The stomatal response of red alder and black cottonwood to changing water status

Abstract

Response of stomata of newly planted red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) and black cottonwood (Populustrichocarpa Torr. & Gray) to periods of water stress and changes in light intensity, vapor pressure gradient, and xylem pressure potential were studied in the field and in controlled environments. The results indicated that soil drought had a pronounced effect, reducing stomatal conductance in both species. Lower predawn xylem pressure potential values at the beginning of the day resulted in lower stomatal conductance irrespective of vapor pressure gradient in both species. Under field conditions of high soil water potential, stomatal conductance decreased as xylem pressure potential decreased below −1.0 MPa in black cottonwood and −1.1 MPa in red alder. As soil water potential decreased to −0.13 MPa, the threshold value of xylem pressure potential resulting in stomatal closure shifted from −1.0 to −0.5 MPa in cottonwood; it did not change in alder. Laboratory experiments indicated that cottonwood had greater rates of net photosynthesis on a per-unit leaf-area basis as compared with red alder. The mean maximum photosynthetic rates were 0.46 mg CO2•m−2•s−1 in black cottonwood and 0.25 mg CO2•m−2•s−1 in red alder. Net CO2 uptake also had a temperature optimum around 20 °C when the corresponding relative humidity was about 50%. Both species, when compared with other deciduous hardwoods, could be ranked as relatively drought sensitive.