Herbaceous Angiosperms Are Not More Vulnerable to Drought-Induced Embolism Than Angiosperm Trees.
The water transport pipeline in herbs is assumed to be more vulnerable to drought than in trees due to the formation of frequent embolisms (gas bubbles), which could be removed by the occurrence of root pressure, especially in grasses. Here, we studied hydraulic failure in herbaceous angiosperms by measuring the pressure inducing 50% loss of hydraulic conductance (P50) in stems of 26 species, mainly European grasses (Poaceae). Our measurements show a large range in P50from -0.5 to -7.5 MPa, which overlaps with 94% of the woody angiosperm species in a worldwide, published data set and which strongly correlates with an aridity index. Moreover, the P50values obtained were substantially more negative than the midday water potentials for five grass species monitored throughout the entire growing season, suggesting that embolism formation and repair are not routine and mainly occur under water deficits. These results show that both herbs and trees share the ability to withstand very negative water potentials without considerable embolism formation in their xylem conduits during drought stress. In addition, structure-function trade-offs in grass stems reveal that more resistant species are more lignified, which was confirmed for herbaceous and closely related woody species of the daisy group (Asteraceae). Our findings could imply that herbs with more lignified stems will become more abundant in future grasslands under more frequent and severe droughts, potentially resulting in lower forage digestibility.
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.) frederic.lens@naturalis.nl.
Frederic
0000-0002-5001-0149
F
Lens
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Catherine
0000-0001-7728-8936
C
Picon-Cochard
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Chloé E L
CE
Delmas
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Constant
0000-0001-7780-5366
C
Signarbieux
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Alexandre
A
Buttler
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Hervé
0000-0002-2727-7072
H
Cochard
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Steven
0000-0002-4476-5334
S
Jansen
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Thibaud
T
Chauvin
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Larissa Chacon
LC
Doria
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Marcelino
M
Del Arco
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden University, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands (F.L., L.C.D.); INRA UR874 Grassland Ecosystem Research, F-63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France (C.P.-C.); UMR SAVE, INRA, BSA, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d'Ornon, France (C.E.L.D.); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ecological Systems Laboratory (ECOS), Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Site Lausanne, Station 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland (C.S., A.B.); PIAF, INRA, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France (H.C., T.C.); Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University, D-89081 Ulm, Germany (S.J.); AGPF, INRA Orléans, 45166 Olivet cedex, France (T.C.); Department of Plant Biology (Botany), La Laguna University, 38071 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (M.d.A.); and BIOGECO INRA, Université de Bordeaux, 33610 Cestas, France (S.D.).
Sylvain
0000-0003-3442-1711
S
Delzon
D001692:Biological Transport; D055864:Droughts; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D052584:Xylem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D014867:Water