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We acknowledge funding from MICINN (RTI2018-094691-B-C31), the National Natural Science Foundation in China(31850410483), the talent proposals in Sichuan Province (2020JDRC0065), and from Southwest University of Science and Technology (18ZX7131). EG is supported by MCIU/AEI/FEDER,UE [Postdoctoral Contract (IJCI-201732511)]. DAF is supported by INIA [FPI contract (BES-2017-081208)]. The study is also supported by INIA [grant number (RTA2015-00054C02-01)], by MCIU [grant number (PID2019-106701RR-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)] and by Gobierno de Aragon [research group (H09_20R)]. MJA was supported by USDA-NIFA, AFRI (award number: 2019-67013-33895).

Analysis of institutional authors

Alonso-Forn, DAuthorPeguero-Pina, JjAuthorSancho-Knapik, DAuthorGil-Pelegrin, EAuthor

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July 5, 2021
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Article
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Leaf vein density enhances vascular redundancy instead of carbon uptake at the expense of increasing water leaks in oaks

Publicated to:Environmental And Experimental Botany. 188 104527- - 2021-08-01 188(), DOI: j.envexpbot.2021.104527

Authors: de Dios, Victor Resco; Alonso-Forn, David; Peguero-Pina, Jose Javier; Sancho-Knapik, Domingo; Gil-Pelegrin, Eustaquio; Aspinwall, Michael J; Blackman, Chris; Williams, David G; Granda, Elena

Affiliations

Auburn Univ, Sch Forestry & Wildlife Sci, Auburn, AL 36849 USA - Author
Gobierno Aragon, Ctr Invest & Tecnol Agroalimentaria Aragon, Unidad Recursos Forestales, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
INRA, PIAF, UMR547, F-63100 Clermont Ferrand, France - Author
Southwest Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Life Sci & Engn, Mianyang, Sichuan, Peoples R China - Author
Univ Alcala De Henares, Dept Life Sci, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Lleida, Dept Crop & Forest Sci, Lleida, Spain - Author
Univ Lleida, Joint Res Unit CTFC AGROTECNIO, Lleida, Spain - Author
Univ Wyoming, Dept Bot, Laramie, WY 82071 USA - Author
Univ Zaragoza, CITA, Inst Agroalimentario Aragon IA2, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Predicting plant growth from functional traits has been a long-term goal of experimental botany. Early studies considered that resource traits align across a single axis, from high to low growth rates. The drivers of nocturnal and cuticular leaf conductances have received much recent attention, but how they align with other functional traits along axes of resource use remains to be investigated. Here we examined correlated evolution of secondary growth, leaf economic, stomatal, venation and gas exchange traits across 12 Quercus species growing in a common garden. Variation in growth correlated with variation in assimilation and nocturnal conductance (gn). Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis of a negative relationship between SLA and leaf vein density (VLAall) within oaks, indicating that increased VLAall is a strategy to enhance leaf vascular redundancy against stress or perturbation as the degree of sclerophylly increases. gn was negatively correlated with growth and decoupled from daytime conductance and photosynthesis. gn seemed to be a passive process in this genus, apparently driven by enhanced water supply that results from increased VLAall. We also observed a positive relationship between leaf vein density and cuticular conductance, indicating that increasing VLAall may incur significant water costs under strong drought.

Keywords

Correlated evolutionCuticular conductanceCuticular transpirationDeciduous treeDroughtEvolutionGrowth rateLeaf areaLeaf vein densityNocturnal activityNocturnal conductanceNocturnal stomatal conductanceOaksPlant growthQuercusStomataStomatal conductanceToleranceTrait coordinationVenation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Environmental And Experimental Botany due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 23/239, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Plant Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-07-11:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 3

Impact and social visibility

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: China; France; United States of America.