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Table 2 Means of anatomical characteristics and specific axial conductivity (k s and k s theo) of small-diameter roots of the five species studied

From: Hydraulic properties and embolism in small-diameter roots of five temperate broad-leaved tree species with contrasting drought tolerance

Species/Root number

Root diameter (mm)

Xylem areaa (%)

Lumen areaa (%)

Lumen area (mm2)

Vessel density (n mm−2)

Vessel diameter (μm)

k s (kg MPa−1 s−1 m−2)

k s (median)

k s theo (kg MPa−1 s−1 m−2)

Loss of root conductivity (%)

Fagus

          

  Mean

3.20 ± 0.17 a

63.2 ± 2.1 ac

16.9 ± 0.8 a

0.91 ± 0.11 a

114 ± 6 a

42.3 ± 1.4 a

13.03 ± 1.40 a

10.29

17.80 ± 2.04 a

18.6 ± 2.5 a

  3–2

3.58

41.0

19.7

0.81

57

61.19

46.67

 

46.23

4.1

  6–11

2.57

49.7

18.2

0.47

63

55.60

43.70

 

37.72

9.6

Acer

          

  Mean

3.12 ± 0.15 a

58.0 ± 1.5 a

10.3 ± 0.7 b

0.47 ± 0.05 b

81 ± 6 b

38.7 ± 1.7 ab

3.91 ± 0.51 b

2.75

9.67 ± 1.19 b

16.3 ± 2.4 a

  2–7

2.61

54.9

13.9

0.41

62

49.68

22.29

 

23.17

5.8

Tilia

          

  Mean

3.07 ± 0.14 a

47.5 ± 2.2 b

17.8 ± 1.4 a

0.66 ± 0.10 b

118 ± 6 a

41.9 ± 1.9 a

10.38 ± 1.66 a

6.35

19.81 ± 3.19 a

9.3 ± 2.5 b

  4–7

3.47

69.4

24.8

1.62

143

44.13

28.07

 

29.63

4.5

  5–8

2.81

37.9

28.2

0.66

124

50.97

20.91

 

40.73

8.0

  5–12

3.21

31.6

27.6

0.70

114

53.16

19.90

 

42.24

18.4

Carpinus

          

  Mean

3.28 ± 0.22 a

66.4 ± 2.0 c

10.8 ± 1.6 b

0.69 ± 0.16 b

78 ± 7 b

38.7 ± 1.7 ab

8.82 ± 1.64 c

4.30

11.52 ± 2.84 b

16.2 ± 2.5 a

  2–3

3.26

60.7

31.7

1.60

139

51.15

33.49

 

47.88

6.0

  4–3

5.23

72.7

19.5

3.02

65

57.73

43.34

 

39.92

2.3

Fraxinus b

          

  Mean

3.50 ± 0.14 a

42.2 ± 1.3 b

5.8 ± 0.4 c

0.26 ± 0.03 c

53 ± 2 c

35.0 ± 1.1 b

4.48 ± 0.77 b

2.20

5.11 ± 0.67 c

18.7 ± 2.2 a

  1. In addition to the means, the properties of one to three “high-conductivity roots” are also given in four of the five species. The first number identifies the tree individual, the second one after the hyphen the root segment. Different small letters indicate significant differences between the species (p < 0.05). In case of mean values, the standard error is also given
  2. aIn percent of root cross-sectional area
  3. bNo “high-conductivity roots” were subjected to anatomical analysis in Fraxinus
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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X