Theoretical examination of the standing osmotic gradient response to a step change of the solute influx into the symplast (Q2177449)

This is a short article in the format of a letter to the editor. It is a mathematical analysis of a system of partial differential equations that model osmosis in symplasts, part of the vascular system of plant cells. The equations are one-dimensional reaction-advection-diffusion equations that model the concentrations of water and a solute as functions of space \(x\) and time \(t\). The main results of this article are a power series solution for the water influx \(I_v\) in terms of the solute influx \(I_s\). Because the \(I_s^2\) and higher order terms are small compared to the leading order term, the authors then make the approximation that these terms are zero, and retain only the first. The proof that the higher order term is small is not present in this letter. To first order, the water influx into the symplast \(I_v\) is very close to linearly proportional to \(I_s\), the solute influx. This is true at all times \(t\) of interest, with the coefficient of proportionality between \(I_s\) and \(I_v\) increasing with time, exponentially approaching a stable steady state. This is the main conclusion of the article. This article is most relevant to biophysicists and chemical engineers specialising in plant cells.