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Description
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<p>Trees invest carbon in stem growth every year, and allocate the carbon to build xylem vessels, varying in length and diameter, which serve as a path for the transport of water and nutrients from the soil to the leaves.</p> <p>To assess the cost and benefits of carbon investment into xylem and the resulting hydraulic conductivity, we used a combination of two methods. The first was a novel method of measuring hydraulic conductivity under suction using a syringe pump. The second used dye and cryo-microscopy to determine the ratio and dimensions of conducting vessels in individual year rings. Using these methods, we were able to determine that for <em>Fagus sylvatica</em>, larger vessels did not have lower carbon costs per conductivity due to the shorter functional lifespan, whereas the hydraulic conductivity per cross-sectional area was not larger than smaller vessels. In fact, we found a greater wood density for samples with larger median vessel diameter, implying that larger vessels need more carbon for structural support.</p> <p>Here we present these findings and discuss the potential application of the methods to understand how plants adapt their xylem carbon allocation across species and environmental conditions.</p> <p>&#160;</p> (2023-02-26)
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Keyword
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Hydraulic conductivity, Xylem, Conductivity, Water transport, Carbon fibers, Chemistry, Fagus sylvatica, Botany, Animal science, Materials science, Biology, Water flow, Environmental science, Environmental engineering, Ecology, Soil water, Composite material |
