Fensom and Spanner Electroosmotic Flow Hypothesis

In electroosmosis the ions flow across a membrane in response to electrical gradient. Ions pull along water and other contents because of solvent drag. In this hypothesis it is visualised that sap flows in the lumen of sieve element and electroosmosis occurs across the sieve plate. The basic idea of this model is represented in Figure. The pores of sieve are negatively charged and many positive ions are associated with them. The companion cells of consecutive sieve elements are shown to be engaged in K⁺ uptake and release. This generates a (K⁺) gradient in the direction of phloem sap flux; the fluxes of other solutes are coupled to K⁺ flux and move along with the electroosmotic flow from one sieve tube to the next.

Figure: Active uptake of K⁺ by the companion cell from its associated sieve tube on the left and secretion of K⁺ into the sieve tube at the right side by its companion cell generate both e potential difference and a K⁺ concentration gradient. This causes a now of K⁺ ions and other solutes from right hand side to left.