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Increases in Water Potential Gradient Reduce Xylem Conductivity in Whole Plants. Evidence from a Low-Pressure Conductivity Method
Citation
Brodribb, TJ and Hill, RS, Increases in Water Potential Gradient Reduce Xylem Conductivity in Whole Plants. Evidence from a Low-Pressure Conductivity Method, Plant Physiology, 123, (3) pp. 1021-1028. ISSN 0032-0889 (2000) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1104/pp.123.3.1021
Abstract
A new method using hydrostatic suctions (less than 0.02 MPa) was used to measure whole-root conductivity (K(r)) in saplings of two angiosperm pioneer trees (Eucalyptus regnans and Toona australis) and two rainforest conifers (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides and Nageia fleurii). The resultant K(r) was combined with measurements of stem and leaf hydraulic conductivity to calculate whole-plant conductivity and to predict leaf water potential (Ψ1) during transpiration. At normal soil temperatures there was good agreement between measured and predicted Ψ1 during transpiration in all species. Changes in the soil-to-leaf water potential gradient were produced by root chilling, and in three of the four species, changes in Ψ1 corresponded to those expected by the effect of increased water viscosity on K(r). In one species, however, root chilling produced severe plant wilting and a decline in Ψ1 significantly below the predicted value. In this species Ψ1 decreased to a value close to, or below, the Ψ1 at 50% xylem cavitation. It is concluded that decreased whole-plant conductivity in T. australis resulted from a decrease in xylem conductivity due to stress-induced cavitation.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Plant biology |
Research Field: | Plant physiology |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences |
UTAS Author: | Brodribb, TJ (Professor Tim Brodribb) |
ID Code: | 20119 |
Year Published: | 2000 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 38 |
Deposited By: | Plant Science |
Deposited On: | 2000-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-04 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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