Biology paper I - Botany
PLANT WATER RELATIONS
IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN PLANTS -
1] Water is essential for all physiological activities of
plants.
2] The land plants continuously absorb large amount
of water from land.
3] Water maintains the turgidity of cells, which
maintains growth, shape & form of plants
4] Water is essential for various physiological
activities such as photosynthesis, respiration etc.
5] Water carries out various enzymatic reactions in
plants.
6] Water is a best solvent for many substances.
7] Minerals absorbed by roots and food synthesized
by leaves are carried to different parts of plant
body through water.
8] The transparent nature of water helps to obtain
light for aquatic plants.
The mechanism of water
absorption by the plants is carried out by three
important physical process i.e. imbibition,
diffusions, & osmosis.
1] Imbibition - The process by which the colloid
substances absorb water from surrounding &
swells is called imbibition.
Ex. - Swelling of dry seeds placed in water
1] It helps in absorption of water by root hairs from
soil.
2] The imbibition pressure helps in upward
movement of water & dissolved salts in plants.
3] The water is absorbed by hydrophilic substance of
cells wall such as cellulose, proteins, pectin, etc.
4] The substance which imbibe water are called
imibibants.
5] The water or other liquid which is absorbed /
imbibed are called imbibate.
2] Diffusion - The movement of molecules of solids,
liquids and gases from a place of higher
concentration to a place of lower concentration is
called diffusion.
Eg. - If a crystal of copper sulphate is placed in
a breaker containing water the molecules of
crystal get separated & move from higher
concentration in crystal to space available
between water molecules in lower concentration
giving blue colour to water.
1] The rate of diffusing substance depends upon
shape and size of molecule.
2] The rate and direction of the diffusing molecules is
independent of molecule of other substance.
3] Osmosis - The diffusion of solvent across a
semipermeable membrane is called osmosis.
OR
The migration of solvent
molecules from a solution of lower concentration
to the solution of higher concentration through
semipermeable membrane is called osmosis.
Eg. - When a sugar solution is separated from
water by semipermeable membrane, the water
molecules pass from water to sugar solution as
sugar contains less water than ordinary water
1] It helps in absorption of water in plants from soil.
2] It regulates the opening and closing of stomata.
3] It maintains osmotic balance.
Absorption of water -
Water is the most important
factor for vital function of the plant. The plants
cannot survive in the absence of water.
The process of absorption of
water was first given by Andrea Caesalpino (1603)
who accepted the Aristotles theory that plants
absorb their food in the form of solution from the
soil.
Plants absorbs water from the
soil and at the same time lots of water is lost in the
form of vapours in atmosphere which forms a
pathway for movement of water from soil through
root, stem and leaves into atmosphere.
Soil consist of three different
forms of water, the water present in the lower
strata of earth is called gravitational or free water,
water present in particles of soil is called
hygroscopic water and water in the form of thin
film around soil particle called capillary water.
Out of these three sources of
water in soil plants only absorb capillary water by
their root hairs. If soil lacks capillary water the
plants could not survive.
The pathway of water through root -
Water enters the root through
walls of the root and epidermal cells of root tips
from where the water passes through cortex and
then through cells of endodermis. Passing through
the endodermis and water moves into xylem tissue
which is continous from roots to the leaves.
The water in the root moves by
three different pathways.
1] Apoplast pathway - The interconnecting cell wall
and intercellular spaces including water or air
filled xylem elements is considered as single
system is called apoplast pathway. In the pathway
the water moves through cell wall without
crossing any membrane.
2] Symplast pathway - Evidence based on electron
micrograph shows that cytoplasm connected from
cell to cell via plasmodesmata also forms a
interconnected system called symplast pathway.
3] Transmembrane pathway - Once the water
reaches the endodermis it is blocked by casparian
strips present in the endodermal cells which
consist of wax like substance called Seburin.
Thus, beyond
endodermis water is forced to move through cell
membrane such type movement of water is called
Transmembrane pathway.
Once the water reaches
to the xylem of root, transpiration pull drives the
water to move to leaves through stems.
Water absorbing parts of plants
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 3] The increased concentration in Xylem channels
causes absorption of water from surrounding cells
by osmosis.
4] The surrounding cell absorbs water from cortical
cells and cortical cells from root hair cells.
5] The root hair absorbs water osmotically from soil
capillaries.
6] Due to continous absorption of water by xylem it
creates a pressure which passes the water from
root to shoot.
1] Roots are the main absorbing system of the plant. 7] The movement of water takes place by symplast
2] Only the young roots or rootlets take part in pathway. i.e. from one cell to another cell.
absorption.
3] The zone of absorption is present 20-200 mm from b] Non-osmotic theory of active absorption -
root tip which consist of root hairs and is in close 1] Absorption of water occurs with the help of
contact with soil. energy.
4] The root hairs develop just above the zone of 2] Absorption of water takes place against
elongation. concentration gradient.
5] Root hair are thin delicate 1mm-1cm in length & 3] It depends upon the rate of absorption and
10mm in diameter, which arises from the respiration.
epidermal cells of root. 4] The energy released during respiration is
6] Root hairs consist of thin and permeable wall with responsible for absorption of water.
two distinct layers, the outer layer of pectin and 5] Auxins are also responsible for absorption of
inner layer of cellulose. water.
7] The cell wall is permeable to both solute and
solvent molecules. 2] Passive absorption -
8] The cytoplasm encloses a big central vacuole, 1] It occurs due to excessive transpiration.
which consist of cell sap. 2] Due to excessive transpiration, a suction force is
created in leaves.
Mechanism of water absorption - 3] The suction force is passed down upto roots
through xylem which help in passive absorption of
water.
4] The passive absorption is without any activity of
root cells.
5] The movement of water primarily takes place by
apoplast pathway.

Translocation of water -
The upward movement of water
from root towards the top of the plant is called as
translocation of water. It has been now proved that
water rises upward in plant through xylem.

The absorption of water by Ringing experiment -

plants is also known as water uptake. The first step
in the absorption of water molecule is imbibition
of water molecules by the outer pectic layer of the
cell-wall of root hair which is hydrophilic in
nature, thus water molecules then enters in cell
sap.
There are two different
mechanism by which the absorption of Water
molecules takes place.

1] Active absorption
2] Passive absorption

1] Active absorption - 1] Take a fresh leafy twig.

The mode of absorption of 2] Remove a ring of all tissues external to xylem with
water by the activity of root itself, particularly root the help of fine needle.
hair is called active absorption. 3] The ringed twig is placed upright in a beaker
There are two different theories containing water for one day.
of active absorption 4] It is observed that the leaves of ringed twig remain
a] Osmotic theory of active absorption. turgid.
b] Non-osmotic theory of active absorption. 5] It shows that the leaves receive water from xylem.

a] Osmotic theory of active absorption - Theories of water translocation -

1] Absorption of water takes place by osmosis. Different theories have been
2] A high osmotic concentration develops in Xylem given to explain the upward movement of water in
channels of roots due to accumulation of sugar and plants some of these theories are:
salts.
1] Root pressure theory -

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1] It was given by Priestly in 1916
2] According to Stocking (1956) the root pressure is
a pressure developed in the tracheary elements of
xylem due to metabolic activities of root.
3] The term root pressure was given by Stephen
Hales (1727).
This theory states that, if a stem
of plant is cut transversely above the soil surface,
xylem sap will exude in the form of a drop from
cut surface which shows the presence of pressure
in the xylem, the pressure is called root pressure.
The root pressure theory is
caused due to diffusion pressure gradient and is
maintained by the activity of living cells.
Objections to root pressure theory
The root pressure theory for
ascent of sap has following objections
1] The magnitude of root pressure is quite low which
is unsuitable for tall trees.
2] Ascent of sap is continuous even in absence of
root pressure.
3] Root pressure is not observed in conifers
4] Root pressure is very low during summer, when
transpiration is rapid.
2] Capillary theory -
This theory was given by
Boehm in 1809. According to this theory,
1] The xylem channels function as fine capillary
tube.
2] The water rises up automatically due to force of
surface tension.
3] Water is attracted to walls of capillary tubes sue to
phenomenon of adhesion.
4] During transfer of water up in the walls of
capillary tube the water in cooled due to cohesion
force existing amoung water molecule.
5] The capillary rise is continous till the force of
surface tension is counter balanced by the
downward pull up gravity.
Objections to capillary theory -
The objections to capillary
theory are.
1] The force is not sufficient to raise water to the top
of plant.
2] The capillary force can operate only when one end
of a capillary tube is dipped in container of water,
in roots the xylem channels are not directly in
contact with soil water.
3] Narrowness in capillaries increases the rise in
water level but tall plants do not have narrow
vessels as compared to smaller plants.
4] In gymnosperms the vessels are absent & trachieds
are with closed ends but still conduction of water
occurs.
3] Cohesion theory -
It was given by Dixon in 1914
which is the most widely accepted theory for
ascent of sap.
The theory is based on
following three main aspects.
1] Cohesion force of water - The matual attraction
between water molecule is called cohesion and the
attraction of water molecule towards xylem wall is
called adhesion due to cohesion and adhesion a
water column is built up which requires a large
force to break down.
2] Continuity of water column - Water in
Xy.vessxel and trachieds is a continous column
from root to leaves due to cohesive and adhesive
force which does not allows the water column to
break or pull away from the walls of xylem. The
cohesive force of sap in xy.vesxel is 300atm or
bans (1atm of pressure maintain a column of 34ft,
hence 13atm pressure is sufficient for raising water
upto 400ft [120mtr]). The force developed by
cohesion-adhesion is much higher and can
withstand stresses like gravity, friction etc.
3] Transpiration pull - The water evaporating from
mesophyll cells due to transpiration result in
increase of suction pressure which gradually
passes downwards to xylem of root and water is
pulled up which creates a constant pull or tension
on water column in upward direction, this is called
transpiration pull which maintains the water
column.
Objections to cohesion theory
1] Air bubbles may enter the water column due to
variation in atmosphere temperature.
2] According to cohesion theory tracheids are more
efficient than vessels, than why angiosperm plants
have developed vessels.
Experiment to demonstrate cohesion theory -
1] Take a small twig of plant with 5-6 leaves.
2] Fix the cut end of the twig into a narrow vertical
glass tube filled with water.
3] The lower end of glass tube is dipped in a vessel
containing mercury.
4] Keep the complete apparatus airtight and leave it
for one night.
5] It is observed that mercury is drawn into glass tube
and will rise to a considerable height.
6] The rise in the level of mercury in glass tube
occurs due to transpiration from leaf surface.
7] However, due to great suction force caused by
transpiration, water column is continuous in glass
tube and is not broken due to great cohesion
between water molecules.
Transpiration -
The loss of water in the form of
vaporous from the aerial part of the plants is called
transpiration.
Transpiration is a physiological
process controlled by protoplasm and may be
reduced or increased when needed by nature.
Types of transpiration
According to the site of loss of
water transpiration is of three types.
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1] Cuticular transpiration - Cuticle is a wax like
covering of cutin which covers the epidermis of
leaf and stem. The loss water through cuticle is
called cuticular transpiration.Cuticular
transpiration depends upon the thickness of
cuticle, greater the thickness less will be the rate of
transpiration. If cuticle is thin 20% of transpiration
will occur through it.
2] Lenticular transpiration - Lenticels are small
opening present in the cork of woody stem. The
loss of water from these Lenticles is called
Lenticular transpiration.which is continuous
throughout day and night, however only 0.1% of
transpiration occur through lenticels.
3] Stomatal transpiration - Stomata are small
opening found mainly on the epidermis of leaf and
green stem. When transpiration occurs through
stomata it is called as stomatal transpiration. The
stomata are the main organ of transpiration, which
carries out about 90-97% of total cellular
transpiration.
Mechanism of stomatal transpiration -
01] Stomata are minute opening found on the
epidermis of leaves.
02] Each stomata is surrounded by two special
epidermal cells called guard cells.
03] The guard cells may be kidney shaped or dumbbell
shaped.
04] The epidermal cell surrounding the guard cell are
called accessory or subsidiary cell.
05] The mesophyll of leaves continuously receives
water from xylem of the leaf veins.
06] The mesophyll cells become saturated with water
& their walls remain moist.
07] The mesophyll cells also contain chloroplast,
which converts light energy into heat energy.
08] Due to formation of heat energy the water
evaporates through the moist wall of mesophyll
cells into the intercellular spaces.
09] From the intercellular spaces the water vapours
reach the air chamber, which communicate to the
outside atmosphere through stomata.
10] When air chamber become saturated with water
vaporous, they diffuse it into atmosphere through
stomata, as stomata is unsaturated.
11] The process is continuous as long as stomata are
open.
Opening and closing of stomata -
01] The opening and closing of stomata is regulated by
factor such as light and dark, CO2 concentration,
water supply, pH of cell-sap etc.
02] Visually in most plants the stomata remain open
during daytime and close in night.
03] Stomata is the part of plant body from where loss
of water occurs.
04] Each stomata consist of elliptical pose surrounded
by guard cells.
05] The inner wall of guard cell is thick and
inextensible.
06] The difference between outer and inner wall is
responsible for opening and closing of stomata.
07] The opening and closing of stomata occurs due to
turgor changes in guard cells.
08] The increase in turgor pressure of guard cells
causes opening of stomata and decrease in turgor
pressure causes closing of stomata.
09] The change in turgor pressure of guard cells
depends upon the conversion of starch of into
sugar and sugar into starch.
10] During daytime in presence of light the starch of
guard cells is converted into glucose.
11] Glucose increases osmotic pressure in guard cell
as a result, of which it absorbs the water from
surrounding.
12] For absorption of water the outer wall of guard
cell extend as a result in inner wall becomes
concave and the two guard cells more apart which
causes opening of stomata.
13] During the night sugar of guard cells is converted
into starch.
14] Starch is non-osmotic so the turgor pressure in
guard cells decreases.
15] Due to non-osmotic nature of starch water from
guard cell is absorbed by neighboring cells.
16] Due to loss of water from guard cells the guard
cells become flaccid, which causes closing of
stomata.
Advantages of transpiration -
1] It helps in absorption of water and minerals from
soil.
2] It helps in upward movement of water and
minerals through xylem.
3] It regulates the temperature of the plant.
4] It makes the leaves and air cool.
5] It maintains turgor pressure in plants.
6] It improves the quality of fruit.
Disadvantages of transpiration -
1] About 97% of total water absorbed by plants is
lost.
2] It may cause water deficits and injury to the plants
by desiccation.
3] Deciduous trees have to shed their leaves to check
transpiration.