Internal Structure and Hydraulic Conductivity of Basidiomycete Translocating Organs

Eamus, D., Thompson, W., Cairney, J. W. G. and Jennings, D.H. 1985. Internal structure and hydraulic conductivity of basidiomycetetranslocating organs.–J. exp. Bot. 36: 1110–1116. The presence in rhizomorphs of Armillaria mellea and cords ofPhallus impudicus of wide diameter hyphae (5–20 {diaeresis}m),which run for considerable distances along these linear organs,has been demonstrated. The longitudinal hydraulic conductivityof these organs has been determined experimentally and similarvalues were obtained when the hydraulic conductivity was calculatedtheoretically on the basis that the vessel hyphae were the solechannel for water movement along these organs. The experimentaldata have been discussed in relation to other data for long-distancetranslocation in basidiomycete linear organs. It is concludedthat the vessel hyphae are the main channels for turgor-driventranslocation. Key words: -Basidiomycete fungi, translocation, hydraulic conductivity