The Effect of Water and Salt Fluxes on the Trans-root Potential inHelianthus annuus

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Abstract
The effect of an artificially imposed water flux on the trans-root electrical potential difference has been studied in excised sunflower roots. It was found that the potential of the xylem sap became more negative with respect to the external medium as the rate of water flow was increased. This change appeared to be related to an accompanying increase in the flux of ions. The effect of increasing the water flux on the vacuolar potential difference of the epidermal cells was also investigated. It also became more negative with increasing water flux. Both potentials were measured simultaneously in the same root. On increasing the water flux it was found that the trans-root potential began to rise immediately but there was a time lag of approximately 2 min before the vacuolar potential began to change. The relevance of these potential changes to the mechanism and pathway of ion transport across the root is discussed.

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