Direct Measurements of the Pressure and Flow in the Xylem Vessels of Nicotiana tabacum and their Dependence on Flow Resistance and Transpiration Rate

Abstract

AbstractThe relationships between xylem tension, velocity of water ascending and transpiration in tobacco plants were measured by means of the “xylem pressure probe technique” (Balling, A. and Zimmermann, U., Planta 182, 325–338, 1990). The flow velocity was determined by suction or injection of fluorescein (or FITC‐labelled dextrans of various molecular weights) from the microcapillary of the pressure probe into the punctured xylem vessel, followed by serial‐sectioning of the stem after a given propagation time. The distance travelled was defined as the distance from the injection point to the uppermost xylem section in which the dye could be detected. For a transpiration rate of 0.52 ± 0.12 ml . h−1, a linear dependence between the flow velocity and the tension gradients was found as expected from the Hagen‐Poiseuille law. The slope of the straight lines decreased with increasing molecular weight of the fluorescent labelled compound, presumably because of (partial) plugging of the pit membranes. The average value of the flow velocity (2.5 . 10−4 ± 0.9 . 10−4 m . s−1) was one magnitude smaller than the value estimated from the geometric dimensions of the xylem vessels, but agreed well with the literature value of 2.8 . 10−4 m . s−1 for herbs (determined by the heat pulse technique; Huber, B. Ber. deutsch. bot. Ges. 50, 89–109, 1932). The average pressure gradient was determined to be 0.39 ± 0.23 MPa . m−1, in agreement with the literature (Begg, J. E. and Turner, N. C. Plant Physiol. 46, 343–346, 1970).The first response of xylem pressure (or tension) and of flow velocity to a reduction of the transpiration rate (0.14 ± 0.06 ml . h−1) occurred after about 24 h, when an increase of the xylem pressure towards higher values associated with a decrease in flow velocity was observed. In contrast, re‐establishment of the normal transpiration rate brought the pressure (or tension) and the flow velocity back to normal values within half an hour.Similary, introduction of a transverse cross‐sectional cut into the stem did not lead during the first 10 h to a change in xylem tension (or velocity). However, during the following day the pressure fell to relatively low values (about −0.13 MPa). The velocity increased 10‐fold. In the next two days the xylem pressure increased again to normal values (average +0.03 MPa), whereas the flow velocity assumed higher values than normal.The data are discussed in terms of the water status and storage of the adjacent tissue cells.