A new look at water transport regulation in plants

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12912
• Publication Date: 2014-07-02T10:55:04Z
• Authors: Jordi Martínez‐Vi...; Rafael Poyatos; David Aguadé; Javier Retana; Maurizio Mencuccini
• Keywords: Water Transport; Stomatal Conductance

Summary Plant function requires effective mechanisms to regulate water transport at a variety of scales. Here, we develop new theoretical framework describing plant responses drying soil, based on the relationship between midday and predawn leaf potentials. The intercept (Λ) characterizes maximum transpiration rate per unit hydraulic capacity, whereas slope (σ) measures relative sensitivity conductance declining availability. This was applied newly compiled global database potentials estimate values Λ σ for 102 species. Our results show that our characterization drought is largely consistent within species, parameters meaningful associations with climate across Parameter ≤1 in most indicating tight coordination gas liquid phases transport, which canopy tended decline faster than during drought, thus reducing pressure drop through plant. quantitative presented here offers way characterizing regulation plants can be used assess their vulnerability under current future climatic conditions.