The rates of starch depletion and hydraulic failure both play a role in drought-induced seedling mortality

Key message

The elapsed times to deplete starch concentrations and to reach a null hydraulic safety margin were related to tree seedling mortality under experimental drought. Starch concentration showed an accelerated decline across all species during the early stages of dehydration, while the concentrations of soluble sugars and total nonstructural carbohydrates remained stable. Concomitant carbohydrate depletion and hydraulic failure drive seedling mortality under drought.

Keywords
Embolism vulnerability; Fructose; Nonstructural carbohydrates; Hydraulic safety margin; Light environment; Sucrose

Publication
Trueba, S., Muñoz, N.G., Burlett, R. et al. The rates of starch depletion and hydraulic failure both play a role in drought-induced seedling mortality. Annals of Forest Science 81, 27 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01246-7

Data and/or Code availability
Raw datasets are available here: https://doi.org/10.57745/URI8QC.

Handling Editor
Maurizio Mencuccini