PROCESS OF WATER TRANSPORT AND TRANSPIRATION IN Peperomia pellucida

PLANT

Amigo, Justin M., Capinig, Noel C., Compahinay, Angelo Gabriel R.

INTRODUCTION

Water is one of the most essential chemicals that all life on Earth requires. For instance, it
helps living organisms maintain a steady internal condition despite the constantly changing conditions
of their environment. Different physiological activities (e.g. homeostasis, photosynthesis) and
structural growth also require the involvement of water in order to progress smoothly and effectively.
In plants, the importance of water in their continued survival cannot be overstated. Tracheophytes, in
particular, possess vascular tissues that conduct the flow of water and important nutrients within them.
The two kinds of vascular tissues that tracheophytes have are xylem and phloem only. The former is
primarily concerned with the transport of water and minerals inside plants while the latter, phloem, is
responsible for translocating the foods yielded from photosynthesis into the roots or stems. Between
the two vascular tissues, the xylem serves as the highway of water molecules from the roots to the
leaves. There are two kinds of water transport that exists among plants: short distance transport and
long distance transport. The former deals with the lateral movement of water and other solutes
between cells in a tissue or organ while the latter deals with the transport of water and other solutes in
the vascular system (i.e. xylem, phloem); basically their up and down movement within the plant.
White (2011) elaborated the long-distance transport in his paper claiming that “during long-distance
transport, elements and organic solutes are transferred between the xylem and phloem by extensive
exchange processes…The transfer of organic and inorganic solutes can take place along the entire
pathway from roots to shoot, and here the stem plays an important role.” Basically, what the statement
implies is that long-distance transport occurs in the bulk structures of the plant and requires extensive
effort to deliver the necessary solutes from the root to the shoots.

In addition, the xylem possesses a water conducting capability in the first place is because of
its specialized, lignified cells called vessel elements. The vessel elements are responsible for the
ascent of water from the roots and serves as the building blocks of xylem tissues. They possess
perforations in their physiology that allow for the smooth and continuous movement of water
molecules within the xylem. However, they can only be found among angiosperms and is largely
responsible for their evolutionary success. Tracheids, on the other hand, exist in all vascular plants.
Tracheids, along with vessel elements, are part of the tracheary system which also serve as the
transporter of water within vascular plants. In angiosperms, they aid the vessel elements in the
transportation of water whereas they mostly operate alone on gymnosperms.

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 Transpiration, basically, is the process where the water that flows within the plant moves to
the leaves and is released as water vapor from the stomata. It is also a part of the water cycle and is
only possible when the stomata are open during gas exchange. In fact, 90% of the water absorbed by
the roots gets released during transpiration. The process of transpiration relies on the vapor difference
between the stomatal cavity and the surrounding air which implies that transpiration does occur
without the expenditure of energy (Kubota, 2016).

The laboratory experiment endeavors to review the students’ knowledge regarding

transpiration and the water transport systems in plants. Specifically, to show, through
experimentation, the long-distance and short distance transport in plant tissues and organs. To
differentiate the long-distance and short distance transport in plants based on observations; and lastly,
to determine the conditions that trigger the water transport and transpiration process in plants.

In the laboratory experiment, students will get to know how short-distance and long-distance
transport work to sustain a plant. Plants survive for as long as they can, because of the complex
structure of vascular tissues specifically built to deliver water and necessary nutrients to plant cells in
need. Because of this, plant cells receive the nourishment they require to keep functioning at an
optimal level. Without the tracheary system, plant cells will eventually plasmolyze and the important
biochemical reactions that occur in them will come to a halt. Another important takeaway from the
experiment is the importance of transpiration. For plants, transpiration can be detrimental because
water gets lost everytime gas exchange occurs. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it serves no
purpose at all. It’s important to remember that because of transpiration, the water cycle continues to
benefit all life on Earth. The movement of water above and below the earth’s surface maintains
certain atmospheric and environmental conditions that living organisms need to survive. But among
plants, transpiration also functions as a coolant of leaves and a pump for the water to move upwards.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Peperomia pellucida G shoots with intact roots were collected having a measure of 15-30
centimeter in lenght. The group gathered six P. pellucida shoots having intact roots and trimmed off
most of the leaves remaining only two with the same length (from the end of the petiole to the leaf
apex) and width (widest part of the leaf blade) approximately near the apical part and intact to the
stem. The plant was cleaned by dusting off the soil and washing it with water then put in a 100mL of
water covered by a paper bag one hour prior to the experimentation.

Experimental Set Ups

This experiment required two experimental set ups. The group prepared 6 identical plastic
cups containing 50 mL of distilled water and 2 mL of food coloring. This experiment utilized two
colors which are red for Set A and blue for Set B.

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 Set A with red color consists of three set ups which are the control with shoots having intact
roots and leaves, treatment 1 (AT1) with detached root but with leaves, and treatment 2 (AT2) with
intact root but detached leaves. The three P. pellucida was dipped simultaneously in the Set A cups
for 5 minutes under the fluorescent light. After that the plant was removed and the excess water from
the plant was blotted by tissue.

Set B with blue color consists of three set up which are a control with shoot having intact
roots and leaves, treatment 1 (BT1) with intact roots but with one leaf covered in foil, treatment 2
(BT2) with intact roots but with two leaves covered in foil. The three P. pellucida plants was dipped
simultaneously in the cups for 5 minutes under fluorescent light. After that, the excess water was
blotted by tissue and the foil was removed from the leaved.

A straight longitudinal cut was made from the soil line of the stem to the shoot tip. A half of
the longitudinal cut was placed in a paper and the group recorded the length of the colored inner part
of the shoot in both Set A and Set B. A cross section of the stained internode and an unstained
internode was obtained was observed in the microscope under LPO and HPO for comparison in which
part of the stem was colored. This was conducted both in Set A and Set B.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Experimental Set Up A

Fig 1. Cross section of P.pellucida submerged Fig 2. Cross section of P.pellucida submerged
into 1 mL of red food coloring under LPO. into 1 mL of red food coloring under HPO.

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 Control A AT1 AT2

Fig 3. P. pellucida samples after submerging with red food

coloring; black lines resprenting the area where the
coloring is located.

Experimental Set Up B

Fig 4. Cross section of P.pellucida submerged Fig 4. Cross section of P.pellucida submerged
into 1 mL of blue food coloring under LPO. into 1 mL of blue food coloring under LPO.

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Fig 6.Longitudinal section of P.pellucida under
dissecting microscope.

Fig 7. P. pellucida samples after submerging with blue food

coloring; black lines resprenting the area where the coloring is
located.

The first set of P. pellucida or the set A was submerged into the red food coloring for 5
minutes; then the samples was viewed under dissecting microscope to check if the areas where the
food coloring can be located (refer to fig 3). The first shoot which is the controlled has roots and
leaves, the food coloring ranges from its shoot system up to the apical bud. For the AT1, it was
shortest amongst the three; the food coloring can be just located at the lowest part of the shoot system.
In addition, the Test one has no roots at all. The last test (AT2) which has roots but no leaves, the food
color ranges from the shoot system up to the apical bud, the test is almost the same as the controlled
sample.

The second set or the set B underwent the same process as the earlier set; the only difference
is that a blue food coloring was used and the leaves were covered with foil; the reason for this
instance is to test whether the leaves will transpire even if it’s covered. Moreover, this set – up, has
relation to photosynthetic activity of the plant itself. For the controlled sample, the food coloring
ranges from shoot system up to the apical bud. For the test 1, which has a root and leaves; the blue
food coloring located from the lower part of the shoot system up to the taproot. As seen from the fig 5

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there’s a reddish pigment from the sample, it turns out like that since it’s a cross section of one shoot
sample.

CONCLUSION

The experiment showed how water transport happens in plant. This showed how the absence
of plant organ can affect how water is being transported. The food coloring helped in locating how
water is transported from the roots to the shoot system. Since its particle is small it is just easy for it to
pass the cell membrane through diffusion. The controlled set up and AT1 has the same results wherein
the colored part of the shoot was from shoot system to the apical bud. While AT2 showed the lowest
where the color was only present in thr lower part of the shoot. On the other hand, Set up B has also
the same results where the controlled set up and BT2 has the same range of food color from the shoot
system to the apical bud meanwhile the BT2 has a color from the roots to the lower part of the shoot.

REFERENCES

Kubota, C. (2015). Transpiration and translocation as affected by sbiotic environmental factors.

Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012801775300010X.

White, P. (2011). Long-distance Transport in the xylem and phloem. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123849052000030.

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