title: Water ascent in trees and lianas: the cohesion-tension theory revisited in the wake of Otto Renner.
abstract: The cohesion-tension theory of water ascent (C-T) has been challenged over the past decades by a large body of experimental evidence obtained by means of several minimum or non-invasive techniques. The evidence strongly suggests that land plants acquire water through interplay of several mechanisms covered by the multi-force theory of (U. Zimmermann et al. New Phytologist 162: 575-615, 2004). The diversity of mechanisms includes, for instance, water acquisition by inverse transpiration and thermodynamically uphill transmembrane water secretion by cation-chloride cotransporters (L.H. Wegner, Progress in Botany 76:109-141, 2014). This whole plant perspective was opened by Otto Renner at the beginning of the last century who supported experimentally the strictly xylem-bound C-T mechanism, yet anticipated that the water ascent involves both the xylem conduit and parenchyma tissues. The survey also illustrates the known paradigm that new techniques generate new insights, as well as a paradigm experienced by Max Planck that a new scientific idea is not welcomed by the community instantly.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. friedrich.bentrup@sbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Friedrich-Wilhelm
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bentrup
mesh_terms: D008954:Models, Biological; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D010368:Pectins
keywords: Cohesion-tension theory; Emboly repair; Max Planck; Multi-force theory; Otto Renner; Water ascent; Water status online monitoring; Xylem pressure