ISHS Acta Horticulturae 171: I International Symposium on Water Relations in Fruit Crops
OBSERVATIONS ON THE HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN ROOT XYLEM |
| Authors: | L. Cavazza, A. Patruno, A. Nardini |
| Abstract:
Conductivity tests have been effected on sugar beet roots to observe their dependence on both the suction applied at the outlet end of the sample and the duration of the test. The results showed that more than one mechanism plays a role in these manifestations. Air bubble release seems to be mainly responsible for the time decay of the hydraulic conductivity. A reversible decrease in conductivity at increasing suction gradients prevails at low suction and could possibly be explained in terms of the expansion of existing air bubbles in the conducting system. A reversible increase of conductivity in response to increased pressure gradient was evident at higher flow rates on material at rather lower conductivity. This suggests a contribution to the flow, outside the xylem vessel system, in the parenchima and/or an effect of sugar diffusion in the xylem sap affecting the viscosity of the liquid. | |
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