scholarly journals Evidence for a multicellular symplasmic water pumping mechanism across vascular plant roots

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Couvreur ◽  
Adrien Heymans ◽  
Guillaume Lobet ◽  
Xavier Draye

With global warming, climate zones are projected to shift poleward, and the frequency and intensity of droughts to increase, driving threats to crop production and ecosystems. Plant hydraulic traits play major roles in coping with such droughts, and process-based plant hydraulics (water flowing along decreasing pressure or total water potential gradients) has newly been implemented in land surface models. An enigma reported for the past 35 years is the observation of water flowing along increasing water potential gradients across roots. By combining the most advanced modelling tool from the emerging field of plant micro-hydrology with pioneering cell solute mapping data, we found that the current paradigm of water flow across roots of all vascular plants is incomplete: it lacks the impact of solute concentration (and thus negative osmotic potential) gradients across living cells. This gradient acts as a water pump as it reduces water tension without loading solutes in plant vasculature (xylem). Importantly, water tension adjustments in roots may have large impacts in leaves due to the tension-cavitation feedback along stems. Here, we mathematically demonstrate the water pumping mechanism by solving water flow equations analytically on a triple-cell system. Then we show that the simplistic upscaled equations hold in 2- and 3-D maize, grapevine and Arabidopsis complex hydraulic anatomies, and that water may flow uphill of water potential gradients toward xylem as observed experimentally. Besides its contribution to the fundamental understanding of plant water relations, this study lays new foundations for future multidisciplinary research encompassing plant physiology and ecohydrology, and has the ambition to mathematically capture a keystone process for the accurate forecasting of plant water status in crop models and LSMs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-432
Author(s):  
Matthew Lanning ◽  
Lixin Wang ◽  
Kimberly A Novick

Abstract Accurate understanding of plant responses to water stress is increasingly important for quantification of ecosystem carbon and water cycling under future climates. Plant water-use strategies can be characterized across a spectrum of water stress responses, from tight stomatal control (isohydric) to distinctly less stomatal control (anisohydric). A recent and popular classification method of plant water-use strategies utilizes the regression slope of predawn and midday leaf water potentials, σ, to reflect the coupling of soil water availability (predawn leaf water potential) and stomatal dynamics (daily decline in leaf water potential). This type of classification is important in predicting ecosystem drought response and resiliency. However, it fails to explain the relative stomatal responses to drought of Acer sacharrum and Quercus alba, improperly ranking them on the spectrum of isohydricity. We argue this inconsistency may be in part due to the cuticular conductance of different species. We used empirical and modeling evidence to show that plants with more permeable cuticles are more often classified as anisohydric; the σ values of those species were very well correlated with measured cuticular permeance. Furthermore, we found that midday leaf water potential in species with more permeable cuticles would continue to decrease as soils become drier, but not in those with less permeable cuticles. We devised a diagnostic parameter, Γ, to identify circumstances where the impact of cuticular conductance could cause species misclassification. The results suggest that cuticular conductance needs to be considered to better understand plant water-use strategies and to accurately predict forest responses to water stress under future climate scenarios.


1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 941-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. DUBÉ ◽  
K. R. STEVENSON ◽  
G. W. THURTELL ◽  
H. H. NEUMANN

Determinations of plant resistance to water flow from measurements of leaf water potential at steady transpiration rates were made on different lines of corn (Zea mays L.). Two inbreds, Q188, a wilting mutant, and DR1, an inbred line shown to have at least some heat and drought tolerance under field conditions, were compared to a commercial single-cross hybrid, United 106. The purpose of the experiment was to isolate the cause of the wilting characteristic of Q188. A linear relationship was found between leaf water potential and transpiration rate for all lines. No water potential gradients were found at zero transpiration. Low total plant resistances were observed in United 106 and DR1, with the major resistance being in the root system in both genotypes. Although the resistance to water movement through the roots and lower stalk in Q188 did not appear to differ from those of the other lines, a much larger resistance was found in the upper stalk of Q188; resistance to water movement through the lower stalk (up to node 5) decreased as the plants matured from 55 to 70 days of age but no comparable changes occurred in the upper portions of the stem. In vivo detection of the xylem vessels with staining techniques confirmed the observed differences in resistances.


Author(s):  
A. C. Gibson ◽  
H. W. Calkin ◽  
D. O. Raphael ◽  
P. S. Nobel

SynopsisThe entire soil-plant-atmosphere continuum must be analysed to elucidate how xylem anatomy relates to water flow in plants. Measurements of water potential gradients and volume of water flow per unit time are needed to obtain values of hydraulic conductance per unit length. By comparing values of hydraulic conductance per unit length along the plant, the regions where xylem structure restricts water flow can be determined. Previous studies of fern water relations demonstrated that very large water potential gradients occurring in stipes of certain ferns were closely correlated with reduced conducting area of stipe xylem. A new study on Cyrtomium falcatum showed that the water potential gradient was relatively small and constant along the stipe and rachis; however, a much larger gradient occurred from the rachies into the pinnae. Hydraulic conductance per unit length varied with the leaf area to be supplied, leading to the fairly constant water potential gradient along the rachis.. The measured hydraulic conductance per unit length was only half the value predicted from the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. Although the Hagen-Poiseuille equation overestimated the measured value by a factor of 2, it did support the assumption that conduit number and lumen diameter are the principal determinants of water conductance in the xylem.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 632-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard W. Calkin ◽  
Arthur C. Gibson ◽  
Park S. Nobel

Water potentials, flow rates, and anatomy of xylary elements were studied in eight species of ferns to assess the physical constraints that xylem structure presents to water flow. Comparisons were made among ferns of different leaf morphology as well as between a fern with vessels and ferns with tracheids only. Hydraulic conductance was measured by forcing a solution through excised plant segments. These hydraulic conductances were in close agreement with conductances calculated from water potential gradients and flows measured in intact plants. In three species, backflushing excised segments by forcing a basipetal flow increased subsequently measured conductances two- to six-fold, indicating that the xylem of these three species was partially blocked in intact plants. Hagen–Poiseuille estimates of conductance based on xylary element diameters were 1.8–2.7 times the conductances measured for excised segments. Hydraulic conductances of tracheids and vessels of ferns thus deviate from those of ideal capillaries of similar diameter to about the same extent as has been reported for tracheids in conifers and for vessels in dicotyledons.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 541b-541
Author(s):  
Rita Giuliani ◽  
James A. Flore

Potted peach trees grown outdoors during the 1997 season were subjected to drought and subsequent rewatering to evaluate their dynamic response to soil water content. The investigation was primarily focused on the early detection of plant water stress to prevent negative effects on the growth. Leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and canopy temperature estimates (by infra-red thermometry) were conducted. Drought effect on physiological processes were detected through by estimates of canopy development rate, leaf gas-exchange measurements; while leaf water potential was measured to characterize plant water status. A decrease in the canopy's development rate was found 1 week after irrigation was stopped, which also coincided with a more-negative leaf water potential, whereas a decrease of the gas-exchange activities occurred several days later. No significant differences between the stressed and control plants were recorded by the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fo, Fm, Fv and the ratio Fv/Fm), whereas the infra-red estimates of canopy temperature detected a slight increase of the canopy surface temperature (connected to the change of leaf energy balance and in relation to partial stomatal closure) on the non-irrigated plants 1 week after the beginning of the trial. The use of infra-red thermometry for early detection of water shortage is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulla Al Kafy ◽  
Abdullah Al-Faisal ◽  
Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan ◽  
Md. Soumik Sikdar ◽  
Mohammad Hasib Hasan Khan ◽  
...  

Urbanization has been contributing more in global climate warming, with more than 50% of the population living in cities. Rapid population growth and change in land use / land cover (LULC) are closely linked. The transformation of LULC due to rapid urban expansion significantly affects the functions of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as local and regional climates. Improper planning and uncontrolled management of LULC changes profoundly contribute to the rise of urban land surface temperature (LST). This study evaluates the impact of LULC changes on LST for 1997, 2007 and 2017 in the Rajshahi district (Bangladesh) using multi-temporal and multi-spectral Landsat 8 OLI and Landsat 5 TM satellite data sets. The analysis of LULC changes exposed a remarkable increase in the built-up areas and a significant decrease in the vegetation and agricultural land. The built-up area was increased almost double in last 20 years in the study area. The distribution of changes in LST shows that built-up areas recorded the highest temperature followed by bare land, vegetation and agricultural land and water bodies. The LULC-LST profiles also revealed the highest temperature in built-up areas and the lowest temperature in water bodies. In the last 20 years, LST was increased about 13ºC. The study demonstrates decrease in vegetation cover and increase in non-evaporating surfaces with significantly increases the surface temperature in the study area. Remote-sensing techniques were found one of the suitable techniques for rapid analysis of urban expansions and to identify the impact of urbanization on LST.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 874
Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Mohamed Ahmed ◽  
Natthachet Tangdamrongsub ◽  
Dorina Murgulet

The Nile River stretches from south to north throughout the Nile River Basin (NRB) in Northeast Africa. Ethiopia, where the Blue Nile originates, has begun the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which will be used to generate electricity. However, the impact of the GERD on land deformation caused by significant water relocation has not been rigorously considered in the scientific research. In this study, we develop a novel approach for predicting large-scale land deformation induced by the construction of the GERD reservoir. We also investigate the limitations of using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On (GRACE-FO) mission to detect GERD-induced land deformation. We simulated three land deformation scenarios related to filling the expected reservoir volume, 70 km3, using 5-, 10-, and 15-year filling scenarios. The results indicated: (i) trends in downward vertical displacement estimated at −17.79 ± 0.02, −8.90 ± 0.09, and −5.94 ± 0.05 mm/year, for the 5-, 10-, and 15-year filling scenarios, respectively; (ii) the western (eastern) parts of the GERD reservoir are estimated to move toward the reservoir’s center by +0.98 ± 0.01 (−0.98 ± 0.01), +0.48 ± 0.00 (−0.48 ± 0.00), and +0.33 ± 0.00 (−0.33 ± 0.00) mm/year, under the 5-, 10- and 15-year filling strategies, respectively; (iii) the northern part of the GERD reservoir is moving southward by +1.28 ± 0.02, +0.64 ± 0.01, and +0.43 ± 0.00 mm/year, while the southern part is moving northward by −3.75 ± 0.04, −1.87 ± 0.02, and −1.25 ± 0.01 mm/year, during the three examined scenarios, respectively; and (iv) the GRACE-FO mission can only detect 15% of the large-scale land deformation produced by the GERD reservoir. Methods and results demonstrated in this study provide insights into possible impacts of reservoir impoundment on land surface deformation, which can be adopted into the GERD project or similar future dam construction plans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Liang Chen ◽  
Xuelei Wang ◽  
Xiaobin Cai ◽  
Chao Yang ◽  
Xiaorong Lu

Rapid urbanization greatly alters land surface vegetation cover and heat distribution, leading to the development of the urban heat island (UHI) effect and seriously affecting the healthy development of cities and the comfort of living. As an indicator of urban health and livability, monitoring the distribution of land surface temperature (LST) and discovering its main impacting factors are receiving increasing attention in the effort to develop cities more sustainably. In this study, we analyzed the spatial distribution patterns of LST of the city of Wuhan, China, from 2013 to 2019. We detected hot and cold poles in four seasons through clustering and outlier analysis (based on Anselin local Moran’s I) of LST. Furthermore, we introduced the geographical detector model to quantify the impact of six physical and socio-economic factors, including the digital elevation model (DEM), index-based built-up index (IBI), modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), population, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the LST distribution of Wuhan. Finally, to identify the influence of land cover on temperature, the LST of croplands, woodlands, grasslands, and built-up areas was analyzed. The results showed that low temperatures are mainly distributed over water and woodland areas, followed by grasslands; high temperatures are mainly concentrated over built-up areas. The maximum temperature difference between land covers occurs in spring and summer, while this difference can be ignored in winter. MNDWI, IBI, and NDVI are the key driving factors of the thermal values change in Wuhan, especially of their interaction. We found that the temperature of water area and urban green space (woodlands and grasslands) tends to be 5.4 °C and 2.6 °C lower than that of built-up areas. Our research results can contribute to the urban planning and urban greening of Wuhan and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the city.


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasu Udompetaikul ◽  
Shrini K Upadhyaya ◽  
David C Slaughter ◽  
Bruce D Lampinen

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