HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Woodrum, C. L. Articles by Telewski, F. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Woodrum, C. L. Articles by Telewski, F. W. Agricola Articles by Woodrum, C. L. Articles by Telewski, F. W.

Hydraulic, biomechanical, and anatomical interactions of xylem from five species of Acer (Aceraceae)¹

²Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1312 USA; ³W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1312 USA

Possible trade-offs between hydraulic conductivity and mechanical properties of woody stems from five species were assessed. Acer negundo is a ruderal tree, A. saccharinum, and A. rubrum are fast-growing and shade-intolerant soft maples, whereas A. nigrum and A. saccharum are slow-growing and shade-tolerant hard maples. It was hypothesized that the ruderal and soft maples would have lower modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), but higher maximum specific conductivity (K_{s max}) than hard maples. Many anatomical and general morphological characteristics were measured in an attempt to correlate them to water transport and/or mechanical strength differences between species. No difference was found between species in vessel diameter, fiber wall thickness, initial hydraulic conductivity (K_{h initial}), specific conductivity (K_{s max}), native percent embolism, or Huber value. Similarly, no trade-off was found between K_{s max} and MOE or MOR across the genus. However, fiber lumen diameter was inversely correlated to MOE and MOR. Surprisingly, percentage of ray parenchyma was positively related to MOE. The results suggest transport/mechanical trade-offs do not occur in Acer and differences in mechanical properties may be due to fiber lumen differences that do not influence the efficient transport of water.

Key Words: Aceraceae • fiber lumen • maple • modulus of elasticity • modulus of rupture • ray parenchyma • specific conductivity • vessel lumen area

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H.-Hee. Han, C. Coutand, H. Cochard, C. Trottier, and P.-E. Lauri Effects of shoot bending on lateral fate and hydraulics: invariant and changing traits across five apple genotypes J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2007; 58(13): 3537 - 3547. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Jagels and G. E Visscher A synchronous increase in hydraulic conductive capacity and mechanical support in conifers with relatively uniform xylem structure Am. J. Botany, February 1, 2006; 93(2): 179 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Jacobsen, F. W. Ewers, R. B. Pratt, W. A. Paddock III, and S. D. Davis Do Xylem Fibers Affect Vessel Cavitation Resistance? Plant Physiology, September 1, 2005; 139(1): 546 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. B. Kitin, T. Fujii, H. Abe, and R. Funada Anatomy of the vessel network within and between tree rings of Fraxinus lanuginosa (Oleaceae) Am. J. Botany, June 1, 2004; 91(6): 779 - 788. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]