Differential drought tolerance in tree populations from contrasting elevations.
To predict the ecological consequences of climate change for a widely distributed tree species, it is essential to develop a deep understanding of the ecophysiological responses of populations from contrasting climates to varied soil water availabilities. In the present study, we focused on Pinus tabuliformis, one of the most economically and ecologically important tree species in China. In a greenhouse experiment, we exposed trees from high-elevation (HP) and low-elevation (LP) populations to low (80 % of field capacity, FC), mild (60 % FC), moderate (40 % FC) and severe (20 % FC) water stresses. Leaf gas exchange, biomass production and allocation, as well as water-use efficiency, were measured during the experiment. Increasing soil water stress clearly decreased the relative growth rate (RGR), total dry mass (TDM), light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Asat), stomatal conductance (gs), total water use (TWU) and whole-plant water-use efficiency (WUEWP). In contrast, intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) and carbon isotope composition (δ(13)C) both increased significantly with increasing soil water stress for both populations. Only in the LP did the root/shoot ratio (R/S ratio) significantly increase when the water stress increased. A strong positive correlation between Asat and gs coupled with a reduced intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) probably suggested that stomatal limitations were the main cause of the decreased Asat. However, all the measured variables from the HP were affected less by drought compared with those of the LP, and most aspects of the HP were canalized against drought stress, which was reflected by the relatively higher RGR, TDM and WUEWP. Overall, the results suggest that the two populations responded differentially to drought stress with the HP showing higher drought tolerance than the LP, which was reflected by its faster seedling growth rate and more efficient water use under drought conditions.
New Technology Application, Research and Development Center, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China.
Fei
F
Ma
School of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China.
Ting Ting
TT
Xu
State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Ming Fei
MF
Ji
State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China zhaochm@lzu.edu.cn.
Chang Ming
CM
Zhao
Carbon isotope composition; Pinus tabuliformis; drought tolerance; growth; leaf gas exchange; water-use efficiency.