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Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

Regulation of Water Output

Regulation of Water Output

The human body predominantly expels water through the urinary system. On average, an individual generates around 1.5 liters of urine each day. This amount can fluctuate based on how well a person is hydrated, but a critical minimum quantity of urine must be produced to ensure the body's proper functioning. Daily, the kidneys remove 600 to 1200 milliosmoles of dissolved substances, effectively excreting excess minerals and water-soluble toxins such as creatinine, urea, and uric acid from the...

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves

Published on: December 2, 2016

NUT1-Exo70A1 Regulates Xylem Vessel Development and Influences Water Use Efficiency in Maize.

Tengfei Zhu¹, Yanyan Wang¹, Yijie Wang¹

¹Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Nature Communications

|February 16, 2026

Summary

A new maize mutant, drought-sensitive 1 (ds1), reveals that xylem vessel structure is key for water transport. Targeting the NUT1-Exo70A1 gene module can improve water use efficiency (WUE) and crop yield, even under drought.

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Last Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Kinematic Analysis of Cell Division and Expansion: Quantifying the Cellular Basis of Growth and Sampling Developmental Zones in Zea mays Leaves

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Micron-scale Phenotyping Techniques of Maize Vascular Bundles Based on X-ray Microcomputed Tomography

Micron-scale Phenotyping Techniques of Maize Vascular Bundles Based on X-ray Microcomputed Tomography

Published on: October 9, 2018

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Genetics
Agricultural Science

Background:

Efficient water transport via xylem vessels is crucial for plant growth.
Xylem's patterned secondary cell wall (SCW) provides mechanical support and aids water movement.
Understanding SCW patterning factors is key to improving water use efficiency (WUE).

Purpose of the Study:

Identify genetic factors controlling SCW patterning in maize xylem.
Investigate the role of these factors in plant drought tolerance and water transport.
Explore potential targets for enhancing crop WUE.

Main Methods:

Identified and characterized a recessive maize mutant, drought-sensitive 1 (ds1).
Analyzed SCW patterning, xylem differentiation, and hydraulic conductivity in ds1 mutants.
Investigated the genetic regulation involving NUT1 and Exo70A1.

Main Results:

The ds1 mutant exhibits defects in SCW patterning and xylem development, leading to reduced hydraulic conductivity.
DS1 was identified as the ortholog of Arabidopsis Exo70A1, regulated by NUT1.
Overexpression of Exo70A1 improved hydraulic conductivity, biomass, and grain yield under varying water conditions.

Conclusions:

The NUT1-Exo70A1 regulatory module is critical for xylem SCW patterning and water transport.
This module presents a promising genetic target for enhancing WUE and crop productivity in maize.
Genetic manipulation of this pathway offers a strategy for developing climate-resilient crops.