title: Could rapid diameter changes be facilitated by a variable hydraulic conductance?
abstract: Adequate radial water transport between elastic bark tissue and xylem is crucial in trees, because it smoothens abrupt changes in xylem water potential, greatly reducing the likelihood of suffering dangerous levels of embolism. The radial hydraulic conductance involved is generally thought to be constant. Evidence collected about variable root and leaf hydraulic conductance led us to speculate that radial hydraulic conductance in stem/branches might also be variable and possibly modulated by putative aquaporins. We therefore correlated diameter changes in walnut (Juglans regia L.) with changes in water potential, altered by perfusion of twig samples with D-mannitol solutions having different osmotic potentials. Temperature and cycloheximide (CHX; a protein synthesis inhibitor) treatments were performed. The temperature response and diameter change inhibition found in CHX-treated twigs underpinned our hypothesis that radial hydraulic conductance is variable and likely mediated by a putative aquaporin abundance and/or activity. Our data demonstrate that radial water transport in stem/branches can take two routes in parallel: an apoplastic and a cell-to-cell route. The contribution of either route depends on the hydraulic demand and is closely linked to a boost of putative aquaporins, causing radial conductance to be variable. This variability should be considered when interpreting and modelling diameter changes.
authors: Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. kathy.steppe@UGent.be
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: Steppe
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Cochard
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Lacointe
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Améglio
mesh_terms: D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D031324:Juglans / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014197:Trees / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology; D052584:Xylem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D014867:Water; D003513:Cycloheximide