Lipid concentration and composition in xylem sap of woody angiosperms from a tropical savanna and a seasonal rainforest

Lipids may play an important role in preventing gas embolisms by coating nanobubbles in xylem sap.Few studies on xylem sap lipids have been reported for temperate plants,and it remain unclear whether sap lipids have adaptational significance in tropical plants.In this study,we quantify the lipid composition of xylem sap for angiosperm species from a tropical savanna(seven species)and a seasonal rainforest(five species)using mass spectrometry.We found that all twelve species studied contained lipids in their xylem sap,including galactolipids,phospholipids and triacylglycerol,with a total lipid concentration ranging from 0.09 to 0.26 nmol/L.There was no difference in lipid concentration or composition between plants from the two sites,and the lipid concentration was negatively related to species’open vessel volume.Furthermore,savanna species showed little variation in lipid composition between the dry and the rainy season.These results support the hypothesis that xylem sap lipids are derived from the cytoplasm of individual conduit cells,remain trapped inside individual conduits,and undergo few changes in composition over consecutive seasons.A xylem sap lipidomic data set,which includes 12 tropical tree species from this study and 11 temperate tree species from literature,revealed no phylogenetic signals in lipid composition for these species.This study fills a knowledge gap in the lipid content of xylem sap in tropical trees and provides additional support for their common distribution in xylem sap of woody angiosperms.It appears that xylem sap lipids have no adaptive significance.

Monitoring Xylem Transport in the Stem of Lilium lancifolium Using Fluorescent Dye 5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein Diacetate

The xylem undergoes physiological changes in response to various environmental conditions during the process of plant growth.To understand these physiological changes,it is extremely important to observe the transport of xylem.In this study,the distribution and structure of vascular bundle in Lilium lancifolium were observed using the method of semithin section.Methods for introducing a fluorescent tracer into the xylem of the stems were evaluated.Then,the transport rule of 5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate(CFDA)in the xylem of the stem of L.lancifolium was studied by fluorescence dye in live cells tracer technology.The results showed that the vascular bundles of L.lancifolium were scattered in the basic tissue,the peripheral vascular bundles were smaller and densely distributed,and the closer to the center,the larger the volume of vascular bundles and the more sparsely distributed.The vascular bundles of L.lancifolium are limited external tenacity vascular bundles,which are composed of phloem and xylem.The most suitable method for CFDA labeling the xylem of isolated stem segments of L.lancifolium was solution soaking for 24 h.The running speed of CF in the isolated stem was 0.3 cm/h,which was consistent with the running speed of the material in the field.CF could be transported between the xylem and parenchyma cells,indicating that the material transport in the xylem could be through the symplastic pathway.The above results laid a foundation for the study of the xylem transport mechanism and the xylem pathogen disease of lily.

Gas Exchange, Xylem Ions and Abscisic Acid Response to Na^+-Salts and Cl^--Salts in Populus euphratica

We investigated the osmotic stress and ion-specific effects on xylem abscisic acid (ABA), ion uptake and transport and gas exchange in one-year-old seedlings of Populus euphratica Oliv. Net photosynthetic rates (P-n) and unit transpiration rates (TRN) were both significantly decreased upon an osmotic shock caused by PEG 6000 solution (osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa) or a saline, which was applied by 50 mmol/L Na+-salts (NaNO3 : NaHCO3 : NaH2PO4 = 5 : 4 : 1, pH 6.8, osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa) or by 50 mmol/L Cl--salts (KCl : NH4Cl = 1:1, osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa). However, salt-treated P. euphratica plants maintained typically higher TRN than those exposed to PEG. Xylem ABA concentrations increased rapidly following the PEG treatment, exhibiting peaking values at 1 h, then returning to pre-stress levels, followed by a gradual increase. Similarly, both Na+-treated and Cl--treated trees exhibited a rapid rise of ABA after salt stress was initiated. Notably, salt-treated plants maintained a relatively higher ABA than PEG-treated plants in a longer term. Collectively, results suggest that osmotic stress and ion-specific effects were both responsible for salt-induced ABA in P. euphratica : the initial rapid increase of xylem ABA appears to be a consequence of an osmotic shock, whereas specific salt effects seem to be responsible for ABA accumulation later on. Compared with Cl--treated trees, a higher inhibitory effect on gas exchange (P-n and TRN) was observed in Na+-salt plants, resulting from its long-sustained ABA and higher salt concentrations in the xylem. Displacement of membrane-associated Ca2+ by Na+ and the lesser capacity in Na+ compartmentation in root vacuoles likely contribute to the high influx of Na+ and Cl- in Na+-treated plants. Xylem K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were elevated by external Na+ -salts and Cl--salts, suggesting that P. euphratica maintained a higher capacity in nutrient uptake under saline conditions, which makes a contribution to its salinity tolerance.

Dynamic Changes in Distribution of Lignin and Hemicelluloses in Cell Walls During Differentiation of Secondary Xylem in Eucommia ulmoides

The dynamic changes in the distribution of lignin and hemicelluloses (xylans and xyloglucans) in cell walls during the differentiation of secondary xylem in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. were studied by means of ultraviolet light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy combined with immunogold labelling. In the cambial zone and cell expansion zone, xyloglucans were localized both in the tangential and radial walls, but no xylans or lignin were found in these regions. With the formation of secondary wall S-1 layer, lignin occurred in the cell corners and middle lamella, while xylans appeared in S-1 layer, and xyloglucans were localized in the primary walls and middle lamella. In pace with the formation of secondary wall S-2 and S-3 layer, lignification extended to S-1, S-2 and S-3 layer in sequence, showing a patchy style of lignin deposition. Concurrently, xylans distributed in the whole secondary walls and xyloglucans, on the other hand, still localized in the primary walls and middle lamella. The results indicated that along with the formation and lignification of the secondary wall, great changes had taken place in the cell walls. Different parts of cell walls, such as cell corners, middle lamella, primary walls and various layers of secondary walls, had different kinds of hemicelluloses, which formed various cell wall architecture combined with lignin and other cell wall components.

Ultracytochemical Localization of ATPase During the Secondary Xylem Differentiation and Dedifferentiation in Eucommia ulmoides Trunk

The ultracytochemical localization of ATPase in the secondary xylem cells during their differentiation and dedifferentiation in the girdled Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. was carried out using a lead phosphate precipitation technique. Throughout the differentiation, which is a typical programmed cell death (PCD) process, ATPase deposits increased in the nucleus but decreased and progressively disappeared in the cell organelles. At the same time, the distribution of ATPase increased in the inner face of the cell wall and pits with cytoplasmic degeneration. The results demonstrated that the PCD was an energy dependent active process and was controlled by nuclear genes. On the other hand, the distribution of ATPase in the intercellular spaces increased with the formation of the new cambium resulted from the dedifferentiation of the secondary xylem cells after girdling. However, ATPase was not found in the nucleus of the dividing cells, suggesting that nutrients were transported through protoplast during differentiation, and through both protoplast and apoplast during dedifferentiation. Thus, the energy required in cell division was provided mainly by intercellular spaces. These findings indicate that the dynamic distribution of ATPase reflected which cell component was actively taking part in the cell metabolism at various stages of the plant development, and its distribution was associated with the physiological state of the cell. Based on the characteristic distributions of ATPase, the critical stage of cell differentiation and the relationship between the critical stage and dedifferentiation were discussed.

Programmed Cell Death During Secondary Xylem Differentiation in Eucommia ulmoides

Programmed cell death (PCD) during secondary xylem differentiation in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. was examined using electron microscopy and by investigation of DNA fragmentation and degradation of caspase-like proteases (CLPs). DNA ladders were detected in developing secondary xylem by gel electrophoresis. DNA fragmentation was further confirmed by using the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Western blotting analysis showed that CLPs (caspase-8- and caspase-3-like proteases) and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) were degraded during secondary xylem differentiation. The results thus indicated that secondary xylem differentiation in E ulmoides was a typical process of PCD and the degradation of CLPs might be a constitutive PCD event during secondary xylem differentiation.

Effects of Periodical Soil Drying and Leaf Water Potential on the Sensitivity of Stomatal Response to Xylem ABA

The study on the changes of stomatal sensitivity in relation to xylem ABA during periodical soil drying and the effect of leaf water status on the stomatal sensitivity has confirmed that xylem ABA concentration is a good indicator of soil water status around roots and the relation between xylem ABA concentration and predawn leaf water potential remained constant during the three consecutive soil drying cycles based on the slopes of the fitted lines. The sensitivity of stomata to xylem ABA increased substantially as the soil drying cycles progressed, and the xylem ABA concentration needed to cause a 50% decrease of stomatal conductance was as low as 550 nmol/L in the next two soil drying cycle, as compared with the 750 nmol/L ABA in the first cycle of soil drying. The results using the split_root system showed that leaf water deficit significantly enhanced the stomatal response to xylem ABA and the xylem ABA concentration needed to cause a 50% decrease in stomatal conductance was 2 to 4 times smaller in the whole_root_drying treatment than those in the semi_root_drying treatment. These results suggested that the sensitivity of stomata to xylem ABA concentration is not a fixed characteristic.

Xylem中国公司正式成立

11月4日．全球领先的水技术专业公司Xylem（塞莱默1公司（下称Xylem）在京举行公司启动仪式暨新品牌发布会，宣布Xylem中国公司正式成立。Xylem拥有上百年水务经验，专注于水输送、水处理和水测试，借助旗下众多知名产品、专业经验和创新实力．帮助市政、住宅和商业建筑业、工业及农业等行业实现高效水技术应用。

Transport of Nitrogen Assimilation in Xylem Vessels of Green Tea Plants Fed with NH_4-N and NO_3-N

An experiment was carried out to study the transport process of nitrogen （N） assimilation from tea roots by monitoring the dynamic composition of N compounds in xylem sap after 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4 were fed to the root of tea plants （Camellia sinensis L.）. Results showed that the main amino acids were glutamine, theanine, axginine, asparic acid and glutamic acid, which accounted for 49%, 17%, 8%, 7%, and 4%, respectively, of the total amino acids in the xylem sap. After the tea plants were fed with 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4 for 48 h, the amount of total amino acids in xylem sap significantly increased and those fed with 15^N-NH4 had higher increment than those with 15^N-NOa. Two hours after 15^N- NO3 and 15^N-NH4 were fed, 15N abundance in glutamine, asparagine, glutamic acid, alanine, and arginine were detected and increased quickly over time. This indicated that it took less than 2 h for NO3-N and NH4-N to be absorbed by tea roots, incorporated into the above amino acids and transported to the xylem sap. Rapid increase in 15^N-NO3 in the xylem sap of tea plants fed with 15^N-NO3 indicated that nitrate could be directly transported to the xylem sap. Glutamine, theanine, and alanine were the main amino acids transported in xylem sap of tea plants fed with both 15^N-NO3 and 15^N-NH4.

On the Function of Wall Sculpturing in Xylem Conduits

The water-conducting network of capillaries in vascular plants has evolved over hundreds of millions of years in order to be able to cope with bubble clogging,a problem which also affects modern microfluidic devices.Decades of anatomical studies have revealed that plants growing in habitats in which the formation of bubbles,or emboli,is likely to be a frequent occurrence often have various forms of geometrical sculpturing on the internal surfaces of the xylem conduits.The possible function of such wall sculpturing has long been the subject of speculation.We have investigated the hypothesis that wall sculpturing is a functional adaptation designed to increase the wettability of the walls of xylem conduits,an effect which could be described as the inverse of the well-known lotus-effect.Our results show that wall sculpturing does enhance wettability.Importantly,theoretical calculations reveal that the geometric parameters of various types of wall sculpturing are such that the resulting surfaces are sufficiently rough to enhance wettability,but not significantly rougher.The results provide an appealing answer to the long-standing debate on the function of wall sculpturing in xylem conduits,and may provide biomimetic clues for new approaches to the removal of bubbles in microfluidic channels.

Drought-Induced Changes in Xylem Sap pH, ABA and Stomatal Conductance

Upstream signals potentially regulating evaporation and stomatal conductance wereinvestigated using 6-8-leaf-old maize (Zea may L.) seedlings which were grown in agreenhouse. Pressure chamber was used to measure leaf water potential and to collectxylem sap. The pH of xylem sap in stems was higher than that in root, and the abscisicacid (ABA) concentration in stems was the highest in well-watered seedlings. The ABAconcentration and pH of xylem sap in roots, stems and leaves increased, and the ABAconcentration in leaves reached the maximum during drought stress. The treatment ofroots with exogenous ABA solution (100molL-1) increased xylem sap ABA concentration inall organs measured, and induced stomatal closure, but did not change ABA distributionamong organs of maize seedlings. The combined effects of external pH buffer on pH, ABAof xylem sap and stomatal behavior indicated that pH, as a root-source signal to leavesunder drought stress, regulated stomatal closure through accumulating ABA in leaves orguard cells.

Anatomical and FTIR analyses of phloem and xylem of Tetracentron sinense

The fast growth of Tetracentron sinense is a potential valuable timber resource, but whether its anatomy and chemical components are suitable for timber is unknown. We used light microscopy and SEM to examine the anatomical structure and FITR to measure the chemical components of the phloem and xylem of this tree. Radial variations in growth ring width and tracheid dimensions were also evaluated. The sieve tube, phloem parenchyma cell and sclereids clusters were the main cells in phloem, and the tracheid was the fundamental cell in xylem. An unusual tracheid type, fiber-tracheids or vessel-liked elements was visible. Wood rays nonstoried, uniseriate and multiseriate, including heterogeneous II, occasionally I, and usually 3-6 cells wide. The mean growth-ring width was 2.53 +/- 0.46 mm, and the percentage of late wood was over 60%. For radial variation, growth-ring width increased at an early growth stage, and reached the largest increment during years 11-15, then decreased. The maximum growth-ring width was 5.313 mm. During late growth (60-85 years), trees also maintained a high radial growth increment. Radial variation in the percentage of late wood was uniform, about 50-70%, throughout the growth years. Growth patterns in the length and width of early and late wood were similar as the trees aged. From the FTIR results, the chemical components differed significantly between xylem and phloem, hemicellulose in particular was higher in the xylem than in the phloem, where it was apparently absent. All of these suggest that the composition of phloem in T. sinense is very similar to that of hardwood, and it has higher growth ratio and uniform wood properties.

Contrast in vulnerability to freezing-induced xylem embolism contributes to divergence in spring phenology between diffuse-and ring-porous temperate trees

Background:The spring phenology and growth strategy of temperate tree species can be strongly linked to their sensitivity to frosts,which deserve more profound investigations under the background of climate warming particularly considering the advancement of spring phenology as well as the increase in frequency and intensity of spring cold waves.Methods:Spring phenologies,stem radial growth characteristics,frost sensitivity of leaves and stem hydraulic systems were studied in five diffuse-porous and five ring-porous temperate tree species under a common garden condition.Results:The results showed that the spring leaf phenology of the diffuse-porous species was one to two weeks earlier than that of the ring-porous species.The ring-porous species had significantly higher stem hydraulic conductivity than the diffuse-porous species(1.81 and 0.95 kg·m^(-1)·s^(-1)·MPa^(-1),P<0.05)but were more vulnerable to freeze-thaw induced xylem embolism than the latter.After a simulated freeze-thaw event,the average percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity in the current year shoots increased from 26.0%(native embolism)to 86.7%in the ring-porous species,while it only increased from 21.3%to 38.3%in the diffuse-porous species.The spring phenology was clearly correlated with vulnerability to freeze-thaw induced embolism,with the more vulnerable ring-porous species exhibited substantially delayed phenology to reduce risks of catastrophic hydraulic dysfunction during spring frosts.Nevertheless,ring-porous species can offset the postponed onset of growth and gained even higher annual growth due to significantly higher hydraulic efficiency and leaf gas exchange rates.Conclusions:Contrasts between ring-porous and diffuse-porous species in resistance to freeze-thaw induced embolism suggest that they face different selective pressures from early spring frosts,which may at least be partially responsible for their divergence in spring phenology and growth strategy and can potentially lead to different responses to climate regime shifts.

Safety-efficiency trade-offs in the cotton xylem：acclimatization to different soil textures

The acclimatization of plant xylem to altered environmental conditions has attracted considerable attention from researchers over several decades. Plants growing in natural environments must seek a balance between water uptake and the water loss of leaves from evaporation. Thus, the adaptation of xylem to different soil textures is important in maintaining plant water balance. In this study, we investigated the xylem changes of cotton（Gossypium herbaceum L.） xylem in sandy, clay and mixed soils. Results showed that soil texture had a significant effect on xylem vessel diameter and length of stems and roots. Compared with G. herbaceum growing in the clay soil, those plants growing in the sandy soil developed narrower and shorter xylem vessels in their roots, and had a higher percentage of narrow vessels in their stems. These changes resulted in a safer（i.e. less vulnerable to cavitation）, but less-efficient water transport system when soil water availability was low, supporting the hydraulic safety versus efficiency trade-off hypothesis. Furthermore, in sandy and mixed soils, the root： shoot ratio of G. herbaceum increased twofold, which ensures the same efficiency of leaves. In summary, our finding indicates that the morphological plasticity of xylem structure in G. herbaceum has a major role in the acclimatization of this plant species to different soil textures.

Quantitative Changes in Main Parameters of Secondary Xylem during Aging Process in Pinus bugeana

Quantitative changes in main parameters of secondary xylem during aging process were studied in four trees of Pinus bungeana collected from two different sites.No marked difference was found in the width of heartwood, transition zone and sapwood at four cardinal directions and a wider sapwood and a narrower heartwood were noted in fast grown trees than in slowly grown ones. Earlywood generally showed a higher percentage of aspirated pits than latewood regardless of the age and growth conditions of the trees in addition , the earliest dead cells and the last living cells in the marginal cells were found a bit earlier than those in the central cells. It thus seems appropriate to conclude that the death of cells results largely from decrease of fluid permeability as the number of aspirated pits increases during aging process.

Ultrasonic Acoustic Emissions from Leaf Xylem of Potted Wheat Subject to a Soil Drought and Rewatering Cycle

Ultrasonic acoustic emissions （AEs） from leaf xylem of both water stressed and well watered potted winter wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） plants during drought and rewatering cycle were investigated with a ‘PCI-2 Based AE System＇ （Physical Acoustics Corp. New Jersey, USA） for estimation of leaf xylem cavitation and embolism. Very few AEs occurred in xylem of wheat leaves in well-watered plant, and also in plant subject to mild and moderate soil water stress conditions over the first 4 d of the drought cycle. Great amounts of AEs have occurred since d 5 of the drought cycle as plant showed obvious leaf curling, indicating significant cavitation in leaf xylem on plant exposed to severe soil water deficit. At this point, relative soil water content （RSWC） and leaf xylem pressure （ψ1） dropped to 24.0-26.5% and -1.92 MPa, respectively, with reductions in leaf stomatal conductance （gs）, leaf transpiration （Tr） and leaf CO2 assimilation rate （A） of as much as 69.8, 60.7 and 46.5%, respectively. The effect of soil water deficit was in the order gs 〉 Tr 〉 A 〉 AE. Waveform physical property parameters such as amplitude, counts, rise time, duration, absolute energy and signal strength were analyzed. These parameters varied within very broad ranges, with frequency distribution of most parameters being well fitted by the exponential function y = yo- A exp （-x/t）. The proportion of stronger AE signals rose as soil dehydrated. While AEs occurrence in water stressed plant remained higher than in well-watered control at the following day after rewatering, waveform signal strength and related physical property parameters dropped immediately to that of control. Difference in AEs occurrence characterization between field-grown and potted wheat leaves was discussed.

Relating Xylem Cavitation to Gas Exchange in Cotton

Acoustic emissions (AEs) from xylem cavitation events are characteristic of transpiration processes. Though a body of work exists describing AEs and limited stem hydraulic conductivity under water stress, there is limited information about the effects of AEs on stomatal aperture and limitation on carbon assimilation. The objective of this work was to relate AEs to drought stress in cotton. Cotton was grown in mini-lysimeters in the greenhouse and instrumented with a portable photosynthesis system and ultrasonic transducers connected to a digital signal-processing unit. Whole plant transpiration, leaf level gas exchange and ultrasonic AEs were measured. Xylem cavitation events temporally associated with the onset of drought stress. The results are consistent with stomatal closure in response to reduced hydraulic conductance from xylem cavitation events. Clear direct empirical evidence of a reduction in carbon assimilation associated with xylem cavitation resulting from water stress is presented.

Analysis of Cavitation Processes in Xylem

Cavitation in plants is caused by development of air bubbles, which is related to their equilibrium and development. There is a univariate cubic equation for bubble balance. New root formula of this kind of equation was proposed by Shenjin Fan, which is simpler than the Caldan’s. Using Shenjin formulas and taking water pressure P1 as an independent variable, this paper gives the exact solution of the equation under certain conditions. The stability of the equilibrium of an air bubble in its different radius ranges is obtained by the way different from the previous. This kind of cavitation includes two types: First type may be caused by the growth of pre-existent air bubbles;Second type is air seeding, here defined as the sucking of air bubbles from already gas-filled conduits. For air seeding three ways of cavitation have been proposed. For the first type this paper puts forward that two ways of cavitation can occur, which are the same with the first two ways of air seeding except of air reservoirs. Moreover, for the first way of the first type, the range of water pressures is the same with that of the first way of air seeding. For the second way of the first type the range of water pressures is much wider, or the pressure range equals the pressure sum of the second and third ways of air seeding. Through the specific data the relationship between the two types is given.

Xylem中国公司宣布成立

2011年11月4日，全球领先的水技术专业公司Xylem（塞莱默）公司（下称“Xylem”）在北京举办了隆重的公司启动仪式暨新品牌发布会，宣布Xylem中国公司正式成立。

Evidence of advancing spring xylem phenology in Chinese forests under global warming

Phenological responses of vegetation to the ongoing warming trend impact current and future primary productivity.However,few studies focus on wood phenology because its observed data are much scarcer,which hinders the estimation and prediction of forest carbon budgets over large regions.Here,we use a physiological process-based tree-ring growth model(Vaganov-Shashkin model)to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of spring xylem phenology(start of the growing season of xylem,SOS_(x))in tree-ring sites of China during 1962-2016 CE.The model is calibrated on measured tree-ring width chronologies(70 tree-ring chronologies)and successfully validated with field observations of xylogenesis.We found that spring xylem phenology significantly advances during 1962-2016 CE period under global warming,with the rate of advance quickly increasing after the 1990s to an average of 0.25 days per year.The preseason daily mean temperature is the main climatic driver for spring xylem phenology as indicated by its significant correlations with SOS_(x)at most sites(71%).Warmer preseason allows heat requirements for tree growth to be reached more quickly,with increase of 1℃in temperature of preseason anticipates SOS_(x)by 6 to 7 days,which will benefit the radial growth of trees in the relatively cold-humid environments.In addition,the significant positive correlation between the simulated spring xylem phenology and remote sensing derived phenology highlights the primary and secondary growth may be governed by the same variable(temperature)and change in the same direction with global warming.This study provides the long-term perspective on the spring xylem phenology variations covering most of China.