Measuring plant hydraulic conductance and xylem vulnerability under close to natural conditions

• DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2675
• Publication Date: 2020-03-09T14:34:22Z
• Authors: Louis Krieger; Stanislaus Schyma...
• Keywords: Water Transport

<p>Usually hydraulic conductance and vulnerability are measured under extreme conditions never experienced by living plants (e. g. centrifugation, bench dehydration, large pressure gradients). A common factor that is known to inhibit the water transport in cavitation, which believed occur either air entry through pit valves on walls of xylem, or ex-solution dissolved gases, vaporization at very low pressures. Various physical characteristics xylem influence efficiency cavitation.</p><p>Here we explore possibilities measure induce cavitation close natural conditions. We designed a simple “artificial plant” consisting root transpiring membrane, equipped with flow meters, where twig can be inserted path its conductance. Attempts resulted surprising results, provoking new questions role structural traits their relevance for plants.</p>