CAREER: Examining xylem vessel network structure and function in woody plants using developmental and intra-organismal systems

水分在植物体内通过称为木质部的维管组织运输。 在开花植物的木质部内，水通过称为导管的多细胞中空管运输。 大多数导管都很短，水必须从一个导管移动到另一个导管，通过导管壁上的微小凹坑，才能在植物体内长距离移动。 维管组织内许多互相连接的木质部导管联合收割机形成木质部导管网络。 虽然木质部导管的结构和功能的知识是重要的理解植物水分利用和水分运输，导管网络的结构仍然很少研究。 本研究将研究木质部导管网络结构特征，因为它们与木质部有效和安全运输水的能力有关。 要测试的首要假设是，导管结构决定木质部的水力功能，然而，研究的重点将是三个具体的结构特征，很少研究：导管长度，连通性和网络坑面积。 重要的是，所有这三个性状代表木质部结构特征在组织水平上，都是三维木质部导管网络的特征。 这是超越传统木质部结构功能研究的重要一步，传统木质部结构功能研究通常依赖于二维截面分析。 通过完成拟议的研究所产生的信息将提供植物水力结构和功能之间的联系的整体知识，特别是，在木本植物的水力功能的血管网络结构的影响。 该项目将把木质部结构和功能的研究与社区外展和教育计划相结合，旨在让来自不同背景和学术水平的学生参与科学过程。 研究和教育活动将通过参与K-12外展计划，参与地区高中和地区社区学院的学生和教师计划，以及通过PI的家庭机构（少数民族服务机构）的本科生和研究生参与。 本科生和研究生将参与数据收集，分析和结果的传播，包括在全国会议上介绍结果。 此外，PI，谁是一个早期的职业女性调查员在一个主要的本科院校，和她的学生将受益于研究和教学的积极整合。

Water is transported in plants through vascular tissue called xylem. Within the xylem of flowering plants, water is transported through multi-celled hollow tubes called vessels. Most vessels are quite short and water must move from one vessel to another, through microscopic pits in the walls of vessels, to travel long distances within a plant. The many interconnected xylem vessels within the vascular tissue combine to form the xylem vessel network. Although knowledge of xylem vessel structure and function is important in understanding plant water use and water transport, the structure of vessel networks remains little studied. This study will examine xylem vessel network structural traits as they relate to the xylem's ability to efficiently and safely transport water. The overarching hypothesis to be tested is that vessel structure determines xylem hydraulic function; however, the focus of the research will be on three specific structural traits that have been little studied: vessel length, connectivity, and network pit area. Importantly, all three of these traits represent xylem structural features at the tissue level and all are features of the three-dimensional xylem vessel network. This represents an important step beyond traditional xylem structure-function studies that often rely on two-dimensional cross-sectional analyses. The information generated by completion of the proposed study will provide integral knowledge of the links between plant hydraulic structure and function, and, specifically, the influence of vessel network structure on hydraulic function in woody plants. The project will integrate research on xylem structure and function with community outreach and educational programs designed to involve students from diverse backgrounds and scholastic levels in the scientific process. Research and educational activities will be combined through involvement in a K-12 outreach program, participation in a program for students and teachers from regional high schools and the regional community college, and through involvement of undergraduate and graduate students from the PI's home institution, which is a minority serving institution. Undergraduate and graduate students will participate in data collection, analysis, and the dissemination of results, including presentation of results at national conferences. Additionally, the PI, who is an early career female investigator at a predominantly undergraduate institution, and her students will benefit from active integration of research and teaching.