Data from: A meta-analysis of plant tissue O2 dynamics

This dataset includes 1,567 recorded tissue O₂ levels from 112 plant species extracted from published literature. The data forms the basis of the publication "A meta-analysis of plant tissue O₂ dynamics" with the following abstract:

Adequate tissue O₂ supply is crucial for plant functioning. We therefore aimed at identifying environmental conditions and plant characteristics affecting plant tissue O₂ status. We extracted data and performed meta-analysis on > 1,500 published tissue O₂ measurements from 112 species. Tissue O₂ status ranged from anoxic conditions in especially roots, to > 53 kPa in submerged, photosynthesizing shoots. Using information-theoretic model selection, we identified 'submergence', 'light', 'tissue type' as well as 'light × submergence' interaction as significant drivers of tissue O₂ status. Median O₂ status was especially low (< 50% of atmospheric equilibrium) in belowground rhizomes, potato tubers and root nodules. Mean shoot and root O₂ was ~25% higher in light than in dark when shoots had atmospheric contact. However, light showed a significant interaction with submergence on plant O₂, with a submergence-induced 44% increase in light, compared with a 42% decline in dark, relative to plants with atmospheric contact. During submergence, ambient water column O₂ and shoot tissue O₂ correlated stronger in darkness than in light conditions. Although miniaturised Clark-type O₂ electrodes in particular have resulted in enhanced understanding of plant O₂ dynamics, the use of non-invasive methods is still lacking behind its widespread use in mammalian tissues.