The regulation of sapwood area, water transport and heartwood formation in Sitka spruce

K. Beauchamp*, M. Mencuccini, M. Perks, B. Gardiner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The mechanism by which water transport, tree growth and heartwood formation are balanced is poorly understood.

Aims: To test the hypothesis that xylem formation drives heartwood production through changes in water transport to regulate sapwood area.

Methods: We measured changes in sap flux at multiple depths across the sapwood to heartwood boundary in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) from May 2009October 2010 using the Heat Field Deformation method.

Results: The radial sap flux profile was peaked with maximum flux occurring 12cm below bark before reducing to the heartwood boundary (tail). Changes occurred in two stages. The depth of peak sap flux (D) extended outwards as new xylem formed during the growing season, giving an annual increment (AI). Water transport reduced in the tail sometime during dormancy, from November to March. The correlation between AI and D was good however, these variables and the increase in sapwood area correlated poorly with the extent of heartwood formed.

Conclusions: Heartwood formed during the dormant period in Sitka spruce in Great Britain. Xylem formation did not directly drive heartwood production; however, changes in specific conductivity need consideration. Reduced transport in the inner sapwood could provide a temporal signal for heartwood formation in pre-conditioned cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-56
Number of pages12
JournalPlant Ecology and Diversity
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2013

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • heartwood
  • sapwood
  • sap flow
  • radial profile
  • phenology
  • Picea sitchensis
  • transition zone
  • pipe model theory
  • HFD method
  • SAP FLUX-DENSITY
  • BORDERED PIT ASPIRATION
  • CRYPTOMERIA-JAPONICA
  • HYDRAULIC REDISTRIBUTION
  • SAPFLOW VELOCITY
  • WOOD STRUCTURE
  • JUGLANS-NIGRA
  • GAS-EXCHANGE
  • FLOW
  • XYLEM

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