Effects of soil rewatering on mesophyll and stomatal conductance and the associated mechanisms involving leaf anatomy and some physiological activities in Manchurian ash and Mongolian oak in the Changbai Mountains

The recoveries of mesophyll (gm) and stomatal conductance to CO2 (gsc) after soil rewatering have received considerable attention in recent years, but the recovery mechanisms involving leaf anatomy and physiological activities are poorly understood. Moreover, it is also unclear whether leaf gas-phase conductance (gias) or liquid-phase conductance (gliq) is the main factor promoting gm recovery. By simultaneously using gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, we measured the recoveries of gm and gsc in saplings of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) and Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fish. ex Ledeb) exposed to two initial water stress (medium water stress, MW, and severe water stress, SW) and following rewatering. Furthermore, leaf anatomical characteristics and the activities of aquaporin (AQP) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) were measured to explain the mechanisms of gm and gsc recoveries. The results showed that (i) both gm and gsc were partly recovered after rewatering, and the recoveries decreased with initial water stress in both species. (ii) The gm recovery was much greater in Mongolian oak than in Manchurian ash, while the gsc recovery was much greater in Manchurian ash. Consequently, the photosynthesis recovery in Manchurian ash was mostly affected by gsc recovery, while that in Mongolian oak was mostly affected by gm recovery. (iii) The gm recovery mainly resulted from the great increase in leaf gliq after rewatering rather than that in gias, as gias had a negative effect on gm recovery. The stomatal opening status improved after rewatering, as the stomatal pore size (SS) increased, greatly promoting gsc recovery. In addition, the activities of both AQP and CA increased after rewatering, which improved CO2 transmembrane transports and greatly promoted gm and gsc recoveries.