Plasticity of the xylem vulnerability to embolism in poplar relies on quantitative pit properties rather than on pit structure

Abstract

Knowledge on variations of drought resistance traits are needed to predict the potential of trees to acclimate to coming severe drought events. Xylem vulnerability to embolism is a key parameter related to such droughts, and its phenotypic variability relies mainly on environmental plasticity. We investigated the structural determinants controlling the plasticity of vulnerability to embolism, focusing on the key elements involved in the air bubble entry in a vessel, especially the inter-vessel pits. Poplar saplings (Populus tremula x alba) grown in contrasted water availability or light exposure exhibited differences in vulnerability to embolism in a range of 0.76 MPa. We then characterized the structural changes related to qualitative and quantitative pit characteristics, from the pit structure to the organization of xylem vessels, using different microscopy techniques (TEM, SEM, light). X-ray microtomography analysis allowed observing the vessel vulnerability and testing some of the relationships between structural traits and vulnerability to embolism inside the xylem. The pit ultrastructure did not change, whereas the vessel dimensions increased with vulnerability to embolism and the grouping index and fraction of inter-vessel cell wall decreased with vulnerability to embolism. These findings holds when comparing trees or when comparing vessels inside the xylem. These results evidenced that plasticity of vulnerability to embolism occurs through changes in the quantitative pit properties such as pit area and vessel grouping rather than on the pit structure.