Journal
TREE PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 28, Issue 4, Pages 659-664Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/treephys/28.4.659
Keywords
cavitation; climate change; embolism; flowers freezing; global warming; inflorescences; Massachusetts; phenology; xylem
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In Massachusetts, low winter temperatures delay the onset of flowering in black birch (Betula lenta L.), but not in gray birch (B. poptd folia Marsh.). During the winter of 2006, male inflorescences and twigs of black birch had higher water contents than those of gray birch, and the inflorescences of black birch experienced greater frost kill than those of gray birch. Vessels diameters were greater in black than in gray birch, a difference associated with a higher incidence of winter xylem embolism, as indicated by reduced xylem hydraulic conductance. In both species, recovery of hydraulic conductance in twigs that survived the winter coincided with the development of root pressure. Frost kill to male inflorescences or associated damage to plant tissues may account for the difference between species in the effect of winter temperature on the time of first flowering. In a comparison of 24 birch species, sensitivity of the first flowering date to temperature was also correlated with water content in male inflorescences.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available