ISHS group details tools and datasets for tracking plant water status
Researchers are advancing methods to measure plant water transport and status, combining sap flow techniques with additional sensors and expanding global datasets. These tools help scientists and growers better understand plant responses to water stress and changing environmental conditions.
Key takeaways
- Plant transpiration exceeds global river flow to oceans.
- Sap flow methods remain central to measuring plant water transport.
- Global datasets and shared tools are expanding research and modeling.
In a February 2026 update, the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Working Group on Sensing Water Status outlined methods used to quantify how plants regulate water movement from soil to atmosphere. The group noted that plant transpiration exceeds the volume of water carried by rivers to oceans globally, underscoring its role in ecosystem function.
Thermometric sap flow methods remain the most widely used approach for continuously measuring plant water transport in field conditions. These methods are increasingly combined with tools such as water potential measurements, digital dendrometry to track stem diameter changes, and sensors that estimate stem water content based on wood electrical properties.
The group said plant water regulation varies widely across species and directly affects productivity and survival, making accurate measurement important for understanding responses to changing water availability and stress.
Recent years have also seen growth in global databases compiling plant water transport and status data. These datasets, along with shared protocols and processing tools, are expected to support broader data reuse, modeling efforts and improved crop management strategies.
The update includes a curated list of research papers, software tools, databases and equipment manufacturers related to plant water measurement.
FAQ
Q: What is plant water transport?
A: It is the movement of water from soil through plants to the atmosphere, mainly through transpiration.
Q: What methods are commonly used?
A: Thermometric sap flow methods, along with water potential measurements and dendrometry.
Q: Why is measuring plant water status important?
A: It helps assess plant health, stress responses and productivity under changing water conditions.
Q: What new developments are highlighted?
A: Growth in global datasets and integration of multiple sensing technologies.
Q: Who produced the update?
A: The ISHS Working Group on Sensing Water Status.
What this means
Improved measurement tools and shared datasets could enhance both research and practical water management in crops and ecosystems.