When Water Availability Is Low, Two Mediterranean Salvia Species Rely on Root Hydraulics

Increase in severity and frequency of drought events is altering plant community composition, exposing biomes to a higher risk of biodiversity losses. This is exacerbated in the most fragile areas as Mediterranean biome. Thus, identifying plant traits for forecasting species with a high risk of drought-driven mortality is particularly urgent. In the present study, we investigated the drought resistance strategy of two Mediterranean native species: Salvia ceratophylloides Ard. (Sc) and Salvia officinalis L. (So) by considering the impact of drought-driven water content decline on plant hydraulics. Well-watered samples of Sc displayed higher leaf and stemsaturated water content and lower shoot biomass than So samples, but similar root biomass. In response to drought, Sc showed a conservative water use strategy, as the prompt stomatal closure and leaves shedding suggested. A drought-tolerant mechanism was confirmed in So samples. Nevertheless, Sc and So showed similar drought-driven plant hydraulic conductance (K-plant) recover ability. Root hydraulic traits played a key role to reach this goal. Relative water content as well as loss of cell rehydration capability and membrane damages, especially of stem and root, were good proxies of drought-driven K-plant decline.

Automated summary

The study investigated the drought resistance strategy of two Mediterranean native plant species and found that different species showed slight differences in response and water use strategies, but root hydraulic traits played a crucial role in the recovery of plant hydraulic conductance.