Structure and function of bordered pits: new discoveries and impacts on whole-plant hydraulic function Export

@article{citeulike:2312413, abstract = {Bordered pits are cavities in the lignified cell walls of xylem conduits (vessels and tracheids) that are essential components in the water-transport system of higher plants. The pit membrane, which lies in the center of each pit, allows water to pass between xylem conduits but limits the spread of embolism and vascular pathogens in the xylem. Averaged across a wide range of species, pits account for \> 50\% of total xylem hydraulic resistance, indicating that they are an important factor in the overall hydraulic efficiency of plants. The structure of pits varies dramatically across species, with large differences evident in the porosity and thickness of pit membranes. Because greater porosity reduces hydraulic resistance but increases vulnerability to embolism, differences in pit structure are expected to correlate with trade-offs between efficiency and safety of water transport. However, trade-offs in hydraulic function are influenced both by pit-level differences in structure (e.g. average porosity of pit membranes) and by tissue-level changes in conduit allometry (average length, diameter) and the total surface area of pit membranes that connects vessels. In this review we address the impact of variation in pit structure on water transport in plants from the level of individual pits to the whole plant. New Phytologist (2008) 177: 6082013626{\copyright} The Authors (2007). Journal compilation {\copyright}New Phytologist (2007)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x}, address = {University of California, Department of Viticulture and Enology, Davis, CA 95616, USA; ; University of Massachusetts, Biology Department, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; ; Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK}, author = {Choat, Brendan and Cobb, Alexander R. and Jansen, Steven}, citeulike-article-id = {2312413}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/nph/2008/00000177/00000003/art00008}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/119394668/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x}, issn = {1469-8137}, journal = {New Phytologist}, keywords = {anatomy, hydraulics, papercopy}, month = {February}, number = {3}, pages = {608--626}, posted-at = {2008-08-20 03:15:37}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Blackwell Publishing}, title = {Structure and function of bordered pits: new discoveries and impacts on whole-plant hydraulic function}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x}, volume = {177}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2312413 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2312413 N2 - Bordered pits are cavities in the lignified cell walls of xylem conduits (vessels and tracheids) that are essential components in the water-transport system of higher plants. The pit membrane, which lies in the center of each pit, allows water to pass between xylem conduits but limits the spread of embolism and vascular pathogens in the xylem. Averaged across a wide range of species, pits account for > 50% of total xylem hydraulic resistance, indicating that they are an important factor in the overall hydraulic efficiency of plants. The structure of pits varies dramatically across species, with large differences evident in the porosity and thickness of pit membranes. Because greater porosity reduces hydraulic resistance but increases vulnerability to embolism, differences in pit structure are expected to correlate with trade-offs between efficiency and safety of water transport. However, trade-offs in hydraulic function are influenced both by pit-level differences in structure (e.g. average porosity of pit membranes) and by tissue-level changes in conduit allometry (average length, diameter) and the total surface area of pit membranes that connects vessels. In this review we address the impact of variation in pit structure on water transport in plants from the level of individual pits to the whole plant. New Phytologist (2008) 177: 6082013626© The Authors (2007). Journal compilation ©New Phytologist (2007)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x IS - 3 JF - New Phytologist SN - 1469-8137 AD - University of California, Department of Viticulture and Enology, Davis, CA 95616, USA; ; University of Massachusetts, Biology Department, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; ; Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK EP - 626 TI - Structure and function of bordered pits: new discoveries and impacts on whole-plant hydraulic function PB - Blackwell Publishing VL - 177 SP - 608 KW - anatomy KW - hydraulics KW - papercopy AU - Choat, Brendan AU - Cobb, Alexander AU - Jansen, Steven PY - 2008/02// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02317.x ER -