Physical constraints and environmental factors shape phloem anatomical traits in woody angiosperm species
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Xylem trait studies have enhanced our understanding of how plants strategically adapt their morphological and anatomical features to diverse climates. Despite the importance of the phloem in plant functioning, similar studies of phloem traits are lacking. To tackle this knowledge gap, we analyzed phloem anatomical traits of woody angiosperm species in relation to climate and the distance of samples to the stem tip. We collected main stem or branch cross-sections of 188 angiosperm woody species, which represent a wide range of climates and diverse families. Measurements of xylem vessel and phloem sieve element diameter, density, and lumen fraction were used in phylogenetic structural equation models to disentangle internal and climatic constraints on their morphological and anatomical features. Our results showed that distance-to-tip mainly affects sieve element and vessel diameter and density, while climate more strongly influenced conduit lumen fraction. Vessel size was positively correlated with temperature after correcting for the distance-to-tip, while sieve element diameter was correlated with water availability. Our results highlight the need to account for distance-to-tip when accessing anatomical variations linked to the environment, and show that sieve element traits respond to other climatic drivers than vessel traits rather than simply mirroring them.
Source: New Phytologist
DOI: 10.1111/nph.70578
Authors: Yan Wang, Johannes Liesche, Alan Crivellaro, Jiří Doležal, Jan Altman, Donato Chiatante, Anastazija Dimitrova, Zexin Fan, Peili Fu, Félix Forest, Jozica Gričar, Patrick Heuret, Sandrine Isnard, Olivier Maurin, Antonio Montagnoli, Cyrille B. K. Rathgeber, Enkhchimeg Tsedensodnom, Santiago Trueba, Yann Salmon
Institutions: University of Helsinki, University of Graz, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, University of Turin, Czech Academy of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, University of Insubria, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Université de Montpellier, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, UMR Botanique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Meise Botanic Garden, French Community of Belgium, AgroParisTech, Silva, Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières, Université de Lorraine, Mongolian National University, National University of Mongolia
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
Awards: G1061035602, Life after drought: towards a mechanistic understanding of tree resilience (DroughTRes), G294214751, G2977974405, G311888100, G33836862, Alpine plants under climate change: from adaptive strategies to ecosystem functioning, Forest-wood value chain and climate change: transition to circular bioeconomy, G6063835160, Phloem Ecophysiology: from Mechanistic understanding to Ecological Consequences (PhloEM EcologiC), G7240651115, Oaks for future forests and forestry in Slovenia: Quercus robur versus Quercus petraea, G822132853, Recherches Avancées sur l'Arbre et les Ecosytèmes Forestiers, G890279106
OpenAlex ID: W4414252803