biologia plantarum

International journal on Plant Life established by Bohumil Nìmec in 1959

Biologia plantarum 52:502-506, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0097-1

Changes of pH of solutions during perfusion through stem segments: further evidence for hydrogel regulation of xylem hydraulic properties?

A. Gascó1, E. Gortan1, S. Salleo1, A. Nardini1,*
1 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italia

Changes in hydraulic conductivity (Kh) and pH were measured in stem segments of laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) during perfusion with iso-osmotic solutions of KCl, NaCl and sucrose. Sucrose had no effect on Kh while 100 mM NaCl or KCl induced up to 22 and 35 % increase of Kh with respect to deionized water, respectively. Increases in Kh were accompanied by a sharp drop in pH from 6.0 (inlet solution) to 5.0 (outlet solution). The same effect was observed with both KCl and NaCl solutions but not in the case of sucrose. Also, similar changes of Kh and pH were observed for stems killed after immersion in hot water. Our results might provide further evidence for ion-mediated regulation of xylem hydraulic conductivity based on the hydrogel properties of pectins at the pit membrane level.

Keywords: pit membranes; potassium; hydraulic conductivity; Laurus nobilis L
Subjects: Laurus nobilis; membrane potential; potassium

Received: December 12, 2006; Accepted: May 20, 2007; Published: September 1, 2008  Show citation

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Gascó, A., Gortan, E., Salleo, S., & Nardini, A. (2008). Changes of pH of solutions during perfusion through stem segments: further evidence for hydrogel regulation of xylem hydraulic properties? Biologia plantarum, 52(3), 502-506. doi: 10.1007/s10535-008-0097-1
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