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.