Hydraulic tradeoffs underlie enhanced performance of polyploid trees under soil water deficit.

Abstract

The relationships between aerial organ morpho-anatomy of woody polyploid plants with their functional hydraulics under water stress remain largely understudied. We evaluated growth-associated traits, aerial organ xylem anatomy, and physiological parameters of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid genotypes of atemoyas (Annona cherimola × Annona squamosa), which belong to the woody perennial genus Annona (Annonaceae), testing their performance under long-term soil water reduction. The contrasting phenotypes of vigorous triploids and dwarf tetraploids consistently showed stomatal size-density tradeoff. The vessel elements in aerial organs were ∼1.5 times wider in polyploids compared with diploids, and triploids displayed the lowest vessel density. Plant hydraulic conductance was higher in well-irrigated diploids while their tolerance to drought was lower. The phenotypic disparity of atemoya polyploids associated with contrasting leaf and stem xylem porosity traits that coordinate to regulate water balances between the trees and the belowground and aboveground environments. Polyploid trees displayed better performance under soil water scarcity, and consequently, could present more sustainable agricultural and forestry genotypes to cope with water stress.