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Vascular differentiation in branch junctions of trees: circular patterns and functional significance

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Summary

Regions of spiral vascular tissues and circular vessels occur normally in branch junctions. Their size and frequency increase continuously with age and stem width. This phenomenon is general and was found in all the 15 species studied. The differentiation of narrow spiral vessels with non-functional circular vessels decreases water conductivity through branch junctions leading to hydraulic segmentation of lateral branches from the main stem. Possible hormonal mechanisms controlling circular vascular patterns and narrow vascular elements are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Simcha Lev-Yadun & Roni Aloni

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  1. Simcha Lev-Yadun
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  2. Roni Aloni
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Lev-Yadun, S., Aloni, R. Vascular differentiation in branch junctions of trees: circular patterns and functional significance. Trees 4, 49–54 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226240

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226240

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