Abstract Detail

Watertransport in plants at multiple scales: A physiological, ecological, andevolutionary appraisal

Melcher, Peter [1], Pratt, Brandon [2].

Water transport in plants at multiple scales: A physiological, ecological and evolutionary appraisal.

This symposium topic and speakers will provide insight on plant water relations that spans across the whole plant, from the cellular to organismal levels, from basal lycophytes to derived angiosperms, and from physiological, ecological, and evolutionary approaches. This will provide an integrated view of whole plant water relations. In this area of research, there have been many recent advances in our understanding of long-distance sap transport at the cellular, tissue, organ and whole plant level. These include a finer understanding of the role of proteins that can trigger cascade responses within living cells at the root, stem and leaf-level resulting in altered properties of the xylem through unexpected mechanisms. For example, the ion-mediated regulation of xylem hydraulic resistance that may provide plants with a mechanism to control water distribution throughout their bodies. The potential role of xylem-phloem interactions, where sugar-loading may provide the necessary water potential gradient required to re-fill embolized conduits during times when negative tissue water potentials exist. Ecological strategies of plants to tolerate changes in seasonal water stress, assessed at the whole plant level, will also be discussed and this will provide insight to understanding how plants alter root, stem and leaf-level traits that result in enhanced fitness across changes in water availability. Also, water distribution regulation mechanisms measured at the leaf level, from stomatal response, to changes in leaf-level hydraulic resistance, and how altered leaf form across individuals, and varied plant forms will be discussed. Lastly, a macroevolutionary analysis of vascular transport will consider vascular function from lycophytes to conifers, which will provide a broad evolutionary context for the evolution of vascular structure and function.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Ithaca College, Biology, Center for Natural Sciences, Ithaca, New York, 14850, United States
2 - CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY BAKERSFIELD, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93311-1099, USA, 310-740-7653

Keywords:
xylem
root hydraulics
long distance sap transport
embolism formation andrefilling
macroevolution of planthydraulics
leaf hydraulics 
stem hydraulics.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY03
Location: Delaware C/Hyatt
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Number: SY03SUM
Abstract ID:32