure following the supply of exogenous ABA (v) decreased acropetally through the whole tree canopy, and foliar water content per area (w), concentration of the leaf osmoticum (c), maximum leaf-specific hydraulic conductance of shoot (L), stomatal conductance (g s), and the threshold dose per leaf area of the exogenous ABA (d a) required to reduce stomatal conductance increased acropetally through the tree canopy (from the base of the foliage of T. cordata to the top of the foliage of P. tremula) in non-stressed trees. The threshold dose per leaf dry mass of the exogenous ABA (d w) required to reduce stomatal conductance, was similar through the tree canopy. After a drought period (3 weeks), the Ψ, w, L, g s, d a and d w had decreased, and c and v had increased in both species. Yet, the effect of the drought period was more pronounced on L, g s, d a, d w and v in T. cordata, and on Ψ, w and c in P. tremula. It was concluded that the water use of the species of the lower canopy layer—T. cordata, is more conservative than that of the species of the overstorey, P. tremula. [ABA]leaf had not been significantly changed in these trees, and [ABA]xyl had increased during the drought period only in P. tremula. The relations between [ABA]leaf, [ABA]xyl and the stomatal conductance, the osmotic adjustment and the shoot hydraulic conductance are also discussed.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided to K.A., A.S. and Ü.N. by the Estonian Science Foundation (grants 3780 and 4584). W.H. was generously supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 251, TP A3). We are grateful to Prof. Elmar W. Weiler (University of Bochum, Germany) for the generous supply of immunochemicals and to Ms. Barbara Dierich (University of Würzburg, Germany) for expert technical assistance with the analysis of abscisic acid.

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  1. Department of Silviculture, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu , Estonia

    Krõõt Aasamaa

  2. Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005, Tartu , Estonia

    Anu Sõber

  3. Lehrstuhl Botanik Ι, Julius von Sachs Institut für Biowissenschaften der Universität Würzburg, Julius von Sachs Platz 2, 97082 , Würzburg, Germany

    Wolfram Hartung

  4. Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010, Tartu , Estonia

    Ülo Niinemets

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  1. Krõõt Aasamaa
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Aasamaa, K., Sõber, A., Hartung, W. et al. Drought acclimation of two deciduous tree species of different layers in a temperate forest canopy. Trees 18, 93–101 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0285-8

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