| Abstract: | The commonly used equation,  = P -  +  , which describes thepartitioning of plant water potential,  , into components ofhydrostatic pressure, P, osmotic pressure, , and matric potential,, is misleading. The term , which is supposed to show the influenceof a solid phase on , is zero if a consistent definition ofpressure is used in the standard thermodynamic derivation. However,it can be usefully defined by = + D, where D is the osmoticpressure of the equilibrium dialysate of the system. The practicaland theoretical significance of this definition is discussed. |
