HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jaquish, L. L. Articles by Ewers, F. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jaquish, L. L. Articles by Ewers, F. W. Agricola Articles by Jaquish, L. L. Articles by Ewers, F. W.

Seasonal conductivity and embolism in the roots and stems of two clonal ring-porous trees, Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae) and Rhus typhina (Anacardiaceae)¹

Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1312 USA

Seasonal xylem (wood) conductivity and embolism (air blockage) patterns were monitored in roots vs. stems of two clonal ring-porous tree species, Sassafras albidum and Rhus typhina, throughout 1996 and 1997. Stems of both species were 100% embolized in the early spring and became conductive by late June following leaf expansion and maturation of new earlywood vessels. Dyes indicated the stem conduction was restricted almost exclusively to the current year's growth ring. Stems became totally embolized again by early October, before the first freezing temperatures. In contrast, woody roots of both species maintained low embolism values, many conductive growth rings, and high conductivity values regardless of the season. No positive root pressures were detected in either species. The mean frost depth (204 ± 11 mm) was deeper than all sampled roots of Rhus and 47% of sampled roots of Sassafras. The roots that had been in frozen soil either avoided embolism altogether or they were able to reverse embolism by a mechanism other than positive root pressures.

Key Words: embolism • frost depth • phenology • Rhus • roots • Sassafras • seasonal conductivity • stems • tree • xylem vessels

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Trifilo, A. Gasco, F. Raimondo, A. Nardini, and S. Salleo Kinetics of recovery of leaf hydraulic conductance and vein functionality from cavitation-induced embolism in sunflower J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2003; 54(391): 2323 - 2330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. SCHECKLER and J. GALTIER Tyloses and Ecophysiology of the Early Carboniferous Progymnosperm Tree Protopitys buchiana Ann. Bot., May 1, 2003; 91(6): 739 - 747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Martinez-Vilalta and W. T. Pockman The vulnerability to freezing-induced xylem cavitation of Larrea tridentata (Zygophyllaceae) in the Chihuahuan desert Am. J. Botany, December 1, 2002; 89(12): 1916 - 1924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]