Device for measuring the hydraulic conductivity of xylem

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring hydraulic conductivity, which is suitable for samples of branches ranging from a few millimetres in diameter to several centimetres and which can precisely measure low conductivities in up to five samples simultaneously. The inventive device is cheap, sturdy and easy to maintain since it is not made from sophisticated elements. The invention consists in using precision pipettes in order to measure volumes passed through samples. The pressure and, consequently, the flow of the perfusion solution can be adjusted by varying the height of the container. In addition, valves enable the solution to pass through the samples and the system to be emptied for cleaning. The invention also comprises a device which enables the perfusion to be stopped instantaneously, without the measurement being affected by undesired variations in the pressure. The inventive device further comprises a high-pressure perfusion system which can be used to eliminate embolism from the samples and, in this way, to measure the maximum hydraulic conductivity.