The Effect of Soil Compaction on Differentiation of Late Metaxylem in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Recent studies among several plant species have shown that maturation of the largest vessels in primary xylem of roots occurs much later than is commonly assumed. These results have important implications for studies of water and nutrient uptake since the condition of the vessels, termed late metaxylem (LMX), might have a large effect on the potential conductivity of the xylem. To determine whether this phenomenon occurred in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), patterns of root xylem differentiation were studied in young bean plants. Soil bulk density was varied in one trial to determine whether differentiation of LMX was sensitive to the growing medium