Stomatal and xylem plasticity, not growth rate, determines white spruce resilience to warmer and drier climates
Bridget K. Murphy, Noelle Perkins, Fatima Nagi, Siyu Wang, Tyler Muchos, Julia A. Boyle, Nathalie Isabel, Ingo Ensminger
This study shows that white spruce resilience to warmer and drier climates depends on stomatal and xylem plasticity, not growth rate, as both fast- and slow-growing families exhibited similar physiological responses.
bioRxiv · Sep 3, 2026 · PreprintPlant Biology