Variation in Angiosperm Wood Structure and Its Physiological and Evolutionary Significance

Polar auxin transport is implicated in vessel differentiation and spatial patterning during secondary growth in Populus

“…Physiologically, the size and spatial distribution of vessels in a woody plant is a major determinant of the environments in which it will survive. Vessel diameter, length, grouping, and porosity (i.e., the distribution of diameters throughout a growth increment; IAWA, 1989;Carlquist, 2009) all affect the efficiency with which water is delivered from the roots to the crown, through their combined effects on simple resistance to flow as well as embolism resistance, tolerance, and spread (reviewed by Spicer, 2016). Vessel structure and spatial distribution also affect material properties of wood that are important for utilization, most notably the permeability to gas and liquid, key factors in solvent penetration, enzymatic digestion, lumber drying and steam softening, among other processes (Peralta, 2001).…”

Wood Anatomy of Modern and Fossil Fagales in Relation to Phylogenetic Hypotheses, Familial Classification, and Patterns of Character Evolution

“…We hypothesize that wood anatomy in each of these three major clades shows convergent adaptive specializations toward (1) hydraulic efficiency, associated with simple perforation plates and wide vessels, as found in the earlywood of ring-porous woods (e.g., Spicer 2016;Robert et al 2017), and (2) safety, associated with sectored xylem networks as caused by broad or aggregate rays and/or vessel patterning in radial, diagonal, or dendritic sectors that may facilitate bypassing areas with embolized vessels and also confine infections (Carlquist 1987(Carlquist , 2009Zanne et al 2006;Morris et al 2016). However, not all of these adaptations have evolved in each of the three clades.…”

Axial sampling height outperforms site as predictor of wood trait variation

“…This strategy should minimize the number of water-filled vessels that are disconnected from the bulk sap stream, leading to a more efficient water transport mechanism in T. aurea (Mrad et al 2018;Jacobsen & Pratt 2018). The wood of T. formosa, on the other hand, has vascular tracheids at the end of growth rings (Dória et al 2016), which can form a subsidiary conductive system in case too many of the mainly solitary vessels are embolized due to drought stress (Carlquist 1984(Carlquist , 2001Spicer 2016).…”