Water relations characteristics of Alnusrubra and Populustrichocarpa: responses to field drought
Water relations of red alder (AlnusrubraBong.) and black cottonwood (populustrichocarpa Torr. & Gray) were studied in the field during the 1980, 1981, and 1982 growing seasons. Stomatal closure in response to drought was noted in both species; however, the following major differences were noted between the 1980 observations and those of 1981 and 1982; (i) stomatal conductance was greater in black cottonwood than in red alder, whereas the reverse was noted in 1980, and (ii) even though 1981 and 1982 were warmer and drier than 1980, corresponding changes in predawn and minimum leaf water potentials were not observed. These differences were attributed to greater root development, particularly in black cottonwood, in the second (1981) and third (1982) years following establishment (1980) of these species. Leaf age and drought exposure were observed to influence osmotic potentials in both species. Values of the osmotic potential at saturation varied from −0.80 to −1.03 MPa in newly mature leaves of red alder and from −1.00 to −1.26 MPa in similarly aged leaves of black cottonwood. Values in mature leaves ranged from −0.84 to −1.27 MPa in red alder and from −1.37 to −1.75 MPa in black cottonwood. There appeared to be a continued decrease in osmotic potential in both species throughout the growing season, a response associated with leaf development and drought exposure. Throughout the study, significantly lower values of osmotic potential at saturation and at the turgor loss point were found in black cottonwood than in red alder. Consequently, black cottonwood had a potential adaptive advantage in comparison with red alder. Leaf shedding in response to drought was noted mainly in red alder. Generally, both of these riparian species exhibited slight to moderate capabilities of surviving exposure to low leaf water potentials and moderate to excellent capabilities of stomatal closure under conditions potentially leading to low water potentials. The role played by root development in the differences observed among the years and between black cottonwood and red alder is discussed.