The increasing frequency of drought and heatwaves due to global climate change poses a severe threat to desert vegetation. However, the mechanisms by which desert shrubs coordinate hydraulic safety and thermal-tolerance to cope with compound drought-heat stress remain unclear. Five sympatric Tamarix species in the arid region of Northwest China were investigated in this study. By combining 24 h field measurements of gas exchange parameters and leaf water potential with the determinations of physiological traits(xylem embolism vulnerability(P50), turgor loss point(Ψtlp), and semi-lethal high temperature(LT50)), we systematically evaluated their adaptive strategies. The results showed that: (1)There was significant interspecific differentiation in drought and heat resistance among the five species. Tamarix hispida exhibited the strongest embolism resistance(P50=-2.20 MPa) and thermal tolerance(LT50=66.5 ℃), while T. hohenackeri showed the highest gas exchange rates but the weakest resistance. (2)Thermal tolerance(LT50) was significantly negatively correlated with embolism resistance(P50) and significantly positively correlated hydraulic safety margins(HSM), confirming a high degree of coordinated adaptation rather than a trade-off between hydraulic safety and thermal tolerance in desert plants. (3)Principal Component Analysis(PC1 explained 92.4%) revealed a continuous spectrum of adaptive strategies: ranging from an “Acquisitive-Cooling” strategy represented by T.hohenackeri, to a “Conservative-Tolerance” strategy represented by T.hispida. This study reveals niche differentiation mechanisms based on hydraulic-thermal coupling and highlights the importance of prioritizing species with “Conservative-Tolerance” strategies for vegetation restoration under future hotter and drier climate scenarios.
水分传输系统的安全性是限制植物在干旱生境中生存的首要因子。根据内聚力-张力理论(cohesion-tension theory),土壤干旱会导致植物木质部张力增加。当负压超过临界阈值时,气泡会进入导管引起空穴化和栓塞(embolism),阻断水分运输,最终导致植物因水力失效(hydraulic failure)而死亡[8-9]。导水率丧失50%时的水势(water potential at 50% loss of conductivity,P50)被公认为评价植物抗栓塞能力的核心指标。此外,植物在自然生境中的实际水势与木质部发生栓塞的水势阈值(P50)之间的差值,即水力安全边界(hydraulic safety margin,HSM),更能准确反映植物在特定环境下的水力风险程度。水力安全边界可根据研究目的,采用植物实际运行水势与不同关键生理阈值之间的距离进行表征。本研究关注植物实际正午水势距离膨压丧失阈值的安全程度,因此采用基于膨压丧失点的水力安全边界进行评价[10]。然而,传统的抗旱研究往往侧重于单一的水分维度,而忽视了高温在加速水力失效中的催化作用。在高温环境下,植物面临着蒸腾降温与水分保持之间的生理权衡[11-12]。叶片气孔的开放虽然能维持光合作用并通过蒸腾带走热量,从而避免叶片过热灼伤,但这会加速植物体内水分消耗,增加木质部栓塞的风险[13]。反之,如果植物为了保水而关闭气孔,虽然降低了水力风险,但叶温会迅速升高并可能超过细胞膜热稳定性的阈值——高温半致死温度(semi-lethal high temperature,LT50),导致光合机构受损甚至叶片坏死[14]。因此,植物必须在维持水力安全和避免热损伤之间寻求某种平衡[15]。
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