Wettability, water absorption and water storage in rosette leaves of the dragon tree (Dracaena draco L.)

Jura‐Morawiec, Joanna; Marcinkiewicz, Jan

doi:10.1007/s00425-020-03433-y

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…The absorption and subsequent utilisation and/or accumulation of atmospheric water by aerial plant organs (chiefly leaves) have been reported specially for xerophytes, halophytes and species subjected to temporary drought (Stone et al, 1950;Munn e-Bosch et al, 1999;Limm et al, 2009;Eller et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2016;Jura-Morawiec and Marcinkiewicz, 2020). However, few more specific investigations evaluated the contribution of various foliar epidermal structures to the uptake of surface-deposited water, such as hydatodes (Martin and von Willert, 2000) and scales (Wang et al, 2016), but chiefly trichomes (Grammatikopoulos and Manetas, 1994;Papini et al, 2010;Fern andez et al, 2014a;Pina et al, 2016;Li et al, 2018a,b;Li et al, 2019;.…”

Section: Foliar Absorption Pathways For Water and Solutesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foliar water and solute absorption: an update

2020

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The absorption of water and solutes by plant leaves has been recognised since more than two centuries. Given the polar nature of water and solutes, the mechanisms of foliar uptake have been proposed to be similar for water and electrolytes, including nutrient solutions. Research efforts since the 19th century focussed on characterising the properties of cuticles and applying foliar sprays to crop plants as a tool for improving crop nutrition. This was accompanied by the development of hundreds of studies aimed at characterising the chemical and structural nature of plant cuticles from different species and the mechanisms of cuticular and, to a lower extent, stomatal penetration of water and solutes. The processes involved are complex and will be affected by multiple environmental, physico-chemical and physiological factors which are only partially clear to date. During the last decades, the body of evidence that water transport across leaf surfaces of native species may contribute to water balances (absorption and loss) at an ecosystem level has grown. Given the potential importance of foliar water absorption for many plant species and ecosystems as shown in recent studies, the aim of this review is to first integrate current knowledge on plant surface composition, structure, wettability and physico-chemical interactions with surface-deposited matter. The different mechanisms of foliar absorption of water and electrolytes and experimental procedures for tracing the uptake process are discussed before posing several outstanding questions which should be tackled in future studies.

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Section: Foliar Absorption Pathways For Water and Solutesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foliar water and solute absorption: an update

2020

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“…The cost–benefit margin gives the species a chance for survival under water-deficit environmental conditions. Moreover, Jura-Morawiec and Marcinkiewicz ( 2020 ) and Jura-Morawiec et al ( 2021b ) showed that for a long-term drought, D. draco has developed traits and mechanisms that are visible at every level of the organization of its body.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical considerations regarding the functional anatomical traits of primary and secondary xylem in dragon tree trunk using the example of Dracaena draco

Tulik

Wojtan

Jura‐Morawiec

2022

Planta

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Main conclusion In Dracaena draco trunks, the primary and secondary xylem conduits co-function. Both are resistant to embolism; however, secondary conduits are mainly involved in mechanical support. Abstract Monocotyledonous dragon trees (Dracaena spp., Asparagaceae) possess in their trunks both primary and secondary xylem elements, organized into vascular bundles, that for dozens of years co-function and enable the plant to transport water efficiently as well as provide mechanical support. Here, based on the modified Hagen-Poiseuille’s formula, we examined the functional anatomical xylem traits of the trunk in two young D. draco individuals to compare their function in both primary and secondary growth. We provided analyses of the: (i) conduits surface sculpture and their cell walls thickness, (ii) conduit diameter and frequency, (iii) hydraulically weighted diameter, (iv) theoretical hydraulic conductivity, (v) area-weighted mean conduit diameter, as well as (vi) vulnerability index. The conduits in primary growth, located in the central part of the trunk, were loosely arranged, had thinner cell walls, larger mean hydraulically weighted diameter, and significantly larger value of the theoretical hydraulic conductivity than conduits in secondary growth, which form a rigid cylinder near the trunk surface. Based on the vulnerability index, both primary and secondary conduits are resistant to embolism. Taking into account the distribution within a trunk, the secondary growth conduits seems to be mainly involved in mechanical support as they are twisted, form structures similar to sailing ropes and have thick cell walls, and a peripheral localization. D. draco has been adapted to an environment with water deficit by distinctive, spatial separation of the xylem elements fulfilling supportive and conductive functions.

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“…The ratio of palisade mesophyll area in the transverse section of the lamina to total mesophyll area (palisade index) was determined as Spal/(Spal+Sspon+Swat), where Spal, Sspon, Swat were areas of palisade mesophyll cells, spongy mesophyll cells and water-storage tissue respectively. We defined waterstorage tissue (water-storing parenchyma, hydrenchyma) as living mesophyll cells with large vacuoles, which were fully or partially chlorophyll-free (Shields 1950;Willert et al 1992;Evert & Eichhorn 2006;Ogburn & Edwards 2010;Jura-Morawiec & Marcinkiewicz 2020;Heyduk 2021). The ratio of total mesophyll area to intercellular spaces area in the transverse section of the lamina (mesophyll density) was determined as (Sint+Spal+Sspon+Swat)/Sint, where Sint was the area of intercellular spaces and the other abbreviations were the same as in the previous equation.…”

Section: Leaf Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water storage and transport in leaves of vesselless trees in the temperate rainforest of south-central Chile

Arbicheva

Pautov

Saldaña³

2021

Gayana Bot.

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According to a common hypothesis, some of the epidermal structural features in the leaves of tracheidbearing plants "offset" low specific conductivity of vesselless wood. The data concerning this issue is contradictory, which can be explained by the fact that leaf water relations depend not only on the epidermis structure, but also on the structure of other leaf tissues. In the current study we aimed to evaluate the diversity of water transport systems in the leaves of tracheid-bearing woody plants in the temperate rainforest of south-central Chile. For this purpose, we collected leaves of four Podocarpaceae and two Winteraceae species in natural habitats, examined their leaf anatomy using light and transmission electron microscopy, measured the quantitative characters and analyzed the data using principal component analysis. Leaves of the studied species differ in the mesophyll and xylem anatomy. Four species have features that accelerate water transport through the leaf tissues via the apoplast (Prumnopitys andina), accessory transfusion tissue (Podocarpus saligna) and a network of veins (Drimys species). On the contrary, the leaves of Saxegothaea conspicua and Podocarpus nubigena accumulate water in water-storage tissue (hydrenchyma), but their ecology suggest that hydrenchyma is not an adaptation to environmental conditions. The obtained data indicate the existence of different ways of water delivery to the photosynthetic tissue in the leaves of vesselless plants. In the case of insufficient water supply through the tracheids, hydrenchyma is likely to maintain hydration of the leaves.

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Wettability, water absorption and water storage in rosette leaves of the dragon tree (Dracaena draco L.)

Abstract: Main conclusion Leaf surfaces of Dracaena draco are wettable and can absorb water. The thick, basal leaf part could act as a water reservoir that changes in volume with plant hydration.

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Foliar water and solute absorption: an update

Foliar water and solute absorption: an update

Theoretical considerations regarding the functional anatomical traits of primary and secondary xylem in dragon tree trunk using the example of Dracaena draco

Water storage and transport in leaves of vesselless trees in the temperate rainforest of south-central Chile

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