Linking root and stem hydraulic traits to leaf physiological parameters in Coffea canephora clones with contrasting drought tolerance.

Knowing the key hydraulic traits of different genotypes at early seedling stages can potentially provide crucial information and save time for breeding programs. In the current study we investigated: (1) how root, stem and whole plant conductivities are linked to xylem traits, and (2) how the integrated hydraulic system impacts leaf water potential, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and the growth of three coffee cultivars (clones of Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner cv. Conilon) with known differences in drought tolerance.