Unexpectedly low δ¹³C in leaves, branches, stems and roots of three acacia species growing in hyper-arid environments

Aims In plant eco-physiology, less negative (enriched) carbon 13 (¹³C) in the leaves indicates conditions of reducing leaf gas exchange through stomata, e.g. under drought. In addition, ¹³C is expected to be less negative in non-photosynthetic tissues as compared with leaves. However, these relationships in δ¹³C from leaves (photosynthetic organs) to branches, stems and roots (non-photosynthetic organs) are rarely tested across multiple closely related tree species, multiple compartments, or in trees growing under extreme heat and drought. Methods We measured leaf-to-root ¹³C in three closely related desert acacia species (Acacia tortilis, A. raddiana and A. pachyceras). We measured δ¹³C in leaf tissues from mature trees in southern Israel. In parallel, a 7-year irrigation experiment with 0.5, 1.0 or 4.0 L day^-1was conducted in an experimental orchard. At the end of the experiment, growth parameters and δ¹³C were measured in leaves, branches, stems and roots. Important Findings The δ¹³C in leaf tissues sampled from mature trees was ca. -27‰, far more depleted than expected from a desert tree growing in one of the Earth's driest and hottest environments. Across acacia species and compartments, δ¹³C was not enriched at all irrigation levels (-28‰ to ca. -27‰), confirming our measurements in the mature trees. Among compartments, leaf δ¹³C was unexpectedly similar to branch and root δ¹³C, and surprisingly, even less negative than stem δ¹³C. The highly depleted leaf δ¹³C suggests that these trees have high stomatal gas exchange, despite growing in extremely dry habitats. The lack of δ¹³C enrichment in nonphotosynthetic tissues might be related to the seasonal coupling of growth of leaves and heterotrophic tissues.