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Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Stomatal conductance scales with petiole xylem traits in Populus genotypes

Caroline A. Brocious A and Uwe G. Hacke A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources, 442 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada.

B Corresponding author. Email: uwe.hacke@ualberta.ca

Functional Plant Biology 43(6) 553-562 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP15336
Submitted: 28 October 2015  Accepted: 14 April 2016   Published: 12 May 2016

Abstract

Progress has been made in linking water transport in leaves with anatomical traits. However, most of our current knowledge about these links is based on studies that sampled phylogenetically distant species and covered a wide range of leaf size and morphology. Here we studied covariation of leaf anatomical traits and hydraulic capacity in five closely related hybrid poplar genotypes. Variation in stomatal conductance and leaf hydraulic conductance was not linked to vein density or other anatomical lamina properties. A strong correlation was found between stomatal conductance and the transport capacity of the petiole, estimated from the diameter and number of xylem vessels. An inverse relationship existed between leaf size and major vein density. The role of bundle sheath extensions is discussed. Our data suggests that petiole xylem is an important predictor of gas exchange capacity in poplar leaves.

Additional keywords: bundle sheath extensions, leaf anatomy, leaf hydraulics, leaf veins.


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