Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Water relations and hydraulic architecture in Cerrado trees: adjustments to seasonal changes in water availability and evaporative demand

Author: Bucci, Sandra J.; Scholz, Fabian G.; Goldstein, Gullermo; Meinzer, Frederick D.; Franco, Augusto C.; Zhang, Yongjiang; Hao, Guang-You.

Date: 2008

Source: Journal of Plant Physiology

Description: 

We determined adjustments in physiology and morphology that allow Neotropical savanna trees from central Brazil (Cerrado) to avoid water deficits and to maintain a nearly constant internal water balance despite seasonal changes in precipitation and air saturation deficit (D). Precipitation in the study area is highly seasonal with about five nearly rainless months during which D is twofold higher compared to wet season values. As a consequence of the seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and D, soil water potential changes substantially in the upper 100 cm of soil, but remains nearly constant below 2 m depth. These adjustments allow the stems of most Cerrado woody species to operate far from the point of catastrophic dysfunction for cavitation, while leaves operate close to it and experience embolism on a daily basis, especially during the dry season.

Keywords: isohydric behavior, hydraulic conductivity, soil water potential and water content, savanna, stomatal conductance, transpiration

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Citation

Bucci, Sandra J.; Scholz, Fabian G.; Goldstein, Gullermo; Meinzer, Frederick D.; Franco, Augusto C.; Zhang, Yongjiang; Hao, Guang-You.  2008.  Water relations and hydraulic architecture in Cerrado trees: adjustments to seasonal changes in water availability and evaporative demand.   Journal of Plant Physiology.