Lignin composition is related to xylem embolism resistance and leaf life span in trees in a tropical semiarid climate

Wood properties influence the leaf life span (LL) of tree crowns. As lignin is an important component of wood and the water transport system, we investigated its relationship with embolism resistance and the LL of several tree species in a seasonally dry tropical ecosystem. We determined total ligni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New phytologist 2018-09, Vol.219 (4), p.1252-1262
Main Authors: Lima, Taysla R. A., Carvalho, Ellen C. D., Martins, Fernando R., Oliveira, Rafael S., Miranda, Rafael S., Müller, Caroline S., Pereira, Luciano, Bittencourt, Paulo R. L., Sobczak, Jullyana C. M. S. M., Gomes‐Filho, Enéas, Costa, Rafael C., Araújo, Francisca S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate
Composition
Drought
Drought resistance
Dry season
Embolism
Embolisms
guaiacyl
Leaves
Life span
Lignin
Longevity
Moisture content
phenology
plant hydraulics
seasonally dry tropical forest
Semiarid climates
Species
syringyl
Trees
Tropical climate
Vulnerability
Water content
Water transport
Wood
wood traits
Xylem
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Summary:Wood properties influence the leaf life span (LL) of tree crowns. As lignin is an important component of wood and the water transport system, we investigated its relationship with embolism resistance and the LL of several tree species in a seasonally dry tropical ecosystem. We determined total lignin and the monomer contents of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) and related them to wood traits and xylem vulnerability to embolism (Ψ50) for the most common species of the Brazilian semiarid, locally known as Caatinga. Leaf life span was negatively related to Ψ50 and positively related to S : G, which was negatively related to Ψ50. This means that greater S : G increases LL by reducing Ψ50. Lignin content was not correlated with any variable. We found two apparently unrelated axes of drought resistance. One axis, associated with lignin monomeric composition, increases LL in the dry season as a result of lower xylem embolism vulnerability. The other, associated with wood density and stem water content, helps leafless trees to withstand drought and allows them to resprout at the end of the dry season. The monomeric composition of lignin (S : G) is therefore an important functional wood attribute affecting several key functional aspects of tropical tree species in a semiarid climate.
ISSN:0028-646X
1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/nph.15211