How does water move through plants to get to the top of tall trees? Here we describe the pathways and mechanisms driving water uptake and transport through plants, and causes of flow disruption.

As water travels through the xylem in the stem and leaf, it is being replaced by water taken up by the roots. Photosynthesis produces glucose in the green parts of plants, which are often leaves.

With leaves on, water is pulled upwards from tree roots through the xylem vessels by the differences in water potential from the air to the soil and escapes through the leaves (the soil-plant-air ...

the most commonly used parameter to study xylem water transport), mean vessel diameter (MVD) and mean hydraulic diameter with ...