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Water relations and xylem anatomy of ferns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

A. C. Gibson ,
H. W. Calkin ,
D. O. Raphael  and
P. S. Nobel
A. C. Gibson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A.
H. W. Calkin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A.
D. O. Raphael
Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A.
P. S. Nobel
Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A.
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Synopsis

The 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.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 86: The Biology of Pteridophytes , 1985 , pp. 81 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

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