Premium
The 18 O‐signal transfer from water vapour to leaf water and assimilates varies among plant species and growth forms
Author(s) -
Lehmann Marco M.,
Goldsmith Gregory R.,
MirandeNey Cathleen,
Weigt Rosemarie B.,
Schönbeck Leonie,
Kahmen Ansgar,
Gessler Arthur,
Siegwolf Rolf T.W.,
Saurer Matthias
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.13682
Subject(s) - crassulacean acid metabolism , epiphyte , photosynthesis , botany , biology , greenhouse , humidity , sucrose , horticulture , chemistry , food science , physics , thermodynamics
The 18 O signature of atmospheric water vapour (δ 18 O V ) is known to be transferred via leaf water to assimilates. It remains, however, unclear how the 18 O‐signal transfer differs among plant species and growth forms. We performed a 9‐hr greenhouse fog experiment (relative humidity ≥ 98%) with 18 O‐depleted water vapour (−106.7‰) on 140 plant species of eight different growth forms during daytime. We quantified the 18 O‐signal transfer by calculating the mean residence time of O in leaf water (MRT LW ) and sugars (MRT Sugars ) and related it to leaf traits and physiological drivers. MRT LW increased with leaf succulence and thickness, varying between 1.4 and 10.8 hr. MRT Sugars was shorter in C 3 and C 4 plants than in crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants and highly variable among species and growth forms; MRT Sugars was shortest for grasses and aquatic plants, intermediate for broadleaf trees, shrubs, and herbs, and longest for conifers, epiphytes, and succulents. Sucrose was more sensitive to δ 18 O V variations than other assimilates. Our comprehensive study shows that plant species and growth forms vary strongly in their sensitivity to δ 18 O V variations, which is important for the interpretation of δ 18 O values in plant organic material and compounds and thus for the reconstruction of climatic conditions and plant functional responses.