Authors
Sean M Gleason, Mark Westoby, Steven Jansen, Brendan Choat, Uwe G Hacke, Robert B Pratt, Radika Bhaskar, Tim J Brodribb, Sandra J Bucci, Kun‐Fang Cao, Hervé Cochard, Sylvain Delzon, Jean‐Christophe Domec, Ze‐Xin Fan, Taylor S Feild, Anna L Jacobsen, Daniel M Johnson, Frederic Lens, Hafiz Maherali, Jordi Martínez‐Vilalta, Stefan Mayr, Katherine A McCulloh, Maurizio Mencuccini, Patrick J Mitchell, Hugh Morris, Andrea Nardini, Jarmila Pittermann, Lenka Plavcová, Stefan G Schreiber, John S Sperry, Ian J Wright, Amy E Zanne
Publication date
2016/1
Journal
New Phytologist
Volume
209
Issue
1
Pages
123-136
Description
- The evolution of lignified xylem allowed for the efficient transport of water under tension, but also exposed the vascular network to the risk of gas emboli and the spread of gas between xylem conduits, thus impeding sap transport to the leaves. A well‐known hypothesis proposes that the safety of xylem (its ability to resist embolism formation and spread) should trade off against xylem efficiency (its capacity to transport water).
- We tested this safety–efficiency hypothesis in branch xylem across 335 angiosperm and 89 gymnosperm species. Safety was considered at three levels: the xylem water potentials where 12%, 50% and 88% of maximal conductivity are lost.
- Although correlations between safety and efficiency were weak (r2 < 0.086), no species had high efficiency and high safety, supporting the idea for a safety–efficiency tradeoff. However, many species had low efficiency and low safety. Species with low …
Scholar articles
SM Gleason, M Westoby, S Jansen, B Choat… - New Phytologist, 2016