RUI: Xylem Embolism in Drought-hardy Shrubs of California

干旱地区木本植物的生存与生长 取决于他们对组织的抵抗能力 在干旱期间脱水。 特别重要的是 专门负责运输水分的细胞（木质部导管）， 土壤和树叶保持功能， 不会被气泡（栓塞）破坏。 在高等植物中， 将气泡引入木质部导管导致 水运输的阻塞，如果足够广泛，杀死 厂 实验室实验表明， 例木质部栓塞是严重的水分胁迫期间延长 干旱时期。 然而，人们对它知之甚少。 栓塞的发生和意义。 无数据 适用于组织水分胁迫严重的旱地植物 因此栓塞可能是最显著的。 的 这项研究的目的是提供第一个 关于木质部栓塞在植物生长中的作用的信息， 生产力和旱地植物的生存， 原产于加州的一个查帕拉尔灌木属。 该项目将 阐明了查帕拉尔的水关系动态 植被，特别是在恢复的早期阶段， 野火 这些知识可能会导致改善 管理查帕拉尔作为一个分水岭，作为一个威慑的土壤 侵蚀/山体滑坡作为野生动物的海湾， 牲畜

The survival and growth of woody plants in dryland regions of the United States depends on their ability to withstand tissue dehydration during drought. It is particularly important that the cells specialized in transporting water (xylem vessels) from the soil to leaves remain functional and that the water column not be disrupted by air bubbles (embolism). In higher plants the introduction of air bubbles into xylem vessels results in a blockage of water transport and, if extensive enough, kills the plant. Laboratory experiments indicate that one of the major cases of xylem embolism is severe water stress during extended periods of drought. However, very little is known about the occurrence and significance of embolism in nature. No data are available for dryland plants where tissue water stress is great and thus where embolism may be the most significant. The objective of this proposed study is to provide the first information on the role of xylem embolism in plant growth, productivity, and survival of dryland plants, specifically chaparral shrubs indigenous to California. This project will shed light on the dynamics of water relations in chaparral vegetation, especially during the early phases of recovery after wildfire. This knowledge could potentially lead to an improved management of chaparral as a water shed, as a deterrent of soil erosion/landslides as a cove for wild animals and as a browse for livestock.