Kh. Higgs et V. Wood, DROUGHT SUSCEPTIBILITY AND XYLEM DYSFUNCTION IN SEEDLINGS OF 4 EUROPEAN OAK SPECIES, Annales des Sciences Forestieres, 52(5), 1995, pp. 507-513
Seedlings of oak (Quercus robur, Q petraea, Q cerris and Q pubescens)
were subjected to drought in pots to compare drought susceptibility in
these contrasting species. Hydraulic dysfunction of the xylem vessels
in petioles of seedlings was determined as the amount of air embolism
that occurred under varying water potential (Psi). Curves relating vu
lnerability to xylem embolism with Psi revealed that Q robur was more
vulnerable than the other species examined. A loss of about 40% in pet
iole conductivity occurred at a xylem water potential of about -3.0 MP
a in Q robur, -3.9 MPa in Q petraea, -3.7 MPa in Q pubescens and less
than -4 MPa in Q cerris. Detection of cavitation events by acoustic em
ission (AE) failed to distinguish between species and AE did not incre
ase until Psi was less than -3 MPa.