Collection of Xylem Exudates from the Model Plant Arabidopsis and the Crop Plant Soybean

A number of molecules, such as secreted peptides, have been shown to mediate root-to-shoot signaling in response to various conditions. The xylem is a pathway for water and molecules that are translocated from roots to shoots. Therefore, collecting and analyzing xylem exudates is an efficient approach to study root-to-shoot long-distance signaling. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for the collection of xylem exudate from the model plant Arabidopsis and the crop plant soybean ( Glycine max ). In this protocol, we can collect xylem exudate from plants cultured under normal growth conditions without using special equipment. Graphical abstract: Xylem exudates on the cut surfaces of an Arabidopsis hypocotyl and a soybean internode.