The Effect of Guttation on the Growth of Bamboo Shoots

Abstract

Guttation is the process of exudating droplets from the tips, edges, and adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the undamaged leaves. Guttation is a natural and spontaneous biological phenomenon that occurs in a wide variety of plants. Despite its generally positive effect on plant growth, many aspects of this cryptic process are unknown. In this study, the guttation phenomenon characteristic of bamboo shoots and the anatomical feature of these and culm sheaths were systematically observed. In addition, the water transport pathway and the compounds in guttation droplets of bamboo shoots were analyzed, and the effect of bamboo sheaths’ guttation on the growth of bamboo shoots was assessed. The results revealed that bamboo shoots began to exudate liquid in the evening through to the next morning, during which period the volume of guttation liquid gradually increases and then decreases before sunrise. Many vascular bundles are in bamboo shoots and culm sheaths to facilitate this water transport. The exudate liquid contains organic acids, sugars, and hormones, among other compounds. Our findings suggest that the regular guttation of the sheath blade is crucial to maintain the normal growth of bamboo shoots.