Dynamic Shifts in Radial Sap Flow of Two Temperate Tree Species in Response to the Dry Summer 2022

Abstract

Species-specific regulation of water fluxes and storage in the xylem are important drivers of drought tolerance. However, differences may occur along the radial profile of the xylem, potentially modifying drought responses. We investigated sap flow (J_s) and stem water content (WC_stem) at two xylem depths, and diurnal stem radius variations of Quercus petraea and Abies alba in a mature forest stand in SW-Germany during 2 years of contrasting environmental conditions. In response to drought, Q. petraea maintained high J_s, albeit with a dynamic shift of J_s between inner and outer xylem vessels: Under high vapour pressure deficit (VPD), J_s in the inner xylem exceeded J_s in the outer xylem during the day, despite its ring-porous xylem anatomy. From dusk to dawn and at low VPD, this pattern was reversed with higher J_s in the outer xylem compared to the inner xylem. Since WC_stem in the outer xylem reached a plateau concurrently to the shift, and tree water deficits could be refilled most nights in Q. petraea, dynamic reduction of J_s in the outer xylem likely prevented excessive depletion of stem water reserves. In contrast, A. alba strictly decreased J_s by up to 80% in a dry compared to a wet year, with more pronounced reductions in the inner xylem. In summary, our study demonstrated that a dynamic shift in regulation of J_s between different xylem depths and its link to stem water reserves might be an understudied trait of temperate trees and should be incorporated into future studies.