Decrease In Hydraulic Conductivity Research Articles

Static and dynamic bending has minor effects on xylem hydraulics of conifer branches (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris).

The xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety is usually measured on mechanically unstressed samples, although trees may be exposed to combined hydraulic and mechanical stress in the field. We analysed changes in hydraulic conductivity and vulnerability to drought-induced embolism during static bending of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris branches as well as the effect of dynamic bending on the vulnerability. We hypothesized this mechanical stress to substantially impair xylem hydraulics. Intense static bending caused an only small decrease in hydraulic conductance (−19.5 ± 2.4% in P. abies) but no shift in vulnerability thresholds. Dynamic bending caused a 0.4 and 0.8 MPa decrease of the water potential at 50 and 88% loss of conductivity in P. sylvestris, but did not affect vulnerability thresholds in P. abies. With respect to applied extreme bending radii, effects on plant hydraulics were surprisingly small and are thus probably of minor eco-physiological importance. More importantly, results indicate that available xylem hydraulic analyses (of conifers) sufficiently reflect plant hydraulics under field conditions.

Effects of Fine Particles on the Suffusion of Cohesionless Soils. Experiments and Modeling

Internal erosion has long been a major problem associated with earthen structures, and its field investigation has been limited because of its complexity. Laboratory experiments provide a potential insight into the induced processes. Soils suitable to suffusion involve an easy movement of fine particles between the coarse ones. In this study, suffusion experiments were performed on a laboratory column packed with different sand–fines mixtures and subjected to controlled flow conditions. The mixtures are made of Fontainebleau sand (NE34) and fines (kaolinite or illite or silt). The initiation and the progression of soil suffusion were investigated for soil mixtures, and the hydraulic conductivity variation was derived from pressure measurements. Attempts are made to assess the influence of the type and content of fine particles on mixtures suffusion. The results show that among the tested fine particles, illite exhibits a great resistance against suffusion. Fine content increase involves less suitability to suffusion till a threshold value. Recorded pressures indicate that detachment of fines may be followed by clogging in the soil matrix, leading to a decrease of hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, analytical solutions of simplified mathematical model based on the mass conservation of eroded particles (Govindaraju et al., J Hydrol 172:331–350, 1995) were used to simulate the recorded soil suffusion curves, and the model performance was evaluated. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results indicated a quite good agreement, and allowed the estimation of the model parameters.

Evidence of Aqueous Iron Sulfide Clusters in the Vadose Zone

Iron and sulfur cycling is an important control on contaminant fate and transport. We present the effects of soil structure, specifically the presence of a soil layer, on linked biogeochemical and hydrological processes involving Fe and S cycling in the vadose zone using repacked soil columns. Synthetic rainwater was applied to a homogenized medium‐grained sand column, a homogenized organic‐rich loam column, and a sand‐over‐loam layered column. Water samples were voltammetrically analyzed for total sulfide, Fe2+, and aqueous FeS clusters (FeSaq) using a mercury drop electrode. Aqueous FeS clusters were observed in the loam and layered columns, with the greatest concentrations of FeSaq occurring at the sand–loam interface in the layered column. Redox potential (Eh) measurements showed rapid cycling of redox conditions at the interface (hours to days) suggesting that FeSaq formation was favored under conditions of disequilibrium. However, the relative stability and aqueous nature of FeSaq allowed for it to be transported, which has broader implications for chemical fate and transport in the vadose zone. The co‐occurrence of FeSaq with iron‐rich soil aggregates near the sand‐loam interface in the layered column suggest that FeSaq may act as a precursor to the formation of aggregates that, in our column, subsequently caused an order of magnitude decrease in hydraulic conductivity. These findings suggest that FeSaq should be considered when predicting the transport of contaminants, particularly metals that may associate with FeSaq, in systems with prominent iron and sulfur cycling.

Estimation and upscaling of dual-permeability model parameters for the transport of E. coli D21g in soils with preferential flow

Dual-permeability models are increasingly used to quantify the transport of solutes and microorganisms in soils with preferential flow. An ability to accurately determine the model parameters and their variation with preferential pathway characteristics is crucial for predicting the transport of microorganisms in the field. The dual-permeability model with optimized parameters was able to accurately describe the transport of E. coli D21g in columns with artificial macropores of different configurations and lengths at two ionic strength levels (1 and 20mM NaCl). Correlations between the model parameters and the structural geometry of the preferential flow path were subsequently investigated. Decreasing the macropore length produced a decrease in the apparent saturated hydraulic conductivity of the macropore domain and an increase in the mass transfer between the macropore and matrix domains. The mass transfer coefficient was also found to be dependent on the configuration of the preferential flow pathway. A linear superposition approach was used to estimate field-scale preferential transport behavior for hypothetical fields with different amounts and configurations of macropores. Upscaling procedures were numerically investigated to predict this field-scale transport behavior from column-scale parameters. The upscaling method provided a satisfactory prediction of the field results under the tested scenarios. This information will be useful in assessing the risks of microbial transport due to preferential flow.

Assessment of water and air permeability of chernozem supported by image analysis

We aimed at the assessment of water and air permeability of a Haplic Chernozem developed from loess. The laboratory permeability measurements were presented against a number of morphometric indices that characterize the pore system in this soil, and were obtained by computer-aided image analysis on the basis of large resin-impregnated soil opaque blocks. Two indices of soil pore connectivity are proposed, i.e. the index of soil pore network growth rate and the percolation number. Basic soil properties were evaluated (soil texture, TOC, carbonates, pH, particle and soil bulk density, total porosity). The saturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil water content, air capacity and permeability at −15.54kPa and −9.81kPa were measured. From the samples with preserved structure, resin-impregnated soil opaque blocks 8cm×9cm in size were prepared and then used for morphological and morphometric structure analysis. The preliminary image analysis was made to find the best representation of the actual chernozem pore system. The images were modified by applying the morphological closing with or without the spike noise, which modelled tiny pores missed during scanning. Consequently, the macroporosity of the images approximated the air capacity at potentials −15.54 and −9.81kPa. During the extended image analysis, we calculated: the index of soil pore network growth rate; the percolation number; the average cross-sectional size of the pore; the total length of pore path; the relative volume of pores overlapping the left and right, and the top and bottom image edge; the relative volume of pores connecting the left and right and the top and bottom edge of the image. The correlation coefficients between the parameters’ values obtained from image analysis and from laboratory permeability measurements were calculated.The water and air permeability and the air capacity of the chernozem decreased with depth into the soil pedon. With decrease in the saturated hydraulic conductivity, measured in the laboratory, there was a decrease in the relative volumes of pores overlapping the left and right and upper and lower edges of the image, obtained from image analysis. The air permeability was positively correlated with the index of pore network growth rate. Morphological and morphometric image analysis confirmed that the most important parameters determining the transport of fluids in the soil are continuity of the pore system and pore volume. Based on the results obtained from image analysis one can formulate qualitative conclusions concerning the water and air permeability of soil.

Measuring hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure under high hydraulic gradients

Abstract The concept of a deep geological repository for high-level waste in the Czech Republic is based on disposal in a granite environment. The construction of an engineered barrier between the rock and canister is considered, and compacted swelling clay (bentonite) is chosen as the most suitable material for such a barrier. The most important geotechnical properties of bentonite in this context are low hydraulic conductivity and high swelling pressure. Measuring these parameters in such a low-permeable material requires much time. This study focuses on combined measurements of hydraulic conductivity and swelling pressure and on the impact of using high hydraulic gradients that are consistent with possible porewater pressures in a deep repository. High hydraulic gradients may also quicken the determination of these parameters. Results show a decrease in hydraulic conductivity with increasing saturation pressure up to a threshold dry density, with no further change at higher dry densities. The influence of saturation pressure on measured pressure decreases with dry density until a certain value is reached. For samples with lower density, the slope of the increase is close to unity.

The temporal evolution of wildfire ash and implications for post-fire infiltration

Changes in the properties of an ash layer with time may affect the amount of post-fire runoff, particularly by the formation of ash surface crusts. The formation of depositional crusts by ash have been observed at the pore and plot scales, but the causes and temporal evolution of ash layers and associated crusts have not yet been thoroughly investigated. In the long term, ash crusting effects will decrease as the ash layer is removed by wind and water erosion, but in the short term ash crusting could contribute to the observed changes in post-fire runoff. This research addresses these topics by studying the evolution over time of highly combusted ash layers from two high-severity wildfires that occurred in Montana in 2011. More specifically, this research was designed to assess the potential for ash crusts to form and thereby contribute to the observed decreases in infiltration after forest fires. Results indicate that high-combustion ash can evolve due to post-fire rainfall. Plots that exhibited a visible ash crust also displayed a significant decrease in effective porosity and hydraulic conductivity. These decreases in ash layer characteristics were attributed to raindrop compaction and ash hydration resulting in the formation of carbonate crystals, which decreased effective porosity and flow within the ash layer. During this same time period, inorganic carbon content more than doubled from 11 to 26% and bulk density significantly increased from 0.22 to 0.39gcm–3 on crusted plots. Although raindrop impact increased the robustness of the ash crust, mineralogical transformations must occur to produce a hydrologically relevant ash crust. These results indicate that post-fire rainfall is an important control on the properties of the ash layer after burning and on crust formation. The observed temporal changes indicate that the timing of ash sampling can alter the predictions as to whether the ash layer is effecting post-fire infiltration and runoff. Despite the reduction in infiltration capacity, the formation of post-fire ash crusts could prove beneficial to post-fire hazard mitigation by stabilising the ash layer, and reducing aeolian mixing and erosion.

Numerical analysis on cnoidal wave induced response of porous seabed with definite thickness

Severe water waves can induce seabed liquefaction and do harm to marine structures. Dynamic response of seabed with definite thickness induced by cnoidal water waves is investigated numerically. Biot’s consolidation equations are employed to model the seabed response. Parametric studies are carried out to examine the influence of the air content in the pore water and the soil hydraulic conductivity. It has been shown that the air content and soil hydraulic conductivity can significantly affect the pore pressure in seabed. An increase of air content and/or a decrease of soil hydraulic conductivity can change the pore pressure gradient sharply.

Effects of salinity on growth, membrane permeability and root hydraulic conductivity in three saltbush species

The species of the genus Atriplex have been introduced in West Asia and North Africa to determine their adaptability for use as fodder species. These halophytes are well adapted to extreme environmental conditions and may possess interesting properties for soil rehabilitation. The effect of NaCl stress on growth, water relation and mineral nutrition were investigated in three xero-halophyte species of Atriplex used for rehabilitation of arid steppe in Algeria. Atriplex halimus, Atriplex canescens and Atriplex nummularia, were cultivated in hydroponic conditions and treated with increasing doses of NaCl (0–300 mM). All species showed positive plant growth for low and moderate levels of salinity. A. halimus had higher dry weight production than A. nummularia and A. canescens in high salinity concentration. Increasing concentration of salinity induced decrease in chlorophyll content (Chl a and b) and root hydraulic conductivity (L0) in all species, especially in A. canescens. All three species showed marked increase in electrolyte leakage across the salinity gradient. In addition all species were able to accumulate a large quantity of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and proline and to maintain higher relative water content, which was probably associated with a greater capacity for osmotic adjustment, whereas potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) decreased with increase salinity. The data suggest that salt tolerance strategies in all Atriplex species could involve a delicate balance among ion accumulation, osmotic adjustment, production of osmotica and maintenance of relative water content and growth.

Cnoidal water wave induced seepage in a permeable seabed with a defined thickness

Extreme waves can induce seepage in a seabed and cause problems to marine structures in coastal regions. In this study, the seepage under cnoidal waves was studied using the transient seepage equation. An analytical solution is presented for the pore pressure in a seabed of defined thickness. Parametric studies were carried out to examine the influence of air content in the pore water, and of the soil hydraulic conductivity on the seepage. It has been shown that the air content and the soil hydraulic conductivity can affect the pore pressure response significantly. An increase in the air content or a decrease in the soil hydraulic conductivity will increase the magnitude of the pore pressure gradient and results in the pore pressure varying sharply. The liquefaction potential of a seabed under cnoidal waves is discussed. Consequently, comparative studies are carried out to show that the soil shear modulus and Poisson constant can influence the difference between the transient seepage equation and Biot's equation, and the transient seepage equation is a limit of Biot's equation.

Evidence for extreme variations in the permeability of laterite from a detailed analysis of well behaviour in Nigeria

AbstractLaterite soils are widespread in tropical Africa and have a large impact on the hydrology of the areas they cover. The permeability of laterite helps determine the partitioning of runoff and interflow and regulates groundwater recharge to underlying bedrock. Groundwater within laterite also forms a widespread source of drinking water, typically from unimproved hang‐dug‐wells. Despite its importance, there is little published information on laterite aquifer properties. In this study, data from a 6 m deep well in Nigeria have been analysed to characterise the hydraulic conductivity of the laterite from repeated pumping tests. Transmissivity measurements from 40 tests spread out across a hydrological year varied from 0.1 to 1000 m2/d. Further interpretation of the data demonstrate a strong non‐linear decrease in horizontal hydraulic conductivity with depth, characterised by an upper horizon of extreme permeability (400 m/d), and a much lower permeability profile beneath (<0.1 m/d). These data are substantiated with observations from other wells throughout the area. This non‐linear permeability structure has several implications: the upper laterite can facilitate rapid lateral throughflow in the wet season, enabling contaminants to be transported significant distances (up to 1 km); natural groundwater levels are restricted to a narrow range for much of the year; and, in the dry season, the lower permeability of the deeper laterite restricts the amount of water which can be abstracted from shallow wells, leading to well failure. The work highlights the need for a wider study to better understand laterite soils and the role they play in regional hydrology. © 2013 Natural Environment Research Council. Hydrological Processes published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

인공강우 시 나지교란사면 토사유출에 미치는 다짐처리의 영향

토양의 다짐은 강우 시 지표유출 및 토사유출에 큰 영향을 끼친다. 다짐은 체적밀도 증가, 전단강도 증가, 공극률 변형, 투수계수 등과 같은 토양특성 변화를 야기하기 때문이다. 본 연구는 인공강우 실험을 활용하여 개발지의 사면조건과 유사한 나지교란사면에서 표면의 다짐처리가 지표유출 및 토사유출에 미치는 영향을 파악하였다. 표면처리(다짐, 비다짐), 강우강도(68.5mm/hr, 95.6mm/hr), 사면경사(<TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX>, <TEX>$12.5^{\circ}$</TEX>, <TEX>$20^{\circ}$</TEX>)의 각 조건별 3회 반복하여 총 36회의 강우모의에 따른 지표유출 및 토사유출을 측정하였다. 연구결과, 다짐처리 후 토양의 체적밀도 및 전단강도는 유의적으로 증가하였다. 그러나 이러한 물리적 특성의 변화가 지표유출에 미치는 영향은 강우강도와 사면경사에 따라 다르게 반응하였다. 평균 토사유출량은 강우강도와 사면경사가 증가함에 따라 유의적으로 증가하였다. 또한, 토사유출량은 강우강도와 사면경사 별 다짐처리 유 무에 따라 다른 반응을 보였다. 완경사(<TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX>)에서는 다짐처리에서 더 많은 토사가 유출되었으나, 급경사(<TEX>$20^{\circ}$</TEX>)에서의 다짐처리는 토사유출을 감소시키는 역할을 한 것으로 나타났다. 나지교란사면에서는 토사유출에 대한 다짐효과의 천이구간이 존재하는 것으로 파악되며, 본 연구의토양조건 및 강우조건에서 천이구간은 완경사와 급경사 사이로서 사면경사 <TEX>$10{\sim}15^{\circ}$</TEX> 범위에 존재하는 것으로 판단된다. Surface compaction significantly impacts runoff and soil erosion under rainfall since it leads to changes of soil physical characteristics such as increase of bulk density and shear stress, change of microporosity, and decrease of hydraulic conductivity. This study addressed surface compaction effects on runoff and soil loss from bare and disturbed soils that are commonly distributed on construction sites. Thirty-six rainfall simulations from three replicates of each involving rainfall intensities (68.5 mm/hr, 95.6 mm/hr) and plot gradients (<TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX>, <TEX>$12.5^{\circ}$</TEX>, <TEX>$20^{\circ}$</TEX>) were conducted to measure runoff and soil loss for two different soil surface treatments (compacted surface, non-compacted surface). Compacted surface increased significantly soil bulk density and soil strength. However, the effect of surface treatments on runoff changed with rainfall intensity and plot gradient. Rainfall intensity and plot gradient had a positive effect on mean soil loss. In addition, the effect of surface treatments on soil loss responded differently with rainfall intensity and plot gradient. Compacted surfaces increased soil loss at gentle slope (<TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX>) while they decreased soil loss at steep slope (<TEX>$20^{\circ}$</TEX>). These results indicate that there exists transitional slope range (<TEX>$10{\sim}15^{\circ}$</TEX>) between gentle and steep slope by surface compaction effects on soil loss under disturbed bare soils and simulated rainfalls.

The stem xylem of Patagonian shrubs operates far from the point of catastrophic dysfunction and is additionally protected from drought‐induced embolism by leaves and roots

Hydraulic architecture was studied in shrub species differing in rooting depth in a cold desert in Southern Argentina. All species exhibited strong hydraulic segmentation between leaves, stems and roots with leaves being the most vulnerable part of the hydraulic pathway. Two types of safety margins describing the degree of conservation of the hydraulic integrity were used: the difference between minimum stem or leaf water potential (Ψ) and the Ψ at which stem or leaf hydraulic function was reduced by 50% (Ψ - Ψ50), and the difference between leaf and stem Ψ50. Leaf Ψ50 - stem Ψ50 increased with decreasing rooting depth. Large diurnal decreases in root-specific hydraulic conductivity suggested high root vulnerability to embolism across all species. Although stem Ψ50 became more negative with decreasing species-specific Ψsoil and minimum stem Ψ, leaf Ψ50 was independent of Ψ and minimum leaf Ψ. Species with embolism-resistant stems also had higher maximum stem hydraulic conductivity. Safety margins for stems were >2.1 MPa, whereas those for leaves were negative or only slightly positive. Leaves acted as safety valves to protect the integrity of the upstream hydraulic pathway, whereas embolism in lateral roots may help to decouple portions of the plant from the impact of drier soil layers.

On the chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of geological and engineered barriers

An overview of the recent findings about the chemo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of materials used for both geological and engineered barriers in nuclear waste disposal is presented, through some examples about the natural Boom Clay (BC) and compacted bentonite-based materials. For the natural BC, it was found that compression index identified from both oedometer and isotropic compression tests is similar and the compressibility of BC from the Mol site is higher than that of BC from the Essen site; the shear strength of Mol BC is also higher than that of the Essen BC, suggesting a significant effect of carbonates content; the thermal volume change is strongly overconsolidation ratio (OCR) dependent—low OCR values promote thermal contraction while high OCR values favour thermal dilation; the volume change behaviour is also strongly time dependent and this time dependent behaviour is governed by the stress level and temperature; the effect of pore-water salinity on the volume change behaviour can be significant when the smectite content is relatively high. For the bentonite-based materials, it was found that thermal contraction also occurs at low OCR values, but this is suction dependent—suction promotes thermal dilation. Under constant volume conditions, wetting results in a decrease of hydraulic conductivity, followed by an increase. This is found to be related to changes in macro-pores size—wetting induces a decrease of macro-pores size, followed by an increase due to the aggregates fissuring. The presence of technological voids can increase the hydraulic conductivity but does not influence the swelling pressure.

Potential Clogging and Dissolution Effects During Artificial Recharge of Groundwater Using Potable Water

To avoid the water quality deterioration that are caused by artificial recharge (AR) of groundwater, potable drinking water has been used as one of the source water for AR to control the side effects caused by the over-exploitation of groundwater. Chemical clogging problems can still be caused by certain chemical components, especially Fe and Al, and a lower concentration of these elements can cause a notable decrease in hydraulic conductivity at the top layer of the infiltration medium. Some components in AR source water can be obstructed by the clogging layer, leading to a change in water quality. The accumulation of total suspended solids (TSS) at the clogging layer can cause physical clogging and worsen the degree of chemical clogging. Although clogging and the related change in water quality were the dominant issues that affect the infiltration rate and health risks during the AR process, the dissolution of the aquifer matrix should also be taken into account. This dissolution contributed to not only the hydraulic conductivity of the infiltration medium but also the potential change in water quality during the aquifer recharge, storage and recovery processes.

Influence of Carbonation on the Microstructure and Hydraulic Properties of a Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag

Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag is considered as a potential alternative construction material and is used here on an experimental plot to accurately quantify the risk of pollutant release. Since pollutant release depends on flow, this initially requires characterizing BOF slag hydraulic properties. These were monitored and estimated at plot scale by carrying out water infiltration experiments and inverse numerical modeling. Monitoring the plot showed that the BOF slag studied crusted at the surface as a result of weathering processes. Numerical inversion proved that the crusted material differed from the unaltered slag in terms of water retention and hydraulic conductivity functions. Although all the data pointed to a decrease in saturated hydraulic conductivity with crusting, the trends depended on the infiltration devices used for the capillary length (tension disc vs. Beerkan). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) microanalysis of laboratory weathering cells and lysimeter measurements were monitored in parallel to study the microstructure more precisely and highlighted a reduction of porosity by clogging. On the basis of SEM observations, two conceptual models of pore reduction, based on two different pore clogging hypotheses, were applied to predict hydraulic properties. This step demonstrated that the effect on water retention and hydraulic conductivity strongly depended on the way precipitated phases form and coat grains and could explain the evolution of the transport properties observed. This study contributes to knowledge on the hydraulic properties of BOF slag and their evolution due to carbonation.

Impact of phloem girdling on leaf gas exchange and hydraulic conductance in hybrid aspen

We investigated phloem-xylem interactions in relation to leaf hydraulic capacity in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) by using phloem girdling method. Removal of bark tissues (phloem girdling) at the branch base resulted in a substantial decline in stomatal conductance (gS), net photosynthetic rate (PN), and leaf hydraulic efficiency, and in increase of leaf water potential (&Psi;L). Although gS declined more than PN (83 versus 78 %), the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentrations (ci/ca) increased from 0.67 to 0.87 in three days after girdling. Girdling induced a decrease in leaf hydraulic conductance (KL) on average by 43 % (P = 0.006). The changes in gS and leaf conductance to water vapour were co-ordinated with KL only in girdled branches whereas intrinsic water-use efficiency was invariant to KL. The declines in KL with girdling were not accompanied by changes in potassium ion concentration ([K+]), electrical conductivity, or pH of xylem sap. The results suggest that phloem girdling at the branch base does not influence the recirculation of ions between the phloem and xylem in hybrid aspen and the decrease of KL in response to the manipulation is not related to changes in [K+] and total ionic content of xylem sap.

Limits to the height growth of Caragana korshinskii resprouts

Predawn leaf water potential (LWP), the LWP between 09:00 and 10:30 h (termed minimum LWP), stem xylem hydraulic conductivity, foliar nitrogen, leaf gas exchange and leaf traits were measured on the same days in adults and 1-year-old to 7-year-old resprouts that had regrown after removing all the aboveground shoots. Height growth and accumulation of aboveground biomass quickly decreased with resprout age and there was no difference between 7-year-old resprouts and the uncut adults. Predawn LWP showed no significant difference between resprouts and adults, but the minimum LWP decreased gradually from -2.0 MPa in 1-year-old resprouts to -3.0 MPa in 7-year-old resprouts. The decrease in minimum LWP was associated with increased hydraulic resistance, as indicated by the gradual decrease in leaf area-specific hydraulic conductivity (KL) and sapwood area-specific hydraulic conductivity (KS) and the associated increase in stem native percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity in older than 2-year-old resprouts. The leaf nitrogen content per unit area (Narea) also decreased steadily from 3.6 g m(-2) in 1-year-old resprouts to 1.7 g m(-2) in 7-year-old resprouts. With the decline in LWP and Narea, the rate of leaf photosynthesis per unit area (Aarea) decreased from 20 μ mol m(-2) s(-1) in 1-year-old resprouts to 11 μ mol m(-2) s(-1) in 7-year-old resprouts. In adults, although KS decreased further compared with 7-year-old resprouts, the minimum LWP, KL, Narea and the rate of photosynthesis increased by 0.3 MPa, 29, 34 and 23%, respectively. The results show that a progressive loss of stem hydraulic conductivity and a steady decrease in foliar nitrogen with age were associated with a decrease in the photosynthetic rate of Caragana korshinskii Kom. resprouts, possibly changing the allocation of photosynthetic assimilates and slowing resprout height growth.

Change in water loss regulation after canopy clearcut of a dominant shrub in Sahelian agrosystems, Guiera senegalensis J. F. Gmel

This paper analyzes the effect of the canopy age of Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel on water regulation processes and adaptative strategy to drought over a period of 2 years. The species is widespread in the agricultural Sahel. Before sowing, farmers cut back the shrubs to limit competition with crops. The stumps resprout after the millet harvest. Leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were measured in two fallows and in the two adjacent cultivated fields. Leaf transpiration rate and soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance were deduced. The decrease in both stomatal and plant hydraulic conductance caused by seasonal drought was greater in mature shrubs than in current year resprouts. The decrease in predawn and midday leaf water potentials in response to seasonal drought was isohydrodynamic, and it was greater in mature shrubs, suggesting that current year resprouts are under less stress. In resprouts, the leaf transpiration rate stopped increasing beyond a hydraulic conductance threshold of 0.05 mol. m−2 s−1 MPa−1. Vulnerability to cavitation was determined on segments of stems in the laboratory. The leaf water potential value at which stomatal closure occurred was −2.99 ± 0.68 MPa, which corresponded to a 30 % loss in xylem conductivity. Thanks to its positive safety margin of 0.6 MPa, G. senegalensis can survive above this value. The observed strategy places G. senegalensis among the non-extreme xeric plants, leading us to suppose that this species will be vulnerable to the expected increase in regional drought.

Vascular Occlusions in Grapevines with Pierce’s Disease Make Disease Symptom Development Worse

Vascular occlusions are common structural modifications made by many plant species in response to pathogen infection. However, the functional role(s) of occlusions in host plant disease resistance/susceptibility remains controversial. This study focuses on vascular occlusions that form in stem secondary xylem of grapevines (Vitis vinifera) infected with Pierce's disease (PD) and the impact of occlusions on the hosts' water transport and the systemic spread of the causal bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in infected vines. Tyloses are the predominant type of occlusion that forms in grapevine genotypes with differing PD resistances. Tyloses form throughout PD-susceptible grapevines with over 60% of the vessels in transverse sections of all examined internodes becoming fully blocked. By contrast, tylose development was mainly limited to a few internodes close to the point of inoculation in PD-resistant grapevines, impacting only 20% or less of the vessels. The extensive vessel blockage in PD-susceptible grapevines was correlated to a greater than 90% decrease in stem hydraulic conductivity, compared with an approximately 30% reduction in the stems of PD-resistant vines. Despite the systemic spread of X. fastidiosa in PD-susceptible grapevines, the pathogen colonized only 15% or less of the vessels in any internode and occurred in relatively small numbers, amounts much too small to directly block the vessels. Therefore, we concluded that the extensive formation of vascular occlusions in PD-susceptible grapevines does not prevent the pathogen's systemic spread in them, but may significantly suppress the vines' water conduction, contributing to PD symptom development and the vines' eventual death.