WATER POTENTIAL THEORY AND CONCEPT

1) What is water potential?

Water potential is the difference in the free energy of water molecules in the
solution and that of pure water at the same temperature and pressure.
Water potential of pure water is nearly zero. The water potential of aqueous
solution has a negative value.
The higher the concentration of a solution, lower is its water potential.
Water potential is denoted by (psi) Ψ or Ψw . It is measured in pressure units,
such as bars, atmospheres, pascals (Pa) and megapascals (MPa) as in the case
of osmotic pressure.
2) How do water potential is related with Diffusion pressure deficit (DPD)
and suction pressure (SP)?
According to this concept, water potential (Ψw ) of protoplasm of the cell is
equal but opposite in sign to diffusion pressure deficit (DPD) or suction
pressure (SP).
Explain water potential based on the movement of water molecules from higher
to lower region?
Water potential is responsible for the movement of water molecules from the
region of higher water potential to the region of lower water potential, i.e.,
from pure water or dilute solution to solution of higher solute concentration.
The movement of water molecules continues until water potential of two regions
or two solutions become equal.
3) What are the components of water potential?
The component of water potential is:
1. Matric potential
2. Osmotic or solute potential
3. Pressure potential
Water Potential = matric potential + solute potential + pressure potential
Matric potential: The colloidal particles present in the cell cytoplasm are
hydrophilic in nature. These are macromolecules of carbohydrates, proteins
and mucopolysaccharides. Water molecules are adsorbed to the surface of
these molecules. This cause decrease in the chemical potential of water because
of immobilisation.
Matric potential is always negative. The value of matric potential is maximum
in young cells, fruits, seeds and in plant cells living in extreme cold or dry
conditions.
In case of mature plant cells, matric potential is negligible because their cell
walls are well hydrated.
Osmotic potential or solute potential: It is the decrease in the chemical
potential of pure water or solvent due to the presence of solute particles.
It is related with the number of solute particles. More the number of solute
particles in a solution, less is its osmotic potential. The non-electrolytes solutes
(like carbohydrates [sucrose], protein) etc affect the chemical potential less
than electrolytes solutes.
However, in case of electrolytes e.g., NaCl, the osmotic or solute potential may
be multiplied negatively by the degree of ionization. For example: 0.1N sucrose
solution has solute potential of – 2.3 bars and 0.1 N NaCl solution has solute
potential value of -4.5 bars.
Pressure potential or hydrostatic potential: The pressure generated by the
diffusion of water molecules into the cell and their involvement into the cell sap
is called pressure potential. Osmosis increases due to increase in pressure
potential and slows down due to decrease in pressure potential.
1) What happened to the texture of the cuboidal block after placing it in S-P
solution?
The cuboidal block after placing it in S-P solutions (Sucrose solution)
shows decrease in size due to shrinkage of cells. The texture of cuboidal
block appears wrinkled due to loss of water molecules from the potato
cuboidal in higher molar concentrated solution.
SECTION CUTTINGS FOR THE PREPARATION AND MOUNT OF T.S
OF MONOCOT ROOT AND DICOT ROOT
Diagram in the page 242 and 243
Identification of the given specimen after observing the slides
Dicot Root (Pea root, bean root,) Monocot Root (Maize root or grass
root)
1. Xylem bundles are found 2 to 4 1. Cortex is massive with thin
in number and may be diarch, walled parenchymatous cells
 triarch and tetrarch.
2. Pith is usually absent.
3. Pericycle give rise to lateral
roots and secondary meristem
such as cambium and
phellogen.
4. Cambium develop later on as
secondary meristem.
with intercellular spaces.
2. Vascular bundles are more
numerous.
3. Pith is large and well
developed.
4. Since cambium is absent, there
is no secondary growth in
monocot roots.

Stain used for mounting / preparation of temporary slides: Safranin

Precaution / Remember;
While preparing slides, better mark will be awarded to:
1. Your slides should be free of air bubble, properly covered with
cover slip.
2. Your specimen should be in the centre.
3. Cut your Transverse section of given specimen into many and
choose the thinnest one. Give sufficient amount of time for staining
4. Use glycerine when you mount your T.S on the slides.

Material required:
Given specimen (It could be dicot or monocot root, sometimes both), compound
microscope, blotting paper, blade, Safranin, glycerine, Petri dish or watch glass.
SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION / OBSERVATION OF PERMENENT
SLIDES/ OBSERVATIONS OF MODEL.
Classify the given specimens in the table given below:
Specimen A (if Prawn) Specimen B (If liver
worts)
Kingdom Animalia Plantae
Phylum / Division Arthropoda Bryophyta
Class Malacostraca Hepaticeae

Complete the table given below

Kingdom Phylum / Division Class
Specimen X (if Animalia Nemathelminthes Nematoda
Nematoda)
Specimen Y (if Plantae Spermatophyta Dicotyledonae
mustard plant)