A Simple and High-Throughput Method for Xylem Sap Collection

Abstract

Xylem is the most important route for root-to-shoot translocation of water, nutrients and signaling molecules. Although a number of studies have been performed using xylem sap, its collection requires special equipment and is usually low throughput. Here, we developed a simple and high-throughput method for the collection of both medium- (<1ml) and small- (<200μl) volume xylem sap samples. Using a rice Cd transporter mutant, we demonstrated that our method allows for the effective evaluation of xylem sap Cd concentrations.

Method Summary

Here, we describe a simple and high-throughput method for the collection of medium (<1 ml) and small (<200 μl) xylem sap samples. Xylem sap is collected in 1.5-, 2- or 5-ml plastic tubes containing cotton, without the use of special instruments. The xylem sap collected using this method can be used directly for ionome analysis.

Keywords: :

• ionome
• translocation
• xylem
• xylem sap

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Emiko Yokota for technical assistance.

Author contributions

KM and KY contributed equally. KM, KY and TK designed and performed the experiments. KM analyzed data. KM, KY and TK prepared the manuscript. TF and TK supervised the study and corrected the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by JST, PRESTO grant number JPMJPR16Q3 to TK, Japan. Grant-in-Aid for scientific research to TF (no. 25221202). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by JST, PRESTO grant number JPMJPR16Q3 to TK, Japan. Grant-in-Aid for scientific research to TF (no. 25221202). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.