Water relations and anatomical features of xylem vessels of mistletoes (Viscum album L. subsp. coloratum Kom.) and their hosts

Abstract

We compared midday leaf water potentials, transpiration rates, leaf osmotic potentials at saturation and xylem hydraulic architectures between mistletoes (Viscum album L. subsp. coloratum Kom.) and their hosts. In V. album, their transpiration rates were higher, and their vessel inner diameters, xylem hydraulic conductivities, leaf osmotic potentials and water potentials at turgor loss point were lower than their hosts. Therefore, their midday water potentials could become lower than that of their hosts.