Knowledge of water movement in the plant-xylem system and contaminant bioavailability in the soil environment is crucial to evaluate the success of phytoremediation practices. This study investigated the removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from a contaminated sandy soil by a single poplar (Populus fastigiata) tree through the examinations of temporal variations of xylem water potential, root...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Previous studies indicate that the size-controlling capacity of peach rootstocks is associated with reductions of scion water potential during mid-day that are caused by the reduced hydraulic conductance of the rootstock. Thus, shoot growth appears to be reduced by decreases in stem water potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of reduced hydraulic ...

Water movement between cells in a plant body is the basic phenomenon of plant solute transport; however, it has not been well documented due to limitations in observational techniques. This paper reports a visualization technique to observe water movement among plant cells in different tissues using a time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (Tof-SIMS) cryo-system. The specific purpose of...

erophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedlings experience water stress and declining xylem pressure potential (Ψx). Low Ψx can result in xylem cavitation and embolism formation, causing a decline in hydraulic conductance. This study focused on the relationship between Ψx, xylem cavitation and transpiration (E) of newly planted seedlings. Leaf specific hydraulic conductance (kAB) declined from 0.56 to 0.09 m...

Following planting, western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedlings experience water stress and declining xylem pressure potential (Psi(x)). Low Psi(x) can result in xylem cavitation and embolism formation, causing a decline in hydraulic conductance. This study focused on the relationship between Psi(x), xylem cavitation and transpiration (E) of newly planted seedlings. Leaf specifi...

to date, the effects of nanoparticles on woody plants remain unaddressed. this study reveals some of the physiological and biochemical effects of sio2 nanoparticles on wild pear seedlings. the seedlings were irrigated with different concentrations of nano silica (0, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 mg/l) for 14 days. nanoparticle adsorption and absorption, biomass allocation, gas exchange, relative water ...

Although silicon (Si) has been widely reported to alleviate plant nutrient deficiency, the underlying mechanism in potassium (K) deficiency is poorly understood. In this study, sorghum seedlings were treated with Si under a K deficiency condition for 15 days. Under control conditions, plant growth was not affected by Si application. The growth and water status were reduced by K-deficient stress...

Regulation of water flow in an interconnected xylem vessel network enables plants to survive despite challenging environment changes that can cause xylem embolism. In this study, vulnerability to embolisms of xylem vessels and their water-refilling patterns in vascular bundles of maize leaves were experimentally investigated by employing synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique. A vascular bun...

Plant adaptations to the environment are limited, and therefore plants in similar environments may display similar functional and physiological traits, a pattern termed functional convergence. Evidence was examined for functional convergence among 28 evergreen woody shrubs from three plant communities of the semi-arid winter rainfall region of southern California. Both leaf and water relations ...

Tracheids, vessels and sieve tubes are found in the vascular tissue of the plant. • Tracheids and vessels are found in the xylem tissue and conduct water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots to the aerial parts of the plant. • Sieve tubes are found in the phloem tissue and conduct organic solutes, for example, sugars and amino acids, up and down the plant, from where they are synthesised t...