Do ring-porous oaks prioritize earlywood vessel efficiency over safety? Environmental effects on vessel diameter and tyloses formation

Abstract

The impact of climate on xylem structure and function has been profusely studied for a variety of species in the last decades, but the ecological role of ring porosity under increasing levels of environmental stress has been scarcely assessed. In this study, we analyse the timing of earlywood vessels occlusions by tyloses in two ringporous species with contrasting ecological strategies (Quercus robur and Q. pyrenaica) along a seasonal drought gradient, and relate it to variations in earlywood vessel diameter and radial growth obtained from tree-ring series. The number of trees showing tyloses increased in summer as a result of more frequent cavitation events under drier conditions, and was more reduced for the more drought-tolerant Q. pyrenaica, which had a higher hydraulic diameter (Dh) but lower latewood increments. Dh values decreased towards the wettest sites, and were negatively related to warm and rainy conditions in winter. Our results showed that large earlywood vessel diameters are not necessarily accompanied by high rates of tyloses formation or limited growth in summer. We hypothesize that trees in seasonal environments can take advantage from large earlywood vessels, because benefits from a more efficient hydraulic system during favourable periods are higher than the risk of xylem impairment in summer.