The bulk of higher plant biomass is comprised of dead xylem vessels, which together form a sophisticated system supplying water, nutrients, hormones, and mechanical support to the plant. The terrestrial success of plants has relied significantly on this system.The xylem function is intrinsically related to its structure, and ascertaining the relationships between the xylem structure and its function has become a top priority for xylologists. Such knowledge is key to understanding the colonization and adaptability of plants to diverse terrestrial environmental conditions, their diversification in form, and plant function in general. This knowledge is also critical for predicting crops’ responses to global climate change and designing sustainable crop production practices.While there have been significant advances in xylem vasculature studies over the last 50 years, much more is to be learned about xylem structure-function relationships and their role in adaptive evolution. The refinement of physiological, molecular, and microscopical techniques that integrate functional and structural aspects will help to achieve an improved understanding of xylem evolution, anatomy, and the genes and proteins underlying changes in xylem structure-function relationships. Specifically, the relationships can be probed by performing an integrated analysis of all traits associated with xylem anatomy, morphology, and ultrastructure and its function of long-distance water transport in terrestrial plants. This Research Topic aims to collate the different techniques and perspectives used to elucidate the link between the structure and function of elements within the xylem. We encourage authors to share Original Research and Review articles covering:• Xylem anatomy (vessel and perforation plate morphology, secondary cell wall sculpturing, pitting types (like vestured pits), vessel groupings, and fiber and xylem parenchymal structure), and their mechanistic/functional relevance;• Developmental and spatial variation in xylem anatomy and ultrastructure and the functional consequences;• Xylogenesis entailing procambial and cambial initials, cell wall structure and biosynthesis, primary and secondary xylem structural variations within and between species, including cultivars, and their mechanistic/functional relevance;• Origin and evolution of xylem in plants;• Water transport mechanism and conductive efficiency;• Biomechanics, structural support and storage of water and nutrients;• Tylosis, xylem parenchyma cells and their configuration and function;• Xylem dysfunction and repair - cavitation mechanisms and resistance;• Defense against abiotic and biotic agents;• The link between stomatal regulation and xylem-structure function.Please note that manuscripts that do not provide functional and mechanistic insights will not be considered for publication in this Research Topic.
The bulk of higher plant biomass is comprised of dead xylem vessels, which together form a sophisticated system supplying water, nutrients, hormones, and mechanical support to the plant. The terrestrial success of plants has relied significantly on this system.The xylem function is intrinsically related to its structure, and ascertaining the relationships between the xylem structure and its function has become a top priority for xylologists. Such knowledge is key to understanding the colonization and adaptability of plants to diverse terrestrial environmental conditions, their diversification in form, and plant function in general. This knowledge is also critical for predicting crops’ responses to global climate change and designing sustainable crop production practices.While there have been significant advances in xylem vasculature studies over the last 50 years, much more is to be learned about xylem structure-function relationships and their role in adaptive evolution. The refinement of physiological, molecular, and microscopical techniques that integrate functional and structural aspects will help to achieve an improved understanding of xylem evolution, anatomy, and the genes and proteins underlying changes in xylem structure-function relationships. Specifically, the relationships can be probed by performing an integrated analysis of all traits associated with xylem anatomy, morphology, and ultrastructure and its function of long-distance water transport in terrestrial plants. This Research Topic aims to collate the different techniques and perspectives used to elucidate the link between the structure and function of elements within the xylem. We encourage authors to share Original Research and Review articles covering:• Xylem anatomy (vessel and perforation plate morphology, secondary cell wall sculpturing, pitting types (like vestured pits), vessel groupings, and fiber and xylem parenchymal structure), and their mechanistic/functional relevance;• Developmental and spatial variation in xylem anatomy and ultrastructure and the functional consequences;• Xylogenesis entailing procambial and cambial initials, cell wall structure and biosynthesis, primary and secondary xylem structural variations within and between species, including cultivars, and their mechanistic/functional relevance;• Origin and evolution of xylem in plants;• Water transport mechanism and conductive efficiency;• Biomechanics, structural support and storage of water and nutrients;• Tylosis, xylem parenchyma cells and their configuration and function;• Xylem dysfunction and repair - cavitation mechanisms and resistance;• Defense against abiotic and biotic agents;• The link between stomatal regulation and xylem-structure function.Please note that manuscripts that do not provide functional and mechanistic insights will not be considered for publication in this Research Topic.