Measuring plant hydraulic conductivity: Should we push or should we pull?

<p>Usually hydraulic conductance and vulnerability are measured under extreme conditions never experienced by living plants (e. g. centrifugation, bench dehydration, and large pressure gradients). A common factor that is known to inhibit the water transport in plants is embolism, which is believed to occur either by air entry through the pit valves on the walls of the xylem, or by ex-solution of dissolved gases, or vaporization of water at very low pressures.</p><p>Here we explore possibilities to measure hydraulic conductance and induce embolism under close to natural conditions. The setup consists of a syringe pump to control water flow, where a twig is inserted in the flow path to measure its hydraulic conductivity using pressure and flow meters. This setup has enabled us to imitate natural conditions where transpiration rate induces a pressure difference between the sink (leaf) and source (root) along the flow path. It has also allowed us to induce flow in both directions through the twig without having to rotate or change out the sample. Using our setup, we found that the conductivity of the same twig was 50% lower when pulling compared to pushing. This can be explained by the emptying and filling of cut end vessels and the pressure gradient along the twig, which is induced by the flow rate and flow direction. Our findings are discussed in the context that currently employed methods for measuring wood hydraulic conductance employ either centrifugation, where water is pulled on both ends, or pushing of water by applying positive pressure on one end.</p>

Hydraulic Conductivity Characteristics of Desert Plant Organs: Coping with Drought Tolerance Strategy

Plant hydraulic conductivity (K) refers to the rate of water flow (kg s−1) per unit pressure drop (MPa), which drives flow through the plant organ system. It is an important eco-physiology index for measuring plant water absorption and transport capacity. A field study was conducted in the arid region of the Heihe River Basin in northwestern China, plant hydraulic conductivity was measured by high-pressure flowmeter (HPFM) to investigate the characteristics of hydraulic conductivity of typical dominant desert plants (Reaumuria soongarica M., Nitraria sphaerocarpa M., and Sympegma regelii B.) and their relationship with functional traits of leaves, stems, and roots, and explaining their adaptation strategies to desert environment from the perspective of plant organs hydraulic conductivity. The results showed that the hydraulic conductivity of the leaves and stems of R. soongarica and N. sphaerocarpa (KLA, leaf hydraulic conductivity per unit leaf area; KLW, leaf hydraulic conductivity per unit leaf weight; KSLA, stem hydraulic conductivity per unit leaf area; KSLW, stem hydraulic conductivity per unit leaf weight) were significantly lower than those of S. regelii, while their fine root (KRL, root hydraulic conductivity per unit leaf length; KRSA, root hydraulic conductivity per unit root surface area) and whole root (KTRW, whole root hydraulic conductivity per unit root weight) of hydraulic conductivity were significantly higher than those of S. regelii. In addition, KLA and KLW, KSLA and KSLW, and KRL and KRSA in three desert plants all exhibited consistent trends. Correlation analysis illustrated that the hydraulic conductivity of leaves and stems had a significantly positive correlation, but they had no significant negative correlation with the specific leaf weight (SLW, specific leaf weight). The hydraulic conductivity of fine root weight (KRW, root hydraulic conductivity per unit root weight) and specific root surface area (SRSA, specific root surface area) showed significantly positive correlation (r = 0.727, P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the R. soongarica and N. sphaerocarpa preserved their water content through the strong leaf absorption capacity of soil water and the low water dispersion rates of leaves to adapt to the harsher arid habitat, which is more drought tolerant than S. regelii.

The Impact of CO2 Enrichment on Water Relations in Maranthes corymbosa and Eucalyptus tetrodonta

Seeds of Maranthes corymbosa Blume and Eucalyptus tetrodonta F.Muell were sown under ambient or CO2 enriched conditions (two replicate tents per treatment) in tropical Australia and allowed to grow, rooted in the ground, for 20 months. For both species, periodic measurements of leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature were made on four replicate leaves on each of four replicate trees within each tent. Measurements were made in November (M. corymbosa) and June (E. tetrodonta). At the same time, atmospheric wet and dry bulb temperatures were recorded and hence leaf-to-air vapour presure difference (LAVPD) calculated. Measurements of pre-dawn leaf water potential were also made on E. tetrodonta. Leaves were also taken to the laboratory, rehydrated to full turgor and pressure-volume analyses undertaken. For M. corymbosa, leaf water potential was lower throughout the day for control leaves compared to leaves growing in CO2 enriched air. Similarly, pre dawn leaf water potential was lower for control E. tetrodonta trees than for trees grown with CO2 enrichment. However, mid-morning and mid-afternoon values of leaf water potential for E. tetrodonta were slightly lower for plants growing in CO2 enriched air compared to control plants. In both species, stomatal conductance was consistently lower for trees grown in CO2 enriched air than for controls. Whole plant hydraulic conductivity of both species was significantly lower for trees grown in CO2 enriched air than for control trees. For both species, maximum turgor and bulk volumetric elastic modulus increased and osmotic potential at zero turgor decreased for trees grown in CO2 enriched air.