Hydraulic architecture of Vitis vinifera L. and Populus deltoides Bartr. 1-year-old twigs: I - Hydraulic conductivity (LSC) and water potential gradients

The Leaf Specific Conductivity (LSC) of nodal and internodal segments of 1-year-old twigs of Vitis vinifera L. and Populus deltoides Bartr. was measured. It turned out to be greater in the internodes than in the nodes in both species, the differences being much bigger in Vitis than in Populus. The nodes can be considered as « hydraulic constriction zones » of the stem. Their resistance to flow increases acropetally in both species, causing a characteristic hyperbolic behaviour of the water potential gradients along the twigs in Vitis, while in Populus it is not so marked. Some hypotheses are advanced about the possible functional significance of the nodes.