Alternative plant water uptake pathways under a changing environment

Soil water and groundwater are not the only sources of water contributing to plant water balance. Small rain events, fog, mist and dew and even not saturated air, which do not increase the soil water availability can represent an alternative water source to the plant water budget. Thus, plants can maximize their ability to acquire water during periods of soil water deficit to improve their chances of success, outside of the traditional soil-plant-atmosphere pathway. Plants can use water deposited on leaf or stem surface or other aerial organs, depending on the water potential gradient or vapour gradient concentration between inside tissue and atmosphere which act as the driving force to water flow into the tissue. However, surface properties and structures which affect water loss can also impact pathways and capacity of water movement from atmosphere to plant, even when water gradient favor the reverse flow. Foliar water uptake occurs through a variety of pathways and mechanisms depending on plant species and can have direct consequences on plant function.

Although the study of water uptake has received substantial attention in recent years, mainly, foliar water uptake which has been observed in several species from different biomes, our knowledge about plant and ecosystem functional significance and the factors affecting this process is limited. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap on how foliar water uptake can mitigate the effects of climate change driving drought on plants and if this phenomenon exhibits phenotipic plasticity in response to climate change. To better understanding in what extent, when and how water is uptaken from canopy are also need new or improvement of the measurement techniques.
We welcome the submission of original research or review articles related to water uptake by plant aerial organs including, but not limited to, the following:

-Leaf water uptake responses to environmental changes
-Water uptake through other aerial plant parts (i.e., bark, flowers)
-Relationship between water uptake and surface traits (i.e wettability)
-Pathways of water entry (i.e trichoms, hydatodes, stomata, cuticle, veins)
-Phillosphere and foliar water uptake
-Molecular mechanisms in leaf water uptake (i.e aquaporins expression)
-Ontogenic changes in foliar water uptake
-Plant physiological impacts of leaf or stem water uptake (i.e., embolism refilling, water potential, carbon assimilation, growth)
-Ecosystem impacts of leaf water uptake (i.e water and carbon balance)
-Tools and techniques for assessing leaf or stem water uptake