Intervessel pit membrane thickness best explains variation in embolism resistance amongst stems of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> accessions

Abstract

The woodier or more lignified accessions are more resistant to embolism than the herbaceous accessions, confirming the link between increased stem lignification and increased embolism resistance, as also observed in other lineages. Intervessel pit membrane thickness and, to a lesser extent, theoretical vessel implosion resistance and vessel wall thickness are the missing functional links between stem lignification and embolism resistance.