Physiological traits of two Populus x euramericana clones, Luisa Avanzo and Dorskamp, during a water stress and re-watering cycle

Abstract

We compared responses to drought and re-watering of greenhouse-grown cuttings of Populus x euramericana (Dode) Guinier clones, Luisa Avanzo and Dorskamp. Total leaf area, leaf number, leaf area increment and stomatal conductance were evaluated periodically during a 29-day drought period and for 16 days after re-watering. Soil water content and predawn leaf water potential (Psi(wp)) were measured on Days 29 and 45. On the same days, relative water content (RWC), specific leaf area (SLA), nitrogen, chlorophyll, soluble sugars, total phenols, flavanols and antioxidant activity were determined for leaves taken from the bottom to the top of each cutting. Leaves of Luisa Avanzo cuttings grew more rapidly than leaves of Dorskamp and exhibited higher SLA, but lower concentrations of nitrogen, chlorophyll and soluble sugars and lower antioxidant activity per unit area. On Day 29, after withholding water, both clones had closed their stomata, reduced rates of leaf growth, and lower Psi(wp) and RWC; however, the clones differed in their responses to soil water depletion. Compared to Dorskamp, Luisa Avanzo closed its stomata earlier and maintained higher Psi(wp), but lower RWC and leaf sugar concentrations. Antioxidant activity of leaf methanolic extracts decreased in response to water stress only in Luisa Avanzo. Leaf physiology and its modulation by water stress were age dependent in Luisa Avanzo.

Variation génétique de la productivité, de caractères foliaires et de la discrimination isotopique vis-à-vis du carbone chez des hybrides de peuplier cultivés sur des sites contrastés

“…The lowest values of SLA and N M measured in the non alluvial site can be ascribed to lower soil water availability and fertility (Abrams et al, 1990;Cunningham et al, 1999;Li et al, 2005;Marron et al, 2002;Monclus et al, 2006;Niinemets et al, 1998;Poorter and de Jong, 1999). N M decreased between alluvial and non alluvial sites while genotypic ranking remained stable suggesting that N M variations mainly depended on the environment.…”

Variability in Populus leaf anatomy and morphology in relation to canopy position, biomass production, and varietal taxon

“…Genotypic differences in all three variables have been observed among and between the hybrids between P. deltoides and P. nigra as well as between P. deltoides and P. trichocarpa [13,14,42]. Changes in the anatomy and physiology of plant organs in response to environmental stimuli are well documented in poplar [22,35,40,45,46]. Light affects leaf characteristics such as leaf morphology [1,7,48,49,51], leaf anatomy, and stomatal conductance and density [52,62].…”

Physiological and growth responses of Populus davidiana ecotypes to different soil water contents

“…Survival strategies in response to water deficit in the initial seedling growth phase have been extensively studied (Bachelard, 1986;Wang et al, 1988;Myers and Landsberg, 1989;Gibson et al, 1994;Anderson et al, 1996;Li et al, 2000;Marron et al, 2002). Some of the adaptive responses to water deficit are physiological and morphological changes, such as changes in plant structure, growth rate, tissue osmotic potential and stomatal conductance (Jones, 1992;Larcher, 1995).…”