Xylem: Differentiation, Water Transport and Ecology

The xylem carries water from the roots to the leaves; it is also the major supporting tissue in large plants. Three major areas of current research are concerned with additional mechanisms for the ascent of water; patterning at the plant, tissue and cell levels and its molecular basis; and the ecological significance of xylem diversity. Keywords: cohesion of water; comparative structure; ecological adaptations; pattern formation; plant hormones; auxin