Genetic variation in leaf morphology does not affect plant response to high vapor pressure deficit in oil palm
Abstract
Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is a key driver of leaf transpiration and plays a crucial role in regulating water transport in plants. Elevated VPD often induces morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses that can impact plant performance and crop yields. This study aimed to investigate the genetic variability of oil palm responses to high VPD through two controlled experiments. Six oil palm progenies at an early growth stage were evaluated under low and high VPD conditions in glasshouses with tightly regulated air temperature, humidity, and irrigation to maintain non-limiting soil moisture, isolating the effects of VPD from soil water deficit. Phenological, morphological, ecophysiological, biochemical, and candidate gene expression analyses were conducted to assess progeny-specific responses. The results revealed distinct morphological differences in leaf traits among progenies that remained consistent under both VPD treatments, although total leaf area was similar across progenies. Significant effect of VPD on daily evapotranspiration was observed during both years, while the progeny effect was either absent or minimal. To limit water loss under high VPD, progenies reduced stomatal conductance, demonstrating a common adaptive response to elevated VPD. Biomass allocation patterns were progeny-specific and, along with carbon assimilation rates, remained stable regardless of VPD level. However, one progeny (G02) exhibited distinct behavior, with both stomatal conductance and water use efficiency not affected under high VPD, and a greater plasticity on carbon allocation to leaves. Overall, our results identify clear between-progeny morphological diversity and emerging progeny-specific responses to high VPD, but do not yet identify a single juvenile trait that reliably predicts whole-plant response.
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BibTeX
@article{lescroart2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic variation in leaf morphology does not affect plant response to high vapor pressure deficit in oil palm}},
author = {Laura Lescroart and Marcel de Raïssac and Michel Cazemajor and Sandrine Roques and Armelle Sotillo and Grégory Aguilar and Thomas Laisne and Maëva Miranda and Lauriane Rouan and Fabienne Morcillo and Estelle Jaligot and Raphaël Perez},
journal = {Environmental and Experimental Botany},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106444},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05774786v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genetic variation in leaf morphology does not affect plant response to high vapor pressure deficit in oil palm
AU - Laura Lescroart
AU - Marcel de Raïssac
AU - Michel Cazemajor
AU - Sandrine Roques
AU - Armelle Sotillo
AU - Grégory Aguilar
AU - Thomas Laisne
AU - Maëva Miranda
AU - Lauriane Rouan
AU - Fabienne Morcillo
AU - Estelle Jaligot
AU - Raphaël Perez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Environmental and Experimental Botany
DO - 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106444
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05774786v1
AB - Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is a key driver of leaf transpiration and plays a crucial role in regulating water transport in plants. Elevated VPD often induces morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses that can impact plant performance and crop yields. This study aimed to investigate the genetic variability of oil palm responses to high VPD through two controlled experiments. Six oil palm progenies at an early growth stage were evaluated under low and high VPD conditions in glasshouses with tightly regulated air temperature, humidity, and irrigation to maintain non-limiting soil moisture, isolating the effects of VPD from soil water deficit. Phenological, morphological, ecophysiological, biochemical, and candidate gene expression analyses were conducted to assess progeny-specific responses. The results revealed distinct morphological differences in leaf traits among progenies that remained consistent under both VPD treatments, although total leaf area was similar across progenies. Significant effect of VPD on daily evapotranspiration was observed during both years, while the progeny effect was either absent or minimal. To limit water loss under high VPD, progenies reduced stomatal conductance, demonstrating a common adaptive response to elevated VPD. Biomass allocation patterns were progeny-specific and, along with carbon assimilation rates, remained stable regardless of VPD level. However, one progeny (G02) exhibited distinct behavior, with both stomatal conductance and water use efficiency not affected under high VPD, and a greater plasticity on carbon allocation to leaves. Overall, our results identify clear between-progeny morphological diversity and emerging progeny-specific responses to high VPD, but do not yet identify a single juvenile trait that reliably predicts whole-plant response.
SN - 0098-8472
SN - 1873-7307
ER -