Abstract

ALEMAN-SANCHESCHULZ, Gilberto; SOLANO, Eloy  and  LOPEZ-PORTILLO, Jorge. The hydraulic architecture of terrestrial vascular plants, a review. Madera bosques [online]. 2019, vol.25, n.3, e2531828.  Epub May 15, 2020. ISSN 2448-7597.  https://doi.org/10.21829/myb.9019.2531828.

The water transport in terrestrial vascular plants is passive and is determined by the transpiration or loss of water through the leaves. The cohesion-tension theory is the most accepted to explain this process, which is complemented by the Ohm's law analogy, which analyzes the flow of water as a catenary process. Resistance to water stress and cavitation is strongly associated with the anatomical characteristics of the xylem, the intervessel pits, and their membranes, the latter being altered depending on the chemical properties of the aqueous solution that flows through them. Based on these premises, this review addresses the phenomenon of ascent of water in terrestrial vascular plants and analyzes the concepts, theories, and methods most used in the study of hydraulic architecture. In addition, it points out the differences in xylem structure and water transport between dicots and monocots.

Keywords : cavitation; cohesion-tension; water stress; water potential; water transport in plants; xylem.

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