Zweifel Roman

Drone-based physiological index reveals long-term acclimation and drought stress responses in trees

Project Number: Parcs Data Center 43812 / 4D CH-7112

Project Type:	Research_Project
Project Duration:	01/01/2021 - 06/12/2021
Funding Source:	other ,
Leading Institution:	WSL, Birmensdorf
Project Leader:	Dr. Roman Zweifel Walddynamik WSL Zürcherstrasse 111 8903 Birmensdorf Phone: ; +41 (0) 44 739 21 11 FAX: +41 (0) 44 739 22 15 e-Mail: roman.zweifel(at)natkon.ch http://www.wsl.ch/forschung/forschungsunits/walddynamik/index_DE

related to this project.

for which the project has a relevance.

Research Areas:

Biodiversity

Disciplines:

general biology

Abstract:
Monitoring early tree physiological responses to drought is key to understanding progressive impacts of drought on forests and identifying resilient species. We combined drone-based multispectral remote sensing with measurements of tree physiology and environmental parameters over two growing seasons in a 100-yold Pinus sylvestris forest subject to 17-y of precipitation manipulation. Our goal was to determine if drone-based photochemical reflectance index (PRI) captures tree drought stress responses and whether responses are affected by long-term acclimation. PRI detects changes in xanthophyll cycle pigment dynamics, which reflect increases in photoprotective non-photochemical quenching activity resulting from drought-induced photosynthesis downregulation. Here, PRI of never-irrigated trees was up to 10 times lower (higher stress) than PRI of irrigated trees. Long-term acclimation to experimental treatment, however, influenced the seasonal relationship between PRI and soil water availability. PRI also captured diurnal decreases in photochemical efficiency, driven by vapour pressure deficit. Interestingly, 5 years after irrigation was stopped for a subset of the irrigated trees, a positive legacy effect persisted, with lower stress responses (higher PRI) compared with never-irrigated trees. This study demonstrates the ability of remotely sensed PRI to scale tree physiological responses to an entire forest and the importance of long-term acclimation in determining current drought stress responses.

Publications:
D'Odorico P. et al. (2021): Drone-based physiological index reveals long-term acclimation and drought stress responses in trees. Plant Cell Environ. 2021;44:3552–3570.
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Last update: 4/1/22
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-7112

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