Premium
Ontogenetic scaling of phloem sieve tube anatomy and hydraulic resistance with tree height in Quercus rubra
Author(s) -
Clerx Laura E.,
Rockwell Fulton E.,
Savage Jessica A.,
Holbrook N. Michele
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/ajb2.1481
Subject(s) - biology , phloem , sieve tube element , hydraulic resistance , resistance (ecology) , botany , anatomy , ecology , mechanics , physics
Premise The dimensions of phloem sieve elements have been shown to vary as a function of tree height, decreasing hydraulic resistance as the transport pathway lengthens. However, little is known about ontogenetic patterns of sieve element scaling. Here we examine within a single species ( Quercus rubra ) how decreases in hydraulic resistance with distance from the plant apex are mediated by overall plant size. Methods We sampled and imaged phloem tissue at multiple heights along the main stem and in the live crown of four size classes of trees using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Sieve element length and radius, the number of sieve areas per compound plate, pore number, and pore radius were used to calculate total hydraulic resistance at each sampling location. Results Sieve element length varied with tree size, while sieve element radius, sieve pore radius, and the number of sieve areas per compound plate varied with sampling position. When data from all size classes were aggregated, all four variables followed a power‐law trend with distance from the top of the tree. The net effect of these ontogenetic scalings was to make total hydraulic sieve tube resistance independent of tree height from 0.5 to over 20 m. Conclusions Sieve element development responded to two pieces of information, tree size and distance from the apex, in a manner that conserved total sieve tube resistance across size classes. A further differentiated response between the phloem in the live crown and in the main stem is also suggested.