Hydraulic Coupling of a Leafless Kauri Tree Remnant to Conspecific Hosts.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Bader MK
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6831820 | biostudies-other | 2019 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Publications
Hydraulic Coupling of a Leafless Kauri Tree Remnant to Conspecific Hosts.
iScience 20190725
Trees are commonly regarded as distinct entities, but the roots of many species fuse to form natural root grafts allowing the exchange of water, carbon, mineral nutrients, and microorganisms between individuals. Exploiting the phenomenon of leafless (photosynthetically inactive) tree remnants being kept alive by conspecifics, we show tight physiological coupling of a living kauri (Agathis australis) stump to conspecific neighbors. The trunk remnant displayed greatly reduced, inverted daily sap f ...[more]
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