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. 1987 Apr;83(4):719–722. doi: 10.1104/pp.83.4.719

Direct Measurement of Turgor and Osmotic Potential in Individual Epidermal Cells 1

Independent Confirmation of Leaf Water Potential as Determined by in Situ Psychrometry

Kenneth A Shackel 1
PMCID: PMC1056435  PMID: 16665324

Abstract

The pressure probe, which is routinely used to measure the turgor potential (Ψp) of individual epidermal cells in Tradescantia virginiana (L.), has also been used to sample small volumes of vacuolar fluid from these same cells (as low as 0.02 nl) for measurement of cellular solute (osmotic) potential (Ψs) in a micro freezing point osmometer. The water potential components Ψp and Ψo have been used to calculate the total water potential of individual epidermal cells (Ψcell) which has then been directly compared to the total leaf water potential (Ψleaf) measured psychrometrically. The relation of Ψleaf and Ψcell to leaf transpiration indicates that in T. virginiana, a relatively straightforward relation exists between the level of water flow through the leaf tissue, and the ΔΨ within the leaf, between two points along the water flow pathway. Substantial agreement was found between the two independent, in situ methods of measuring Ψ when extrapolated to zero transpiration conditions. These results are discussed with respect to the thermodynamics of water transport in plant tissues.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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