Effects of artificial defoliation soon after leaf flushing simulating insect damage on both xylem hydraulic conductivity and fine-root mass of Japanese beech saplings

Abstract

Leaves of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) saplings were clipped at different intensities soon after leaf flushing to investigate the effects of leaf-feeding insect-damage on both xylem hydraulic conductivity of current-year shoots and fine-root mass. The xylem vessel mean inner diameter decreased and the vessel density increased as clipping intensity increased. The specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) decreased as clipping intensity increased. The ratio of leaves to fine-root mass was strongly negatively correlated, with fine-root mass decreasing as clipping intensity increased.