Plant Physiol. email content delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Plant Physiology 88:581-587 (1988)
© 1988 American Society of Plant Biologists

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sperry, J. S.
Right arrow Articles by Tyree, M. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sperry, J. S.
Right arrow Articles by Tyree, M. T.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Sperry, J. S.
Right arrow Articles by Tyree, M. T.
Environmental and Stress Physiology

Mechanism of Water Stress-Induced Xylem Embolism 1

John S. Sperry and Melvin T. Tyree

Botany Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405

We investigated the hypothesis that water stress-induced xylem embolism is caused by air aspirated into functional vessels from neighboring embolized ones (e.g. embolized by physical damage) via pores in intervessel pit membranes. The following experiments with sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) support the hypothesis. (a) Most vessels in dehydrating stem segments embolized at xylem pressures < –3 megapascals; at this point the pressure difference across intervessel pits between air-filled vessels at the segment's ends and internal water-filled vessels was >3 megapascals. This same pressure difference was found to be sufficient to force air across intervessel pits from air injection experiments of hydrated stem segments. This suggests air entry at pits is causing embolism in dehydrating stems. (b) Treatments that increased the permeability of intervessel pits to air injection also caused xylem to embolize at less negative xylem pressures. Permeability was increased either by perfusing stems with solutions of surface tension below that of water or by perfusion with a solution of oxalic acid and calcium. The mechanism of oxalic-calcium action on permeability is unknown, but may relate to the ability of oxalate to chelate calcium from the pectate fraction of the pit membrane. (c) Diameter of pores in pit membranes measured with the scanning electron microscope were within the range predicted by hypothesis (≤0.4 micrometer).

1 Financial support was provided by U.S. Department of Agriculture grant 85-CRSR-2-2564.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
A. J. McElrone, S. Jackson, and P. Habdas
Hydraulic disruption and passive migration by a bacterial pathogen in oak tree xylem
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2008; 59(10): 2649 - 2657.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Appl. Environ. Microbiol.Home page
V. Cheng, H. U. Stotz, K. Hippchen, and A. T. Bakalinsky
Genome-Wide Screen for Oxalate-Sensitive Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Appl. Envir. Microbiol., September 15, 2007; 73(18): 5919 - 5927.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
N. SCHMITZ, A. VERHEYDEN, H. BEECKMAN, J. G. KAIRO, and N. KOEDAM
Influence of a Salinity Gradient on the Vessel Characters of the Mangrove Species Rhizophora mucronata
Ann. Bot., December 1, 2006; 98(6): 1321 - 1330.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
A. L. Jacobsen, F. W. Ewers, R. B. Pratt, W. A. Paddock III, and S. D. Davis
Do Xylem Fibers Affect Vessel Cavitation Resistance?
Plant Physiology, September 1, 2005; 139(1): 546 - 556.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
Y. Sano
Inter- and intraspecific structural variations among intervascular pit membranes, as revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy
Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2005; 92(7): 1077 - 1084.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
R. L. Guimaraes and H. U. Stotz
Oxalate Production by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Deregulates Guard Cells during Infection
Plant Physiology, November 1, 2004; 136(3): 3703 - 3711.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
B. Choat, S. Jansen, M. A. Zwieniecki, E. Smets, and N. M. Holbrook
Changes in pit membrane porosity due to deflection and stretching: the role of vestured pits
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2004; 55(402): 1569 - 1575.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
J. S. Sperry and U. G. Hacke
Analysis of circular bordered pit function I. Angiosperm vessels with homogenous pit membranes
Am. J. Botany, March 1, 2004; 91(3): 369 - 385.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
H. Cochard, F. Froux, S. Mayr, and C. Coutand
Xylem Wall Collapse in Water-Stressed Pine Needles
Plant Physiology, January 1, 2004; 134(1): 401 - 408.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Agron. J.Home page
J. S. Sperry, V. Stiller, and U. G. Hacke
Xylem Hydraulics and the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum: Opportunities and Unresolved Issues
Agron. J., November 1, 2003; 95(6): 1362 - 1370.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
S. Cohen, J. Bennink, and M. Tyree
Air method measurements of apple vessel length distributions with improved apparatus and theory
J. Exp. Bot., August 1, 2003; 54(389): 1889 - 1897.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
T. J. Brodribb and N. M. Holbrook
Stomatal Closure during Leaf Dehydration, Correlation with Other Leaf Physiological Traits
Plant Physiology, August 1, 2003; 132(4): 2166 - 2173.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
P. J. Melcher, M. A. Zwieniecki, and N. M. Holbrook
Vulnerability of Xylem Vessels to Cavitation in Sugar Maple. Scaling from Individual Vessels to Whole Branches
Plant Physiology, April 1, 2003; 131(4): 1775 - 1780.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
A. J. McElrone, J. L. Sherald, and I. N. Forseth
Interactive effects of water stress and xylem-limited bacterial infection on the water relations of a host vine
J. Exp. Bot., January 2, 2003; 54(381): 419 - 430.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
P. V. Minorsky

Plant Physiology, January 1, 2003; 131(1): 6 - 7.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
B. Choat, M. Ball, J. Luly, and J. Holtum
Pit Membrane Porosity and Water Stress-Induced Cavitation in Four Co-Existing Dry Rainforest Tree Species
Plant Physiology, January 1, 2003; 131(1): 41 - 48.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
J.-C. Domec and B. L. Gartner
How do water transport and water storage differ in coniferous earlywood and latewood?
J. Exp. Bot., December 1, 2002; 53(379): 2369 - 2379.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
V. Stiller and J. S. Sperry
Cavitation fatigue and its reversal in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)
J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2002; 53(371): 1155 - 1161.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
H. Cochard, L. Coll, X. Le Roux, and T. Ameglio
Unraveling the Effects of Plant Hydraulics on Stomatal Closure during Water Stress in Walnut
Plant Physiology, January 1, 2002; 128(1): 282 - 290.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
J. H. Fromm, I. Sautter, D. Matthies, J. Kremer, P. Schumacher, and C. Ganter
Xylem Water Content and Wood Density in Spruce and Oak Trees Detected by High-Resolution Computed Tomography
Plant Physiology, October 1, 2001; 127(2): 416 - 425.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
U. K. Vogt
Hydraulic vulnerability, vessel refilling, and seasonal courses of stem water potential of Sorbus aucuparia L. and Sambucus nigra L.
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2001; 52(360): 1527 - 1536.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
S. L. Matzner, K. J. Rice, and J. H. Richards
Intra-specific variation in xylem cavitation in interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii A. DC.)
J. Exp. Bot., April 15, 2001; 52(357): 783 - 789.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
T. J. Tibbetts and F. W. Ewers
Root pressure and specific conductivity in temperate lianas: exotic Celastrus orbiculatus (Celastraceae) vs. native Vitis riparia (Vitaceae)
Am. J. Botany, September 1, 2000; 87(9): 1272 - 1278.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
M. Kesarwani, M. Azam, K. Natarajan, A. Mehta, and A. Datta
Oxalate Decarboxylase from Collybia velutipes. MOLECULAR CLONING AND ITS OVEREXPRESSION TO CONFER RESISTANCE TO FUNGAL INFECTION IN TRANSGENIC TOBACCO AND TOMATO
J. Biol. Chem., March 15, 2000; 275(10): 7230 - 7238.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.Home page
J. M. Dunwell, S. Khuri, and P. J. Gane
Microbial Relatives of the Seed Storage Proteins of Higher Plants: Conservation of Structure and Diversification of Function during Evolution of the Cupin Superfamily
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., March 1, 2000; 64(1): 153 - 179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Bot.Home page
M. J. Linton and P. S. Nobel
Loss of water transport capacity due to xylem cavitation in roots of two CAM succulents
Am. J. Botany, November 1, 1999; 86(11): 1538 - 1543.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
Y. Utsumi, Y. Sano, S. Fujikawa, R. Funada, and J. Ohtani
Visualization of Cavitated Vessels in Winter and Refilled Vessels in Spring in Diffuse-Porous Trees by Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy
Plant Physiology, August 1, 1998; 117(4): 1463 - 1471.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ASPB Publications PLANT PHYSIOLOGY THE PLANT CELL
Copyright © 1988 by the American Society of Plant Biologists