Mature Tissue and Crop Canopy Respiratory Characteristics of Rye, Triticale and Wheat

Crop dry matter and its chemical composition, together withcanopy and mature tissue respiration rates were measure at equivalentgrowth stages and temperatures for spring and winter rye, triticaleand wheat crops grown under irrigated field conditions. Canopyrespiration was partitioned into growth and maintenance respirationusing information from the chemical composition analysis ofthe crop biomass. Rates of dry matter accumulation early inthe growing season were significantly greater for rye cropsin comparison to triticale and wheat. However, when dry matterwas measured at similar ontogenetic stages, the productivityadvantage of the rye crop was no longer evident. Nevertheless,canopy respiration rates per unit ground area were significantlylower for rye than wheat over all temperatures and growth stages.Intergeneric differences in the respiration rates of matureleaf and stem tissues were consistent with those measured atcanopy scales. Differences in the chemical composition of thebiomass among genera were minimal, and insufficient to accountfor differences in canopy respiration due to synthesis respirationrequirement. Estimates of biomass maintenance requirements appearto be significantly lower for rye than wheat when calculatedat similar temperatures and ontogenetic stages. The maintenancecoefficient (m) depended on stage of development, suggestingthat m will decline earlier chronologically for rye than wheat,which implies that greater carbon retention is another aspectcontributing to the higher early-season crop growth rates ofspring and winter rye. Considering the lower respiration ratesof mature stems relative to leaves, the dependence of m on stem:leafratio was suggested as a useful approach to modelling ontogeneticeffects on maintenance respiration.Copyright 1993, 1999 AcademicPress Rye, triticale, wheat, dry matter, growth and maintenance respiration     

The Control of Branch Growth on Potato Tubers: III. THE BASIS OF CORRELATIVE INHIBITION

Correlatively inhibited lateral buds on potato tubers were suppliedwith various nutrient solution through the surfaces of leafprimorida. The media, which also supported the growth of isolatedbuds in tissue culture, stimulated the growth of the dominant(growing) sprotus but the inhibition was not due to a shortageof nutrients. The neutral fraction of the ether extract frompotato tubers bearning inhibited sprotus contained a substancesor substances capable, at physiological concentrations, of inhibitingthe growth of buds both in situ and when isolated. Buds on-eyepieceswere not inhibited when supplied with a tissue-culture mediumas well as the neutral fraction. The latter contained both growth-inhibitingand growth-promoting substances. The inhabitor complex was partiallypurified. It was soluble in water and ether and was most unstable.When treated with fluorescein followed by bromine it gave acharacteristic reddish-brown fluorescence. Attempts to establishits chemical nature were unsuccessful. The available evidenceindicated that the substance(s) was effective in preventingthe extension of potato buds at concentrations approximatingto those found in situ and that it disappeared from tuber tissuewithin 24 h of removing the growing sprouts. It is suggestedthat this complex, which is rapidly metabloized in tissue, isthe prime component involved in apical dominance. Nutrient supplydoes not appear to be directly involved although a ready supplyof nutrients can partially offset the effect of the inhibitor.     

香樟、枸树主茎水分传导能力分布研究

本文从植物生长发育的机理发出,从理论推导出植物主茎传导能力与主茎长度、导管长度的关系式,导管越长,榈传导能力越大,香樟主茎长度大于１８ｃｍ、枸树大于１２ｃｍ时,传导能力随样品长度线笥变化;较知时,传导能力随样品长度的缩短迅速增加,出现短路现象。试验测定了香樟、枸树主茎水分长距离运输的传导能力分布,结果与理论预示的安全一致,表明理论分析是正确可靠的,这一规律具有普遍意义。     

Anaerobic conditions strongly promote extension by stems of overwintering tubers of Potamogeton pectinatus L

Elongation by dark-grown shoots of Potamogeton pectinatus tuberswas enhanced by the absence of oxygen. This promoting effectwas located in the stem and was stronger under water than ina gas phase and also stronger in unsparged water compared tosparged water. Anaerobic shoots elongated under water by almost13 cm in 5 d. This was the outcome of longer cells of the steminternodes and of some cell division coupled with leaf extensionwhich continued in the absence of oxygen, but at a slower rate.Continued attachment to a starch-filled tuber was required forsignificant anaerobic elongation, which could be sustained forat least 14 d. Switching intact, growing tubers from aerobicto anaerobic conditions stimulated stem extension within 24h. Conversely, stem elongation was slowed when tubers were transferredfrom an anaerobic to an aerobic environment. A marked gravitropicresponse occurred in anaerobic conditions, which involved bothstem and leaf tissue, and indicated that active internal growth-regulatingmechanisms continued to operate without oxygen. Shoot extension by tubers was also stimulated by hypo-aerobicconditions (5–8 kPa O₂) compared with fully aerated solutions(20.8 kPa O₂). This acceleration was smaller than that obtainedby the complete removal of oxygen, but still involved stem ratherthan leaf growth. Unlike elongation by apical shoots of tubers,that by shoot tips of rhizomes taken from mature light-grownplants was strongly inhibited by lack of oxygen, and in somecases shoot tips died within 5 d. All shoots and leaves werehighly aerenchymatous and the gas-filled lacunae were connectedby side-pores. Key words: Water plants, environmental stress, Potamogeton pectinatus, elongation, anaerobiosis, gravitropism     

Measurement of Gradients of Water Potential in Elongating Pea Stem by Pressure Probe and Picolitre Osmometry

The magnitude of gradients of water, potential in growing tissueswill reflect processes which limit growth rate and can thusprovide information on the mechanism of control of growth inthose tissues. A new picolitre osmometry technique was used,together with a sampling pressure probe, to measure gradientsof water potential between growing and non-growing regions ofpea stems. Such gradients were found to be small and it wastherefore concluded that hydraulic conductivity within the expandingregion is unlikely to be important in limitation of growth.This and further implications for the mechanism of growth controlin this tissue are discussed. Key words: Pisum sativum, mechanism of growth, water potential gradients, picolitre osmometry     

Response of Japanese beech (Fagus japonica Maxim.) sprouts to canopy gaps

The response of Japanese beech (Fagus japonica Maxim.) sprouts to canopy gaps in natural beech forest in central Japan was studied using two contrasted gaps in which tree-ring chronologies of regenerating stems were analyzed. The gaps were created by uprooting of a single Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata stem (diameter: 50 cm; gap size: 40 m²; 23 years old) and by concurrent uprootings of four F. japonica stools (gap size: 180 m²; 30 years old). Japanese beech sprouts emerged before and after the gap formation and dominated stem populations in both gaps. In gaps, growth of F. japonica sprouts was equal or lower than growth of stems of seed origin, but most sprouts (F. japonica, Acer mono var. marmoratum) appeared a few years before emergence of seedlings. The small gap created by single stem fall was dominated by some beech sprouts from stools adjacent to the gap. The multiple gap was not closed by beech sprouts from stools surrounding the gap, but some dominant beech stems were resprouts from the uprooted beech stools. The existence of a sprout bank under the canopy may play an important role in the closing process of gaps in natural Japanese beech forest.     

香果树根萌苗生长特性及影响因子分析

香果树(Emmenopterys henryi)为我国Ⅱ级野生保护植物,由于生境遭到破坏、过度开发利用以及种群自然更新能力差等原因,导致自然环境下香果树种群数量迅速衰减。运用方差分析、多重比较、主成分分析等方法,对自然环境下香果树种群的根萌苗生长状况及其主要影响因子进行了研究。结果表明:香果树根萌苗的数量随着苗龄的增长逐渐减少,1a根萌苗的死亡率最高;苗高和基径均随苗龄的增大呈指数增长;香果树根萌苗主要生长在母树东南方120°~150°(以正北方为0°按顺时针方向旋转,下同)位置、距母树树干2 m以内及直径2 cm、长度30 cm的露根上;根萌苗苗高受母树方位影响较小,受露根直径、露根长度以及与母树间距离的影响稍大;母树南向(168.75°)根萌苗的基径显著大于其它方向的根萌苗基径;与北向和南向相比,母树东向和西向根萌苗的冠幅较大;根萌苗苗高、基径和冠幅等形态指标均随着与母树树干间距离的增加而降低,但随着露根直径的增加各形态指标均呈先升高后降低的趋势(露根直径6.5 cm时苗高和基径达到最大值),随着露根长度的增加各形态指标呈先降低后升高的趋势;与树冠内根萌苗相比,香果树母树树冠外根萌苗的死亡率较高。主成分分析结果表明,随着林内光照条件的改善、土壤中有机质含量的增加、砾石覆盖率的增加以及适度的人为干扰均有利于香果树根萌苗的生长。因此,减小林冠郁闭度、增加人工抚育措施对维持香果树的种群发展、实现其种群自然更新具有重要作用。     

Effects of Tissue-type and Development on Dark Respiration in Two Herbaceous Perennials

Perennial plants go through a number of developmental stagesduring the growing season. Changes in metabolism during thesephases have been documented in laboratory-grown plants but neverin native plants growing in natural habitats. The purpose ofthis study was to describe the seasonal pattern of dark respirationin the above-ground tissues of two herbaceous perennials, Bistortabistortoides(Pursh) Small and Campanula rotundifolia L., growingin the Rocky Mountains (USA). The effect of biomass accumulationon respiration rate and differences in respiration rate amongtissues were measured. Respiration rate differed significantlyamong the above-ground tissues. Reproductive structures hadthe highest respiration rates, followed by leaves, then stems.Respiration rate decreased by 10–90% over the growingseason in these tissues but was generally not correlated witha decrease in biomass accumulation. The seasonal pattern ofrespiration rate varied significantly among tissues. Total tissuerespiratory flux was calculated at 15 °C for each tissue.In both species, total above-ground respiratory flux was eitherrelatively constant during the growing season with a markeddecrease at seed dispersal or a maximum rate was reached atmid-season. In B. bistortoides, leaves had the highest totalrespiratory fluxes, and the respiratory fluxes of the stem andreproductive structures were similar to one another. In C. rotundifolia,leaf and stem respiratory fluxes were similar, while the respiratoryflux of the reproductive structures was considerably lower thanthat of leaves and stems. This study emphasizes the importanceof developmental processes and tissue-type on respiration rateand highlights the importance of including all plant tissuesin predictive models of plant carbon balance.Copyright 2001Annals of Botany Company Respiration, development, growth, maintenance, tissue, Bistorta bistortoides, Campanula rotundifolia, harebell     

Ecological differentiation ofEuphorbia lasiocaula andE. sinanensis (Euphorbiaceae) I plant height,phenology and allocation to stems and leaves

Resource allocation and the seasonal change of stem length inEuphorbia lasiocaula Boiss. andE. sinanensis (Hurusawa) T. Kurosawa et H. Ohashi were examined in 10 populations on hills in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan. Differences were found in the diameter of stem, stem/leaf ratio of dry weight, vegetative dry weight/leaf area, and the beginning, end and duration of stem growth.Euphorbia lasiocaula has a thicker stem, a larger stem/ leaf ratio, a larger vegetative dry weight/leaf area, a later beginning and end of stem growth and a longer period of stem growth thanE. sinanensis. These differences support the relationships among plant height, resource allocation and phenology predicted by the mathematical models of Givnish (1982) and Sakai (1991, 1994). The tall and thick stems ofE. lasiocaula are considered to be favorable for capturing sunlight in grassy places, causing it to allocate much of its resources to the stems. On the other hand,E. sinanensis is considered to be adapted to deciduous forest floors or forest margins because it completes growing before it is shaded by canopy trees or by tall herbs, which is enabled by the larger allocation of resources to the leaves.     

Effect of Vanadate on Microsomal ATPase Activity, Acidification of the Medium and Auxin-stimulated Growth in Pea and Cucumber

The relationship between ATPase activity, medium acidificationand auxin-stimulated growth in segments of pea stem (Pisum sativumL., cv. Alaska) and cucumber hypocotyl (Cucumis sativus L.,cv. Long Green Ridge) was investigated using sodium orthovanadate,widely used as a selective inhibitor of plasma membrane-associatedATPase activity. ATPase activity of cucumber microsomal preparationswas about seven times lower than similar preparations from pea(on a mg microsomal protein basis) and was much more effectivelyinhibited by vanadate. Similarly, acidification of the mediumby abraded cucumber segments occurred to a lesser extent thanwith pea and showed a greater inhibition by vanadate. Both growthin controls and auxin-stimulated growth of cucumber segmentswere strongly inhibited by vanadate, whereas in pea auxin-stimulatedgrowth was reduced by only half and controls showed little inhibition.Acidification of the medium by segments of both species wasfound to occur readily even in controls and showed little promotionin the presence of IAA, although growth in both species wasrapidly and significantly promoted by IAA. These results indicatethat acidification is brought about by a plasma membrane-associatedATPase, and suggest that while acidification is an essentialfactor for auxin-stimulated growth it may not be the mechanismby which the growth rate is controlled. ATPase, Cucumis sativus, indole-3-acetic acid, Pisum sativum, vanadate     

Determinants of mountain birch growth in situ: effects of temperature and herbivory

Variation in in situ growth performance of the mountain birch as indicated by the widths of annual rings was analysed and related mainly to temperature and herbivory using ring width series from five heath forest sites in the Lake Torneträsk area, northern Sweden. Climate explained 48–64% of the variation in age-corrected mean ring width series. In general, the effect of current year July followed by June temperature was most important at all sites. A warm May resulted in wider rings due to an earlier budburst. Short-term (inter-annual) responses to increased temperature were in most cases not reflected into long-term responses (decades). A large proportion of the variation in stem mean ring width was due to variation among stems within trees (81%) in these polycormic trees, while variation among sites was marginal (0.4%). Within trees, main stems grew faster and were more responsive to climate variation than subordinate stems. No effect of insect herbivory on ring width was found at low defoliation levels (≤12%). At a defoliation level of ca 84% a one-year reduction in stem growth was observed while the growth reduction (ca 50% reduction in ring width) lasted for 4 yr after ca 93% defoliation. After outbreaks resulting in complete defoliation and some stem mortality, ring widths of surviving stems mainly responded with increased growth. Basal sprouts, emerging just after a severe insect outbreak with a high mortality of old stems, grew faster than sprouts occurring during other periods. It is concluded that the mountain birch is well adapted to recover from Epirrita outbreaks; the ability to produce basal sprouts, that can benefit from an existing root system for fast initial growth, is one important mechanism for this.     

Light Effects on Apical Dominance

Reducing light intensity from 18·0 klx to 5·4klx promoted main-stem growth in Phaseolus vulgaris but leftlateral extension unaffected. Shading individual laterals orapices of main stems promoted elongation of the shaded portion.Increasing day length from 8 to 16 or 24 h did not greatly affectplant growth if full-intensity and full-spectrum light was used.If, however, the additional light was supplied by incandescenttubes containing a high proportion of infra-red light, growthof main stems but not laterals was induced in proportion tothe length of the additional light period. It is suggested thatthe increased growth of the main stem in response to infra-redlight prevented the equivalent response of the laterals becauseof the enhanced ability of the main stem to suppress lateralelongation.     

Role of Mechanical Loading in Growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Seedlings

Seedlings of the herbaceous annual Helianthus annuus L. weregrown under three regimens of daily bending. Bending wasadjustedduring ontogeny so that the deflexion of the stem tip dividedby the stem height was constant (elastic similarity). After6weeks, mechanically–treated plants exhibited a significantlygreater ratio of stem diameter to stem height, flexural stiffness,stemgrowth rate, and proportion of collenchymatous tissue inthe stem. Treated plants were also significantly smaller inheight,showed a greater proportion of stem tissue as cortex,and greater initial stem growth rate. No significant differenceswereobserved in the elastic modulus of the tissue composingthe stem, above–ground biomass, and stem diameter. Thedegree ofmechanical loading also had a significant effect onmost parameters. The most highly stressed plants were thicker,shorter, and elastically stiffer with more collenchyma and lesscortex in the stem. Since plants were loaded for only 60 s d^–1it is concludedthat mechanical effects early in life can haveprofound effects on the form and hence ecology of seedlings. Key words: Seedling growth, Helianthus annuus L., stem mechanical properties, thigmomorphogenesis, bending stress     

A Simple Mathematical Model of Growth Pattern in Tree Stems

Stem formation process is analysed by examining annual ringsfor coniferous and broadleaved trees. Cutting a tree stem intoseveral segments of a constant length, the weight of each segmentis denoted as the stem density (S). In addition the verticallyaccumulated current increment of the stem densities is definedas the cumulative stem increment (CSI). Examining the relationshipsbetween CSI and S for tree stems, it is shown that most of themdepict straight lines. Redefining S as a function with two independentvariables, time t and vertical position z along the stem, thelinear partial differential equation     

Mechanics and Growth Form of the MossHylocomium splendens

The mossHylocomium splendenshas two different growth forms.Sympodial growth occurs where the apical meristem ceases activityannually and growth is continued by a lateral bud. Sympodialplants are vertical and self-supporting. Monopodial growth occurswhen the apex continues growth. Monopodial plants are prostrate.The aims of the study were to examine stem mechanics of thedifferent growth forms and to compare mechanical propertiesalong stems. Stems of annual segments were subjected to threepoint bending tests. In sympodial plants the stiffness of thestem material increased significantly with segment age. Flexuralrigidity increased significantly with age in segments from 1to 4 years old, and then declined. Segment diameter decreasedsignificantly with age in sympodial plants. Monopodial plantsshowed no significant effects of segment age on the diameter,material stiffness or flexural rigidity of stems. Sympodialsegments were significantly wider, stronger, more rigid andcomposed of stiffer material with a higher stress at yield thanmonopodial segments, but did not have a larger proportion ofstrengthening material. Sympodial stems had significantly morecellulose than monopodial stems. The mossHylocomium splendensshowsa range of mechanical adaptations, as a self-supporting or aprostrate plant, which suit it to life in very different environments.Copyright1998 Annals of Botany Company. Hylocomium splendens, growth form, mechanics, cellulose, stiffness, flexural rigidity, bending, monopodial, sympodial, adaptation, anatomy, stems, plant.     

Vegetative Life History of a Dominant Rain Forest Canopy Tree1

Tetramerista glabra has a remarkable combination of life history traits. It is a dense-wooded, large, common canopy tree in primary peat swamp rain forest. Its seedlings, although shade tolerant, can grow rapidly in high light conditions, but frequently lack structural stability. Most juvenile stems (94% in the understory and 38% in canopy gaps) collapse under their own weight or from branchfalls. Fallen stems then ramify into vegetative sprouts, which in turn may collapse, perpetuating a vegetative juvenile cycle. Most recruitment is from sprouts rather than from seed. Structural analysis of stem dimensions shows that stems 2–8 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) are close to the theoretical buckling limit, especially for those dependent on neighboring vegetation to maintain vertical form. Trees > 4 cm DBH persisting as upright stems develop stilt root support and become structurally independent at ca 8 cm DBH. Eventually, as stems thicken, stilt roots anastamose and trees adopt the cylindrical growth form of mature canopy trees (up to 150 cm DBH). Thus, the vegetative life history strategy of the species is to: (i) regenerate a large “ramet bank” from the majority of juveniles that fail structurally while suppressed in the understoty, and (ii) to maximize height growth at the expense of diameter growth in high light conditions. The growth pattern and plastic form of T. glabra shows how a shade tolerant species may adapt to utilize the ephemeral light resource in canopy gaps. The growth strategy of this species allows it to circumvent the normal trade-off between shade tolerance and rapid growth in canopy gaps.     

Sucrose metabolism and cell elongation in developing sunflower hypocotyls

The relationships between cell elongation and changes in specificactivities of enzymes of sucrose metabolism were investigatedin the growing region of hypocotyls of sunflower seedlings {Helianthusannuus L.) that were grown either in darkness or irradiatedwith continuous white light (WL). After transfer of dark–grownseedlings into WL an inhibition of cell elongation was observed.In etiolated stems, changes in enzymes of sucrose breakdown(acid invertase, sucrose synthase) were closely correlated withthe rate of cell elongation. Irradiation with WL induced a largedrop in acid invertase and a significant decrease in sucrosesynthase. The changes in concentration of sucrose were inverselycorrelated with the activities of the sucrose breakdown enzymes.A short–term experiment revealed that the effect of WLon growth was more rapid than the inhibitory effect on invertaseactivity. In dark–grown stems the activities of enzymesof sucrose biosynthesis (sucrose–phosphate synthase, ribulose1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) were very low. AfterWL irradiation significant enhancements were measured. However,activities of enzymes of sucrose breakdown were still much largerthan those of sucrose biosynthesis, indicating that the green(de–etiolated) stem remains a sink for sucrose. We suggestthat the relative maintenance of cell osmotic pressure and turgorduring rapid cell elongation in darkness is due to enhancedhydrolysis of imported sucrose, which is cleaved by two enzymes(invertase, sucrose synthase). This process is regulated bylight and hence is under environmental control. Key words: Cell elongation, organ growth, Helianthus annuu, sucrose metabolism, source-sink relationship     

Mechanical Stress and Gibberellin: Regulation of Hollowing Induction in the Stem of a Bean Plant, Phaseolus vulgaris L.

In pole bean plants, mechanical stress (MS) inhibited stem elongationand induced radial thickening of the stem. Application of uniconazole,an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis, also reduced stemgrowth but had no effect on stem diameter. Both MS and uniconazolesignificantly reduced hollowing of the first internodes, butonly the former increased ethylene evolution from the firstinternode. Application of GA₃ increased the length of the firstinternode and decreased its diameter in bush bean plants; thiswas accompanied by a significant promotion of stem hollowing.Aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) decreased ethylene evolution fromthe GA₃-treated internodes, though it did not reduce the GA₃-inducedhollowing of the first internodes. Application of GA₃ affectedneither ethylene evolution nor cellulase activity in the firstinternodes of bush bean plants. Application of GA₃ stimulatedmuch greater cell elongation in the center of pith tissue thanin the outer surrounding tissues, suggesting a possible physicalbreakage of the inner cells, which leads the hollowing of beanstems. These results suggest that gibberellin is a factor responsiblefor stem hollowing in bean plants. Because MS is known to reducegibberellin content in bean plants [Suge (1978) Plant Cell Physiol.21: 303] MS may inhibit stem hollowing by reducing the amountof endogenous gibberellin. (Received July 1, 1994; Accepted November 8, 1994)     

PARTITIONING GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS BETWEEN LEAVES AND STEMS DURING NITROGEN LIMITATION IN SPARTIUM JUNCEUM

A clone of Spartium junceum (Spanish broom) was used to evaluate the consequence of different soil nitrogen regimes on growth and assimilation of leaves and stems. Nitrogen limitation caused a general reduction in aboveground growth, and NO₃^- limitation resulted in a greater reduction in leaf area compared to stem area. Supplemental soil nitrogen, from NH₄⁺, caused increased growth and a greater increase in stem area compared to leaf area. Excess NH₄⁺ caused decreased growth of leaves and stems. Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, a greater amount of nitrogen was in stems than in leaves, particularly on a surface area basis. Both stem and leaf assimilation were reduced under limiting nitrogen, but the net effect was an increase in the stem contribution to daily carbon gain compared to a decrease for leaves. Stem and leaf assimilation had similar linear relationships with tissue nitrogen concentration. Nitrogen use efficiency increased under nitrogen limitation. Thus, as the proportion of whole plant nitrogen in the stems increased compared to that in leaves at low nitrogen availability, the nitrogen use efficiency increased.     

Osmotic properties of pea internodes in relation to growth and auxin action

The water transport properties of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L.) internodes were studied using both dynamic and steady-state methods to determine (a) whether water transport through the growing tissue limits the rate of cell enlargement, and (b) whether auxin stimulates growth in part by increasing the hydraulic conductance of the growing tissue.

Measurements using the pressure probe technique showed that the hydraulic conductivity of cortical cell membranes was the same for both slowly growing and auxin-induced rapidly growing cells (membrane hydraulic conductivity, about 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ centimeters per second per bar). In a second technique which measured the rate of water movement through the entire pea internode, the half-time for radial water flow was about 60 seconds and was not altered by auxin application. These results indicate that auxin does not alter the hydraulic conductance of pea stem tissue, either at the cellular or the whole tissue level.

Measurements of the turgor pressure of cortical cells, combined with osmotic pressure measurements of expressed cell sap, show that the water potential of growing pea stems was about −3 bars. When the growth rate was altered by various treatments, including decapitation, auxin application, cold temperature, and KCN treatment, the water potential was independent of the growth rate of the stem. We attribute the depression of the water potential in young pea stems to the presence of solutes in the cell wall free space of the tissue. This interpretation is supported by the results of infiltration and perfusion experiments.

From the results of these dynamic and steady-state experiments, we conclude that the internal gradient in water potential (from the xylem to the epidermis) needed to sustain cell enlargement is small (no greater than 0.5 bar). Thus, the hydraulic conductance of the tissue is sufficiently large that it does not control or limit the rate of cell enlargement.