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Methods for Assessment of Hydraulic Conductance and Embolism Extent in Grapevine Organs

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Methodologies and Results in Grapevine Research

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to assess the interplay of hydraulic conductance and xylem embolism (cavitation) in root, in shoot, in leaf and in the whole grapevine. To measure hydraulic conductance, three main methods are available, which are based on evaporating (EFM), pulling (VPM) or pushing (HPM) water out of the plant organ. The three methods are expected to give similar results upon plant water status. Under drought, hydraulic conductance assessment must take into account the extent of embolism. EFM does not modify xylem cavitation and gives good estimates of hydraulic conductance, even if it does not give direct evidence of the embolism phenomenon. VPM involves pulling water through the organ using a vacuum pump, but it is limited by the atmospheric pressure (about 0.1 MPa); when the pulling-tension does not exceed the organ water potential, presence of embolism is not perturbed. The HPM is the easiest method to modulate a wide range of pressures, forcing flows into the sample; HPM measurements can displace native embolism. Extent of embolisms is represented as Percent Loss of Conductivity (PLC) of organ-segments. By imposing an appropriate pressure to HPM systems, it is possible to assess organ-segment PLC.

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Abbreviations

E:

Steady state transpirational flow rate

EFM:

Evaprative flux method

Eplant :

Plant transpiration

Gplant :

plant hydraulic conductance

HD:

Heat dissipation

HPV:

Heat pulse velocity

Kleaf :

Leaf hydraulic conductance

Kroot :

Root hydraulic conductance

PAR:

Photosynthetic active radiation

RKM:

Rehydration kinetics method

RWU:

Relative water uptake

SHB:

Stem Heat Balance

THB:

Trunk Heat Balance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DCA, Plant Physiology, University of Turin, Grugliasco, 10090, Italy

    Claudio Lovisolo & Sara Tramontini

Authors
  1. Claudio Lovisolo
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  2. Sara Tramontini
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Correspondence to Claudio Lovisolo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , UMR Ecophysiologie et Génomique Fonction, Université de Bordeaux, Chemin de Leysotte CS 50008, Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France

    Serge Delrot

  2. , IMEDEA-Dept. de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera Valldemossa Km. 7,5, Palma de Mallorca, 01722, Spain

    Hipólito Medrano

  3. Agriculturall Research Organisation, The Volcani Center, Institute of Horticulture, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Etti Or

  4. , Istituto di Frutti-Vitico9ltura, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense 84, Piacenza, 29100, Italy

    Luigi Bavaresco

  5. , Fondazione Edmund Mach, IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Via E. mach 1, San Michele alll'Adige (TN), 38010, Italy

    Stella Grando

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Lovisolo, C., Tramontini, S. (2010). Methods for Assessment of Hydraulic Conductance and Embolism Extent in Grapevine Organs. In: Delrot, S., Medrano, H., Or, E., Bavaresco, L., Grando, S. (eds) Methodologies and Results in Grapevine Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9283-0_6

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