Direct measurement of sieve tube turgor pressure using severed aphid stylets

Abstract

Turgor pressure in individual sieve tubes was measured directly by gluing capillary micromanometers over exuding aphid stylets with cyanoac-rylate adhesive. Pressures of up to 10 bars were measured in sieve tubes of Salix babylonica, with an estimated accuracy of +/- 0.3 bars or better.For comparison with the direct measurements of sieve tube turgor, calculated values of turgor pressure were also obtained from the difference between leaf water potential and phloem exudate solute potential, estimated from its refractive index and sucrose content. In most cases the measured turgor pressure was greater than the calculated value. The discrepancy between the two values was most likely due to the presence of appreciable concentrations of potassium and amino acids in the phloem exudate.