Nonstructural Carbohydrates, Water Status, and Hydraulic Dynamics in Plants

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Use and Scarcity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 6605

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Botany, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Interests: plant ecophysiology; plant hydraulics; plant water relations; stress physiology; green roofs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change, in particular the modification of rainfall regimes coupled to heatwaves, spread of pathogens, and alien species, adds new pressure on threatened natural and agricultural ecosystems, significantly increasing the risk of stress-induced plants decline. Abiotic (water scarcity, heat) and/or biotic factors (pathogens, interspecific competition) may severely affect plants’ water status, hydraulic efficiency, as well as nonstructural carbohydrate synthesis and storage. Although many of the consequences of plant decline are readily apparent in several biomes, our current knowledge of multiple physiological mechanisms and their interactions/feedbacks triggering species survival or mortality is still limited.

Understanding the physiological causes underlying plant survival to stress-induced impairment of water and carbon metabolism is crucial to predict the vegetation response to future environmental conditions characterized by frequent/intense drought spells, heatwaves, and biotic pressure.

This Special Issue aims at collecting original studies and reviews dealing with the effects of stressors (abiotic, biotic or their combination) on plant water status, hydraulics, and nonstructural carbohydrate content. Specific focus on physiological responses enabling plants to cope with challenging environments and promoting their adaptation to stressors is encouraged. Studies conducted on crops, trees, and herbaceous species and under both field or controlled conditions are welcome.

Dr. Tadeja Savi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • carbon metabolism
  • water metabolism
  • stress response
  • abiotic stress
  • drought
  • biotic stress
  • climate change

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1569 KiB  
Article
Stem Photosynthesis Affects Hydraulic Resilience in the Deciduous Populusalba but Not in the Evergreen Laurus nobilis
by Patrizia Trifilò, Sara Natale, Sara Gargiulo, Elisa Abate, Valentino Casolo and Andrea Nardini
Water 2021, 13(20), 2911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w13202911 - 16 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
Stem photosynthesis has been suggested to play relevant roles to cope with different biotic and abiotic stress factors, including drought. In the present study, we performed measurements of stem hydraulic conductance and non-structural carbohydrate content in the evergreen Laurus nobilis L. and the [...] Read more.
Stem photosynthesis has been suggested to play relevant roles to cope with different biotic and abiotic stress factors, including drought. In the present study, we performed measurements of stem hydraulic conductance and non-structural carbohydrate content in the evergreen Laurus nobilis L. and the deciduous Populusalba L., subjected to inhibition of stem photosynthesis and successive exposure to a drought-recovery cycle in order to check if stem photosynthesis may be involved in allowing hydraulic recovery after drought stress relief. Stem shading affected the growth of L. nobilis but not of P. alba saplings. By contrast, inhibition of stem photosynthesis was coupled to inhibition of hydraulic recovery following embolism build-up under drought in P. alba but not in L. nobilis. The two study species showed a different content and behavior of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs). The differences in NSCs’ trend and embolism reversal ability led to a significant relationship between starch content and the corresponding hydraulic conductance values in L. nobilis but not in P. alba. Our findings suggest that stem photosynthesis plays a key role in the maintenance of hydraulic functioning during drought especially in the deciduous species. This, in turn, may increase their vulnerability under current global climate change scenarios. Full article
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16 pages, 1452 KiB  
Article
Response of Merlot Grapevine to Drought Is Associated to Adjustments of Growth and Nonstructural Carbohydrates Allocation in above and Underground Organs
by Marco Vuerich, Riccardo Braidotti, Paolo Sivilotti, Giorgio Alberti, Valentino Casolo, Enrico Braidot, Francesco Boscutti, Alberto Calderan and Elisa Petrussa
Water 2021, 13(17), 2336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w13172336 - 26 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2050
Abstract
Studying changes in partitioning of dry matter and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) content in both aboveground and underground perennial tissues in drought-affected grapevines could provide insights into plant response and carbon allocation strategies during stress periods. The analysis of soluble NSC and starch content [...] Read more.
Studying changes in partitioning of dry matter and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) content in both aboveground and underground perennial tissues in drought-affected grapevines could provide insights into plant response and carbon allocation strategies during stress periods. The analysis of soluble NSC and starch content in leaf petioles, due to their role in hydraulic segmentation, should also be considered. In the present research, these aspects have been investigated in Merlot grapevines grown in pots and subjected to progressive and increasing soil dehydration, and in well-irrigated vines. Drought conditions caused drastic reduction of shoot elongation and total plant leaf area development in favor of a greater biomass allocation and partitioning towards roots, where most of the NSC reserves were also conserved. Dry matter content of the perennial organs increased in stressed vines due to growth reduction, allocation of carbon reserves and possible anatomical modifications. Vines subjected to drought showed a higher NSC content in petioles, supporting the hypothesis that they are involved as compatible solutes in osmotic adjustments. Full article
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12 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
Leaf vs. Whole-Plant Biotic Attack: Does Vine Physiological Response Change?
by Tadeja Savi, Jose CaR + Los Herrera and Astrid Forneck
Water 2021, 13(10), 1429; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/w13101429 - 20 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2096
Abstract
Phylloxera is one of the most invasive and widespread insects in viticulture. An increase in populations feeding on leaves and/or roots of formeR + Ly resistant grapevines has been observed, but information on leaf and whole plant phylloxera infestation effects is lacking. We [...] Read more.
Phylloxera is one of the most invasive and widespread insects in viticulture. An increase in populations feeding on leaves and/or roots of formeR + Ly resistant grapevines has been observed, but information on leaf and whole plant phylloxera infestation effects is lacking. We monitored the water and carbon metabolism of vines (one rootstock x scion combination) inoculated with insects’ eggs on leaves (L) or both leaves and roots (R+L). Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) in infested and noninfested tissue of different organs and plant biomass were measured at the end of the experiment. At the peak of the biotic stress treatment, the plants reduced transpiration by about 30% compared to control, while photosynthesis remained unaffected. Lower soluble NSC were measured in infested than in the nearby noninfested tissue of both L and R+L groups, suggesting sugar consumption by the insect, while infested roots increased starch content by fivefold. NSC were depleted in noninfested roots of R+L plants as well, giving strength to the hypothesis of intense metabolites translocation in favor of the insect. A more distinct physiological depression in R+L vines compared to L was highlighted, even if the total biomass reduction was more marked in L plants. Our preliminary results suggest that the insect reprograms plant metabolism stimulating a more conservative water use, while competing with the host plant for carbon resources. Further studies should validate current results and quantify the NSC invested in the plant’s defense against the pest. Full article
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