Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Xylem Water Distribution in Woody Plants Visualized with a Cryo-scanning Electron Microscope
Published on: June 20, 2019
Ultrasound emission after cycles of water stress in Picea abies
M Borghetti1, A Raschi, J Grace
1lstituto Miglioramento genetico delle piante forestali, CNR, via S. Bonaventura 13, 50145-Firenze, Italy.
Abstract:
The relationships among rate of ultrasound acoustic emission (AE), xylem water potential and transpiration rate were investigated in 5-year-old potted saplings of Picea abies Karst. after cycles of water stress. Water-stressed plants displayed minimum xylem water potentials of -3.9 MPa, near-zero transpiration rates and up to 45 AE counts per minute. After rewatering, water-stressed plants no longer produced AEs. Well-watered control plants produced only a small number of ultrasonic AEs. After three cycles of water stress (lasting 24 days in total), it was estimated that about two-thirds of the functional tracheids were embolized. The concomitant reduction in hydraulic conductance was about 70%.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Ultrasonography
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
