The fact that the porosity and permeability of intervessel pit pathways are significantly reduced by low ionic strength (deionized water) evokes the question of to what degree the pit membrane permeability can be reduced, and whether the network of laterally connected vessels can be affected by low ionic strength. Isolated stem segments of Tamarix gallica were used to (1) evaluate the effect of low ionic strength on lateral pit pathways in xylem of the halophytic plant; (2) visualize the blocked pathways by tracing the vessel network before and after treatments, using two apoplastic tracers. The results showed that the degree of intervessel contacts was significantly decreased by deionized water. Blockage of some laterally connected vessels could be clearly visualized in samples perfused with deionized water. These results suggested that some intervessel pit pathways might be blocked under low ionic strength, causing a reduction in the intervessel connectivity. Also, our results supported the idea that pit membranes might differ in their structure and/or chemical nature within the same xylem network. This study may contribute to an understanding of the complex interactions among sap salinity, pit pathways, and intervessel connectivity.
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