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5 - Refilling of embolized xylem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

J. Grace
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, The University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JU, UK.
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Summary

SUMMARY

The water content of xylem has often been shown to undergo seasonal and even diurnal fluctuations, apparently in response to changes in trans pi rational flux. When the water content declines, it may be the result of cavitation in water in tracheids or simply indicative of water menisci receding into the tapered ends of already-cavitated tracheids. Similarly, an increase in water content may be caused by movement of menisci and/or complete refilling of tracheids. Recent experiments suggest that parenchyma has no role in the refilling process. Rather, refilling is brought about by the dissolving of trapped gas in the tracheids as the menisci adjust their position in response to the water potential.

INTRODUCTION

It has long been known that the water content of the woody tissues of trees undergo seasonal fluctuations, but the fact was overlooked in most discussion of the theory of water transport and little attention was given to the underlying processes. Some of the most convincing early data illustrating the phenomenon were provided by Gibbs, working on Canadian forest trees in the 1930s (Gibbs, 1958). He showed that the wood of young trees of Betula populiferaunderwent an annual cycle of water content, varying from 100 per cent of dry weight in the early spring to as little as 60 per cent in the late summer (Fig. 1). Fluctuations were most extreme, and earlier in the season, in the upper part of the stem; and the rise in the spring was immediately after the thawing of the soil.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1993

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  • Refilling of embolized xylem
    • By J. Grace, Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, The University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JU, UK.
  • Edited by M. Borghetti, J. Grace, A. Raschi
  • Book: Water Transport in Plants under Climatic Stress
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511753305.006
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  • Refilling of embolized xylem
    • By J. Grace, Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, The University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JU, UK.
  • Edited by M. Borghetti, J. Grace, A. Raschi
  • Book: Water Transport in Plants under Climatic Stress
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511753305.006
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Refilling of embolized xylem
    • By J. Grace, Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, The University of Edinburgh, Darwin Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JU, UK.
  • Edited by M. Borghetti, J. Grace, A. Raschi
  • Book: Water Transport in Plants under Climatic Stress
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511753305.006
Available formats
×