Alexandre Gonzalez's thesis

Elucidating the processes of dehydration-induced cell death and their relationship to hydraulic failure

Alexandre Gonzalez

Team : Sureau

PhD student GONZALEZ Alexandre

Thesis supervisors :  HERBETTE Stéphane (Directeur de thèse) / José M. Torres-Ruiz (Co-encadrant)

Dates : October 2022 - September 2025

 

Description

Hydraulic failure of the xylem has been identified as a ubiquitous factor in the onset of drought-induced tree mortality. It results in the blockage of water transport from the roots to the leaves, leading to accelerated desiccation of downstream tissues. However, the mechanistic link between hydraulic failure and drought-induced cell damage is still unknown. This thesis aims to elucidate this link in order to improve our predictions of drought-induced tree mortality by focusing on three objectives:

- Testing the relationship between cell mortality and hydraulic failure in species with different drought resistance strategies.

- Evaluate the effect of drought dynamics on the various processes leading to cell death.

- Use innovative imaging techniques in the study of tree physiology.