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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Plant, cell & environment 18 (1995), S. 0 
    ISSN: 1365-3040
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: The mechanism of water-stress-induced embolism of xylem was investigated in Malosma laurina and Heteromeles arbutifolia, two chaparral shrub species of southern California. We tested the hypothesis that the primary cause of xylem dysfunction in these species during dehydration was the pulling of air through the pores in the cell walls of vessels (pores in pit membranes) as a result of high tensions on xylem water. First, we constructed vulnerability-to-embolism curves for (i) excised branches that were increasingly dehydrated in the laboratory and (ii) hydrated branches exposed to increasing levels of external air pressure. Branches of M. laurina that were dehydrated became 50% embolized at a xylem pressure potential of -1.6 MPa, which is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the +1.6 MPa of external air pressure that caused 50% embolism in hydrated stems. Dehydrated and pressurized branches of H. arbutifolia reached a 50% level of embolism at -6.0 and +6.4 MPa, respectively. Secondly, polystyrene spheres ranging in diameter from 20 to 149 nm were perfused through hydrated stem segments to estimate the pore size in the vessel cell walls (pit membranes) of the two species. A 50% or greater reduction in hydraulic conductivity occurred in M. laurina at perfusions of 30, 42, 64 and 82 nm spheres and in H. arbutifolia at perfusions of 20 and 30 nm spheres. Application of the capillary equation to these pore diameters predicted 50% embolism at xylem tensions of -2.2 MPa for M. laurina and -6.7 MPa for H. arbutifolia, which are within 0.7 MPa of the actual values. Our results suggest that the size of pores in pit membranes may be a factor in determining both xylem efficiency and vulnerability to embolism in some chaparral species. H. arbutifolia, with smaller pores and narrower vessels, withstands lower water potentials but has lower transport efficiency. M. laurina, with wider pores and wider vessels, has a greater transport efficiency but requires a deeper root system to help avoid catastro-phically low water potentials.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1365-3040
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Pressure probe measurements have been interpreted as showing that xylem pressures below c. –0.4 MPa do not exist and that pressure chamber measurements of lower negative pressures are invalid. We present new evidence supporting the pressure chamber technique and the existence of xylem pressures well below –0.4 MPa. We deduced xylem pressures in water-stressed stem xylem from the following experiment: (1) loss of hydraulic conductivity in hydrated stem xylem (xylem pressure = atmospheric pressure) was induced by forcing compressed air into intact xylem conduits; (2) loss of hydraulic conductivity from cavitation and embolism in dehydrating stems was measured, and (3) the xylem pressure in dehydrated stems was deduced as being equal and opposite to the air pressure causing the same loss of hydraulic conductivity in hydrated stems. Pressures determined in this way are only valid if cavitation was caused by air entering the xylem conduits (air-seeding). Deduced xylem pressure showed a one-to-one correspondence with pressure chamber measurements for 12 species (woody angiosperms and gymnosperms); data extended to c. –10 MPa. The same correspondence was obtained under field conditions in Betula occidentalis Hook., where pressure differences between air- and water-filled conduits were induced by a combination of in situ xylem water pressure and applied positive air pressure. It is difficult to explain these results if xylem pressures were above –0.4 MPa, if the pressure chamber was inaccurate, and if cavitation occurred by some mechanism other than air-seeding. A probable reason why the pressure probe does not register large negative pressures is that, just as cavitation within the probe limits its calibration to pressures above c. –0.5 MPa, cavitation limits its measurement range in situ.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Plant, cell & environment 14 (1991), S. 0 
    ISSN: 1365-3040
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract. Gas exchange measurements were performed to test the hypothesis that failure of stomata to open in senescing leaves of Nicotiana glauca is caused by elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide in the intercellular spaces of leaf mesophyll tissue (ci). Senescing leaves selected for experiments were completely chlorotic and lacked positive rates of photosynthesis. When stomata in detached epidermis from senescing leaves were illuminated in CO2-free air, they opened to similar apertures as those in detached epidermis from nonsenescing leaves. To compare the effects of changes in ci on stomatal responses of the two leaf types, leaf ‘flags’ of either nonsenescing or senescing leaves were illuminated at a photosynthetic photon flux density of 500 μmol m−2 s−1 in a gas exchange cuvette. Leaf temperatures were maintained at 23.5 ± 0.5°C, and vapour pressure differences between leaves and the air were maintained between 0.70 and 0.75kPa. Ci was adjusted by changing external concentrations of carbon dioxide in air circulating through the cuvette. Conductances and photosynthetic rates of nonsenescing leaves changed in response to changes in ci, but neither the conductances nor the photosynthetic rates of senescing leaves were affected significantly by changes in q. We conclude that guard cells of senescing leaves of Nicotiana glauca do not lose the capacity to respond to changes in carbon dioxide concentration and that increases in ci resulting from declining rates of mesophyll photosynthesis are not the sole cause of maintenance of stomatal closure during leaf senescence. The data suggest that factors external to guard cells may prevent them from responding to changes in carbon dioxide concentrations in intact senescing leaves.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Plant, cell & environment 20 (1997), S. 0 
    ISSN: 1365-3040
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Water transport from the roots to leaves in chaparral shrubs of California occurs through xylem vessels and tracheids. The formation of gas bubbles in xylem can block water transport (gas embolism), leading to shoot dieback. Two environmental factors that cause gas embolism formation in xylem conduits are drought and freezing air temperatures. We compared the differential vulnerabilities of Rhus laurina and Ceanothus megacarpus, co-dominant shrub species in the coastal regions of the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California, to both water stress-induced and freezing-induced embolism of their xylem. Rhus laurina has relatively large xylem vessel diameters, a deep root system, and a large basal burl from which it vigorously resprouts after wildfire or freezing injury. In contrast, Ceanothus megacarpus has small-diameter vessels, a shallow root system, no basal burl and is a non-sprouter after shoot removal by wildfire. We found that R. laurina became 50% embolized at a water stress of –3 MPa and 100% embolized by a freeze–thaw cycle at all hydration levels. In contrast, C. megacarpus became 50% embolized at a water stress of –9 MPa and 100% embolized by freeze–thaw events only at water potentials lower than –3 MPa. Reducing thaw rates from 0·8 °C min−1 to 0·08 °C min−1 (the normal thaw rate measured in situ) had no effect on embolism formation in R. laurina but significantly reduced embolism occurrence in well-hydrated C. megacarpus (embolism reduced from 74 to 35%). These results were consistent with the theory of gas bubble formation and dissolution in xylem sap. They also agree with field observations of differential shoot dieback in these two species after a natural freeze–thaw event in the Santa Monica Mountains.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    ISSN: 1399-3054
    Source: Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: During the dry season (early May through September of 1994), following a fall 1993 wildfire, a survey of seedling nodulation was conducted at several sites in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. Seedlings of Ceanothus spinosus, C. megacarpus, C. oliganthus, and C. cuneatus were manually excavated. During this period, only 12 of the 182 seedlings excavated were nodulated, and all of the nodulated seedlings were found in the relatively moist clay soils of a stream bank. No nodules were observed on the 170 seedlings excavated from the drier sites. An irrigation experiment was established in midsummer to assess whether water stress inhibits nodulation of post-fire Ceanothus seedlings. Four plots with numerous seedlings of C. cuneatus and C. spinosus were irrigated with distilled water and monitored over a 9-week period. There was a significant increase in nodulation frequency, water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, shoot elongation, and photosynthetic rate of irrigated seedlings compared with adjacent controls. Although these data support the hypothesis that water stress inhibits nodulation. it is unclear whether this is because of an effect of soil moisture on the nodulation capacity of the soils (i.e. on the size and physiological state of the soil Frankia population) or to a host plant response to drought which might prevent actinorhizal root infection and/or nodule development.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 6
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    [s.l.] : Nature Publishing Group
    Nature 210 (1966), S. 950-951 
    ISSN: 1476-4687
    Source: Nature Archives 1869 - 2009
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
    Notes: [Auszug] However, Inoue et al.6 also reported that a high concentration of lysozyme enhanced the killing or bactericidal action of serum. This is at variance with the generally accepted concept that cell wall damage by the antibody-complement system makes these bacteria susceptible to lysozyme5'7'8. The ...
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 7
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Oecologia 80 (1989), S. 309-320 
    ISSN: 1432-1939
    Keywords: Chaparral ; Seedling survival ; Root depth ; Rhus ; Ceanothus
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary In a mature, even aged stand of mixed chaparral, Rhus laurina (facultative resprouter) had consistently higher water potentials and deeper roots than Ceanothus spinosus (facultative resprouter) and Ceanothus megacarpus (obligate seeder). For two years following a wildfire, the same stand of chaparral had resprouts with higher survivorships, predawn water potentials, stomatal conductances, photosynthetic rates and shoot elongation rates than seedlings. Supplemental irrigation of seedlings during summer months removed differences between resprouts and seedlings suggesting that the cause of such differences was limited water availability to the shoot tissues of seedlings. After two years of postfire regrowth, mean seedling survivorship for the obligate seeder (C. megacarpus) was 42%, whereas seedling survivorship for facultative resprouters was only 18% (C. spinosus) and 0.01% (R. laurina). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that lack of resprouting ability among obligate seeders is offset by an enhanced ability to establish seedlings after wildfire, allowing obligate seeders to maintain themselves in mixed populations through many fire cycles.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Oecologia 80 (1989), S. 303-308 
    ISSN: 1432-1939
    Keywords: Chaparral ; Osmotic potential ; Turgor ; Pressure-volume curve ; Dew-point hygrometry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary We compared the tissue water relations among resprouts and seedlings of three chaparral species during the first summer drought after wildfire. Two of the species, Rhus laurina and Ceanothus spinosus recover after fire by a combination of resprouting and seedling establishment (facultative resprouters), whereas a third species, Ceanothus megacarpus recovers by seedling establishment alone (obligate seeder). Our objectives were to document any differences in tissue water characteristics that might arise between resprouts and seedlings and to test the hypothesis that seedlings of obligate seeders develop more drought tolerant characteristics of their tissues than seedlings of facultative resprouters. We found that resprouts had much higher predawn values of water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potentials than seedlings. Predawn turgor potentials of resprouts were 1.5 MPa through July and August when turgor potentials for seedlings remained near 0 MPa. During summer months, midday water potentials were 2 to 3 MPa higher for resprouts than seedlings and midday conductances of resprouts were two to five fold greater than those of seedlings. Even though resprouts did not experience severe water stress like seedlings, their tissue water characteristics, as determined by pressure-volume curve analyses, were similar by the peak of the drought in August. Further-more, the tissue water characteristics of seedlings from the obligate seeder, C. megacarpus, were similar to those of facultative resprouters — R. laurina, and C. spinosus. We attribute the observed differences in plant water status between resprouts and seedlings to differences in rooting depths and access to soil moisture reserves during summer drought. We conclude that the higher growth rates, photosynthetic performance, and survivorship of postfire resprouts are primarily a result of higher water availability to resprouting tissues during summer months. It appears that the greater seedling survivorship during summer drought observed for the obligate seeder, C. megacarpus, is not associated with more favorable tissue water characteristics.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 9
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Oecologia 66 (1985), S. 522-529 
    ISSN: 1432-1939
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary Much of the coastal mountains and foothills of central and southern California are covered by a mosaic of grassland, coastal sage scrub, and evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs (chaparral). In many cases, the borders between adjacent plant communities are stable. The cause of this stability is unknown. The purpose of our study was to examine the water use patterns of representative grasses, herbs, and shrubs across a grassland/chaparrel ecotone and determine the extent to which patterns of water use contribute to ecotone stability. In addition, we examined the effects of seed dispersal and animal herbivory. We found during spring months, when water was not limited, grassland species had a much higher leaf conductance to water vapor diffusion than chaparral plants. As the summer drought progressed, grassland species depleted available soil moisture first, bare zone plants second, and chaparral third, with one chaparral species (Quercus durata) showing no evidence of water stress. Soil moisture depletion patterns with depth and time corresponded to plant water status and root depth. Rabbit herbivory was highest in the chaparral and bare zone as indicated by high densities of rabbit pellets. Dispersal of grassland seeds into the chaparral and bare zone was low. Our results support the hypothesis that grassland species deplete soil moisture in the upper soil horizon early in the drought, preventing the establishment of chaparral seedlings or bare zone herbs. Also, grassland plants are prevented from invading the chaparral because of low seed dispersability and high animal herbivory in these regions.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 10
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Oecologia 70 (1986), S. 527-535 
    ISSN: 1432-1939
    Keywords: Chaparral ; Osmotic potential ; Turgor ; Pressure-volume curve ; Dew-point hygrometry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary Chaparral shrubs of California have a suite of morphological and physiological adaptations to withstand the prolonged summer droughts of a mediterranean climate. Not all species of chaparral have the same rooting depth and there is some evidence that those with shallow roots have tissue that is most tolerant to water stress. We tested this notion by comparing the tissue water relations of four co-occurring chaparral shrubs: Quercus durata, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and Rhamnus californica. We used a pressure-volume technique and a dew-point hygrometer to metsure seasonal changes in osmotic potential when plant tissue was fully hydrated and osmotic potential at predawn, midday, and the turgor loss point. We also calculated seasonal changes in the minimum daily turgor potential, saturated weight/dry weight ratio of leaf tissue, and the bulk modulus of elasticity. We had information on the seasonal water use patterns and apparent rooting depths of these same four shrubs from a previous study (Davis and Mooney 1986). All evidence indicated that Rhamnus had shallow roots and Quercus deep roots. Our results indicated that the tissue water relations of our four co-occurring chaparral shrubs were not alike. Even though Rhamnus had shallow roots, it had the least xerophytic tissue. Seasonal osmotic potential and saturated weight/dry weight ratios were relatively high and bulk modulus of elasticity and minimum daily turgor potentials were low. Furthermore, even though Quercus had deep roots and experienced no seasonal water stress at our study site, its tissue water relations indicated relatively high tolerance to water stress. We conclude that seasonal drought tolerance of stem and leaf tissue of co-occurring chaparral shrubs does not necessarily correspond to rooting depth, to soil moisture resources available to the shrub, or to the degree of seasonal water stress experienced by the shrub.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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