Sugars from woody tissue photosynthesis reduce xylem vulnerability to cavitation

What is it about?

The role of woody tissue photosynthesis in maintaining plant water transport is still not fully understood. By applying the acoustic emission technique to detect cavitation events of light-excluded and control branches, we observed that light-excluded branches were more susceptible to drought-induced cavitation. Woody tissue assimilates might play a role in surfactant synthesis to safeguard plant water transport under drought stress.

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Why is it important?

The role of sugars in maintaining hydraulic functioning has been primarily attributed to embolism repair under tension. By applying the acoustic emissions technique, we were able to determine a secondary role of sugars in surfactant production. The positive effect of reassimilation of internal CO2 via woody tissue photosynthesis on carbon income and wood production is an understood research topic, but this was not the case for its function in xylem vulnerability to drought-induced cavitation. We urge to further advance research in this line, to unravel the full extent of the role that non-structural carbohydrates play in both safeguarding xylem and delaying/reversing the negative effects of drought-induced cavitation.