Entries by Robert Skelton

Stem diameter fluctuations provide a new window into plant water status and function

September 22, 2020 in , , , /by

Author: Robert Skelton rskelton@saeon.ac.za Affiliation: South African Environmental Observation Network, Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735, South Africa Knowledge of the spatio-temporal dynamics of water storage in plant stems is fundamental to understanding plant physiological function under drought stress (Tyree and Yang 1990; Holbrook 1995; Skelton 2019). Usually such processes—including reversible living-cell dehydration-rehydration and capillary discharge […]

Of storage and stems: examining the role of stem water storage in plant water balance

April 16, 2019 in , , , /by

Robert Skelton1 1 Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94707. Stems of land plants provide mechanical support and long-distance transport of water and carbohydrates. Although it has long been recognized that plant stems can also store water, it remains uncertain what role stem water plays in mitigating drought stress and maintaining […]