Foliage development and resource allocation determine the growth responses of silver birch (Betula pendula) to elevated environmental humidity.

Scenarios for future climate predict an increase in precipitation amounts and frequency of rain events, resulting in higher air humidity and soil moisture at high latitudes, including in northern Europe. We analysed the effects of artificially elevated environmental humidity (air relative humidity and soil moisture) on leaf gas exchange, water relations, growth and phenology of silver birch (Betula pendula) trees growing at the Free Air Humidity Manipulation (FAHM) experimental site situated in the hemiboreal vegetation zone, in eastern Estonia, with no occurring water deficit to the trees. The environmental humidity manipulation did not significantly affect the water relations traits but did affect some leaf gas exchange parameters, growth and phenology of the trees.

Growth ranking of hybrid aspen genotypes and its linkage to leaf gas exchange.

Background: Afforestation of non-forestland is a new measure by the European Union to enhance climate mitigation and biodiversity. Hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P.

Phytoremediation capacity of hybrid aspen at sites affected by industry and agriculture.

Fast-growing Populus spp. are well-acknowledged to restore contaminated soils from heavy metals in industrial areas. Thus far, there is no knowledge about the phytoremediation capacity of Populus spp.

Plasticity and light sensitivity of leaf hydraulic conductance to fast changes in irradiance in common hazel (Corylus avellana L.).

Forest understory species have to acclimatize to highly heterogeneous light conditions inside forest canopies in order to utilize available resources efficiently. Light sensitivity and response speed of hydraulic conductance (K) of common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) to fast changes in irradiance was studied in leaves from three different growth light conditions-sun-exposed, moderate shade, and deep shade.

Circadian patterns of xylem sap properties and their covariation with plant hydraulic traits in hybrid aspen.

Physiological processes taking place in plants are subject to diverse circadian patterns but some of them are poorly documented in natural conditions. The daily dynamics of physico-chemical properties of xylem sap and their covariation with tree hydraulic traits were investigated in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L.×P.

Elevated air humidity affects hydraulic traits and tree size but not biomass allocation in young silver birches (Betula pendula).

As changes in air temperature, precipitation, and air humidity are expected in the coming decades, studies on the impact of these environmental shifts on plant growth and functioning are of major importance. Greatly understudied aspects of climate change include consequences of increasing air humidity on forest ecosystems, predicted for high latitudes. The main objective of this study was to find a link between hydraulic acclimation and shifts in trees' resource allocation in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in response to elevated air relative humidity (RH).

When smaller is better: leaf hydraulic conductance and drought vulnerability correlate to leaf size and venation density across four Coffea arabica genotypes.

Leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) and drought vulnerability in terms of leaf water potential inducing 50% loss of Kleaf (P50), were assessed in four genotypes of Coffea arabica L. We tested three hypotheses: (1) leaf P50 is lower in small leaves with higher vein densities; (2) lower P50 translates into lower Kleaf, limiting gas exchange rates and higher leaf mass per unit area (LMA); (3) P50 values are coordinated with symplastic drought tolerance. We found partial support for Hypotheses 1 and 3, but not for Hypothesis 2.

Rapid and long-term effects of water deficit on gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of silver birch trees grown under varying atmospheric humidity.

Background: Effects of water deficit on plant water status, gas exchange and hydraulic conductance were investigated in Betula pendula under artificially manipulated air humidity in Eastern Estonia. The study was aimed to broaden an understanding of the ability of trees to acclimate with the increasing atmospheric humidity predicted for northern Europe. Rapidly-induced water deficit was imposed by dehydrating cut branches in open-air conditions; long-term water deficit was generated by seasonal drought.