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Physical State of Water in Plant Xylem Vessels 1
Author(s) -
Cary John W.,
Jensen Marvin E.,
Fisher Herbert D.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1968.00021962006000020007x
Subject(s) - xylem , hydrostatic pressure , water transport , chemistry , osmotic pressure , hygrometer , limiting , diffusion , botany , water flow , horticulture , environmental science , thermodynamics , soil science , biology , humidity , physics , mechanical engineering , engineering
The vapor pressure psychrometer was used as a tool to study the physical state of water in plant xylem vessels. The experimental procedure involved measuring the change in diffusion pressure deficit (DPD) of corn and tomato plants when the stem was cut. When the DPD was greater than 4 bars in tomatoes and 28 bars in corn, the water in xylem vessels no longer appeared to flow in response to hydrostatic pressure gradients. The limiting value of DPD increased as the xylem radius decreased. A mechanism is suggested which describes the physical state and the movement of water through xylem tissue under high DPD. The proposal is based on the pressure difference across a curved air‐water interface and on the concept of an electrostatic double layer with its associated osmotic pressure.