Tree Physiology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
44(5)
Published: April 12, 2024
Worldwide,
forests
are
increasingly
exposed
to
extreme
droughts
causing
tree
mortality.
Because
of
the
complex
nature
mechanisms
involved,
various
traits
have
been
linked
drought
responses
with
contrasting
results.
This
may
be
due
species-specific
strategies
in
regulating
water
potential,
a
process
that
unfolds
two
distinct
phases:
first
phase
until
stomatal
closure,
and
second
reaching
lethal
xylem
hydraulic
thresholds.
We
conducted
dry-down
experiments
five
broadleaved
temperate
species
differing
their
degree
isohydry
estimate
time
closure
(tsc)
subsequent
critical
failure
(tcrit).
measured
responses,
such
as
potentials
at
turgor
loss
point
(Ptlp),
(Pgs90),
12%,
50%
88%
conductance
(P12,
P50,
P88),
capacitance
(C),
minimum
leaf
(gmin),
hydroscape
area
(HSA)
safety
margins
(HSM).
found
Pgs90
followed
previously
recorded
patterns
was
associated
HSA.
Species
ranked
from
more
less
isohydric
sequence
Acer
pseudoplatanus
<
Betula
pendula
Tilia
cordata
Sorbus
aucuparia
Fagus
sylvatica.
Their
(Ptlp
gmin),
avoidance
(C)
tsc,
but
decoupled
(HSM
P88)
tcrit.
Regardless
stringency,
wider
HSM
lower
P88
reached
later.
conclude
duration
is
determined
by
regulation,
while
safety.
Isohydry
thus
use
rather
than
survival
strategies,
confirming
proposed
HSA
complement
for
describing
plant
before
after
closure.
Remote Sensing,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
14(3), P. 562 - 562
Published: Jan. 25, 2022
Central
Europe
was
hit
by
several
unusually
strong
periods
of
drought
and
heat
between
2018
2020.
These
droughts
affected
forest
ecosystems.
Cascading
effects
with
bark
beetle
infestations
in
spruce
stands
were
fatal
to
vast
areas
Germany.
We
present
the
first
assessment
canopy
cover
loss
Germany
for
period
January
2018–April
2021.
Our
approach
makes
use
dense
Sentinel-2
Landsat-8
time-series
data.
computed
disturbance
index
(DI)
from
tasseled
cap
components
brightness,
greenness,
wetness.
Using
quantiles,
we
generated
monthly
DI
composites
calculated
anomalies
a
reference
(2017).
From
resulting
map,
statistics
administrative
entities.
results
show
501,000
ha
Germany,
large
regional
differences.
The
losses
largest
central
reached
up
two-thirds
coniferous
some
districts.
map
has
high
spatial
(10
m)
temporal
(monthly)
resolution
can
be
updated
at
any
time.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
234(4), P. 1195 - 1205
Published: March 3, 2022
European
beech
(Fagus
sylvatica)
was
among
the
most
affected
tree
species
during
severe
2018
drought.
It
not
only
suffered
from
instant
physiological
stress
but
also
showed
symptoms
of
defoliation
and
canopy
decline
in
following
year.
To
explore
underlying
mechanisms,
we
used
Swiss-Canopy-Crane
II
site
studied
branches
healthy
symptomatic
trees
repair
hydraulic
function
concentration
carbohydrates
drought
2019.
We
found
loss
conductance
2018,
which
did
recover
2019
that
developed
year
after
Reduced
branch
foliation
associated
with
a
gradual
wood
starch
throughout
summer
Visualization
water
transport
confirmed
close
relationship
between
xylem
functionality
supported
leaf
area.
Our
findings
embolized
does
regain
season
sustained
dysfunction
is
counterbalanced
by
reduction
suggests
acclimation
development
to
mitigate
disturbances
function.
Plant Biology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
24(7), P. 1132 - 1145
Published: Sept. 14, 2022
During
the
particularly
severe
hot
summer
drought
in
2018,
widespread
premature
leaf
senescence
was
observed
several
broadleaved
tree
species
Central
Europe,
European
beech
(Fagus
sylvatica
L.).
For
beech,
it
is
yet
unknown
whether
evoked
a
decline
towards
mortality
or
trees
can
recover
longer
term.
In
this
study,
we
monitored
crown
dieback,
and
secondary
damage
symptoms
963
initially
live
that
exhibited
either
normal
2018
three
regions
northern
Switzerland
from
to
2021.
We
related
multiple
climate-
stand-related
parameters.
Cumulative
continuously
increased
up
7.2%
1.3%
2021
for
with
respectively.
Mean
dieback
surviving
peaked
at
29.2%
2020
8.1%
2019
senescence,
Thereafter,
showed
first
signs
of
recovery.
Crown
more
pronounced
recovery
slower
growing
on
drier
sites,
larger
trees.
The
presence
bleeding
cankers
24.6%
10.7%
bark
beetle
holes
22.8%
14.8%
Both
occurred
frequently
had
higher
proportions
and/or
2018.
Our
findings
demonstrate
context-specific
differences
reflecting
importance
regional
local
climate
soil
conditions.
Adapting
management
increase
forest
resilience
gaining
importance,
given
expected
further
dry
sites
Switzerland.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
238(1), P. 283 - 296
Published: Jan. 13, 2023
Summary
Although
xylem
embolism
is
a
key
process
during
drought‐induced
tree
mortality,
its
relationship
to
wood
anatomy
remains
debated.
While
the
functional
link
between
bordered
pits
and
resistance
known,
there
no
direct,
mechanistic
explanation
for
traditional
assumption
that
wider
vessels
are
more
vulnerable
than
narrow
ones.
We
used
data
from
20
temperate
broad‐leaved
species
study
inter‐
intraspecific
of
water
potential
at
50%
loss
conductivity
(
P
50
)
with
hydraulically
weighted
vessel
diameter
D
h
tested
pit
membrane
thickness
T
PM
specific
K
s
on
level.
Embolism‐resistant
had
thick
membranes
vessels.
was
weakly
associated
,
–
remained
highly
significant
after
accounting
.
The
interspecific
pattern
mirrored
by
but
evidence
an
relationship.
Our
results
provide
robust
across
our
species.
As
cause
inconsistencies
in
published
relationships,
analysis
suggests
differences
range
trait
values
covered,
level
aggregation
(species,
or
sample
level)
studied.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
240(5), P. 1848 - 1867
Published: Sept. 10, 2023
Drought
stress
is
one
of
the
major
limiting
factors
for
growth
and
development
perennial
trees.
Xylem
vessels
act
as
center
water
conduction
in
woody
species,
but
underlying
mechanism
its
morphogenesis
under
water-deficient
conditions
remains
elucidation.
Here,
we
identified
characterized
an
osmotic
stress-induced
ETHYLENE
RESPONSE
FACTOR
15
(PtoERF15)
target,
PtoMYC2b,
which
was
involved
mediating
vessel
size,
density,
cell
wall
thickness
response
to
drought
Populus
tomentosa.
PtoERF15
preferentially
expressed
differentiating
xylem
poplar
stems.
Overexpression
contributed
stem
potential
maintaining,
thus
promoting
tolerance.
RNA-Seq
biochemical
analysis
further
revealed
that
directly
regulated
encoding
a
switch
JA
signaling
pathway.
Additionally,
our
findings
verify
three
sets
homologous
genes
from
NAC
(NAM,
ATAF1/2,
CUC2)
gene
family:
PtoSND1-A1/A2,
PtoVND7-1/7-2,
PtoNAC118/120,
targets
are
regulation
morphology
poplar.
Collectively,
study
provides
molecular
evidence
involvement
PtoERF15-PtoMYC2b
transcription
cascade
maintaining
through
development,
ultimately
improving
tolerance
Global Change Biology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
28(9), P. 2956 - 2978
Published: Feb. 19, 2022
Extreme
events
such
as
the
summer
drought
of
2018
in
Central
Europe
are
projected
to
occur
more
frequently
future
and
may
cause
major
damages
including
increased
tree
mortality
negative
impacts
on
forest
ecosystem
services.
Here,
we
quantify
response
>1
million
pixels
10
×
m
across
Switzerland
terms
resistance,
recovery,
resilience.
We
used
Normalized
Difference
Water
Index
(NDWI)
derived
from
Sentinel-2
satellite
data
a
proxy
for
canopy
water
content
analyzed
its
relative
change.
calculated
NDWI
change
between
2017
pre-drought
years
(indicating
resistance),
2019
post-drought
recovery),
2017-2019
resilience).
Analyzing
this
large
natural
experiment,
found
that
4.3%
Swiss
declined
2018,
indicating
areas
with
low
resistance
effects.
While
roughly
50%
area
recovered,
2.7%
forested
continued
decline
2019,
suggesting
prolonged
effects
or
delayed
damage.
differential
responses
associated
site
topographic
characteristics
stand
characteristics,
lesser
extent
climatic
conditions
interactions
these
drivers.
Low
high
recovery
were
most
prominent
at
edges,
but
also
south-facing
slopes
lower
elevations.
Tree
functional
type
was
important
driver
resilience,
damage
stands
conifer
abundance.
Our
results
demonstrate
suitability
satellite-based
quantification
drought-induced
spatial
resolution
areas.
Such
information
is
predict
how
local
impact
vulnerability
extreme
help
search
appropriate
adaptation
strategies.
Plant Biology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
24(7), P. 1186 - 1197
Published: July 23, 2022
The
occurrence
of
hot
drought,
i.e.
low
water
availability
and
simultaneous
high
air
temperature,
represents
a
severe
threat
to
ecosystems.
Here,
we
investigated
how
the
2018
drought
in
Central
Europe
caused
tipping
point
tree
ecosystem
functioning
Scots
pine
(Pinus
sylvestris
L.)
forest
southwest
Germany.
Measurements
stress
indicators,
such
as
needle
potential,
carbon
assimilation
volatile
organic
compound
(VOC)
emissions,
dominant
P.
trees
were
deployed
evaluate
during
drought.
Ecosystem
impact
recovery
assessed
exchange,
normalized
difference
vegetation
index
(NDVI)
from
satellite
data
mortality
data.
During
summer
2018,
potentials
dropped
minimum
values
-7.5
±
0.2
MPa,
which
implied
hydraulic
impairment
sylvestris.
Likewise,
VOC
emissions
strongly
declined
after
mid-July.
Decreasing
NDVI
August
onwards
detected,
along
with
defoliation
sylvestris,
impairing
flux
2019,
shifting
into
year-round
source.
A
total
47%
all
monitored
(n
=
368)
died
by
September
2020.
recovered
pre-2018
levels
likely
emerging
broadleaved
understorey
species.
had
negative
impacts
on
co-occurrence
unfavourable
site-specific
conditions
recurrent
droughts
resulted
accelerated
mortality.
Thus,
pushed
stand
towards
its
point,
subsequent
shift
broadleaf-dominated
forest.
New Phytologist,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
239(2), P. 533 - 546
Published: May 26, 2023
Trees
remain
sufficiently
hydrated
during
drought
by
closing
stomata
and
reducing
canopy
conductance
(Gc
)
in
response
to
variations
atmospheric
water
demand
soil
availability.
Thresholds
that
control
the
reduction
of
Gc
are
proposed
optimize
hydraulic
safety
against
carbon
assimilation
efficiency.
However,
link
between
ability
stem
tissues
rehydrate
at
night
remains
unclear.
We
investigated
whether
species-specific
responses
aim
prevent
branch
embolisms,
or
enable
night-time
rehydration,
which
is
critical
for
turgor-dependent
growth.
For
this,
we
used
a
unique
combination
concurrent
dendrometer,
sap
flow
leaf
potential
measurements
collected
branch-vulnerability
curves
six
common
European
tree
species.
Species-specific
was
weakly
related
potentials
50%
xylem
conductivity
lost
(P50
).
Instead,
found
stronger
relationship
with
rehydration.
Species
were
less
effective
refilling
stem-water
storage
as
dries,
appeared
their
architecture.
Our
findings
highlight
importance
rehydration
water-use
regulation
mature
trees,
likely
relates
maintenance
adequate
turgor.
thus
conclude
must
complement
widely
accepted
safety-efficiency
stomatal
paradigm.