Published in Annals of botany
Stomatal pores in many species are separated from the atmosphere by different anatomical obstacles produced by leaf epidermal cells, especially by sunken stomatal crypts, stomatal antechambers and/or hairs (trichomes). The evolutionary driving forces leading to sunken or 'hidden' stomata whose antechambers are filled with hairs or waxy plugs are no...
Published in Annals of botany
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the functional traits of leaves (leaflets) of cycads. The aim of this study was to clarify the functional divergence between the earlier origin Cycadaceae and the later differentiated Zamiaceae, and the differences in trait associations between cycads and angiosperms. We selected 20 Cycadaceae species and 21...
Published in Annals of botany
While trait-based approaches have provided critical insights into general plant functioning, we lack a comprehensive quantitative view on plant strategies in flooded conditions. Plants adapted to flooded conditions have specific traits (e.g. root porosity, low root/shoot ratio and shoot elongation) to cope with the environmental stressors including...
Published in Annals of botany
The onset of spring growth and vessel formation were examined within three deciduous woody plant species, Acer rubrum, Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa and Quercus rubra. We were broadly interested in the lag between the onset of girth expansion and the formation of mature and hydraulically conductive vessels within the new xylem. Dendrometers ...
Published in Annals of botany
The study reports on four different types of flag leaf rolling under soil drought in relation to the level of cell wall-bound phenolics. The flag leaf colonization by aphids, as a possible bioindicator of the accumulation of cell wall-bound phenolics, was also estimated. The proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus that form its core and are crucia...
Published in Annals of botany
The ecohydrological significance of leaf wetting due to atmospheric water in arid and semiarid ecosystems is not well understood. In these environments, the inputs of precipitation or dew formation resulting in leaf wetting have positive effects on plant functioning. However, its impact on plant water relations may depend on the degree of leaf surf...
Published in Annals of botany
Published in Annals of botany
Plant performance is enhanced by balancing above- and below-ground resource uptake through the intraspecific adjustment of leaf and root traits. It is assumed that these organ adjustments are at least partly coordinated, so that analogous leaf and root traits broadly covary. Understanding the extent of such intraspecific leaf-root trait covariation...
Published in Annals of botany
Hydraulic failure is considered a main cause of drought-induced forest mortality. Yet, we have a limited understanding of how the varying intensities and long time scales of natural droughts induce and propagate embolism within the xylem. X-ray computed tomography (microCT) images were obtained from different aged branch xylem to study the number, ...
Published in Annals of botany
Deep roots (i.e. >1 m depth) are important for crops to access water when the topsoil is dry. Root anatomy and hydraulic conductance play important roles in the uptake of soil water, particularly water located deep in the soil. We investigated whether root and xylem anatomy vary as a function of root type, order and length, or with soil depth in ro...
