Transport in plants

Transpiration : water di uses from cells near stomata to form water lm 1. Water
evaporates from the water lm on surface of cells near stomata into the air space
2. Water di uses down the concentration gradient from air space to the atmosphere

Transpiration pull : As water is lost from cells near stomata due to transpiration their
water potential drops so there is net water movement by osmosis form
neighbouring cells to the cells near stomata . This is repeated and creates a water
potential gradient across layer of cells . Finally water is pulled directly from the
xylem vessels to replenish water lost from mesophyll cells .

Signi cance of transpiration : 1. Facilitate water absorption 2. Allows transport of

water and minerals from roots to other parts of plant through xylem vessels 3.
Provides cooling e ect

Adaptive features for transpiration :

1. guard cells : regulate water loss due to transpiration by controlling the size of
stomata 2. Stomata located on lower epidermis : stomata isn’t exposed to
direct sunlight by being on lower epidermis due to horizontal orientation of
leaves so water loss by evaporation is reduced 3. Waxy cuticle : prevent water
loss by evaporation

Factors a ecting transpiration rate :

Light intensity : in dark : stomata are closed so less water vapour will be able to
di use from air space to atmosphere so rate of transpiration is low . In light :
stomata are open and the stomata opens wider with higher light intensity so the
cross sectional area for di usion of water vapour from air space to the atmosphere
is larger hence rate of transpiration is higher with higher light intensity

Temperature : rate of transpiration increase with temperature as the higher temp

results in higher rate of evaporation of water from water lm on mesophyll cells so
the concentration gradient of water vapour between air space and atmosphere is
steeper so rate of di usion of water vapour out to atmosphere is higher the
transpiration rate is higher

Relative humidity: rate of transpiration decrease with higher relative humidity . As

the concentration gradient of water vapour is less steep with higher humidity the
di usion rate of water vapour out to the atmosphere from air space is lower .

Air movement : At a lower air movement, water vapour that di use out of air space
accumulates around the stomata so concentration gradient of water vapour
between atmosphere and air space is less steep so di usion rate of H2O vapour is

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 lower. At a higher air movement, water vapour doesn’t accumulate around stomata
so the conc gradient is steeper so di usion rate of H2O is higher

Absorption of water : 1. Water is lost constantly through leaves by transpiration

which creates transpiration pull to draw water from
the xylem vessels .2. Water is drawn from the
cortex cells near the xylem vessels which lower
their concentration so there is net water
movement into those cells from neighbouring cells
. This is repeated across layer of cortex cells until
it reacher epidermal cells then water is directly
drawn from the soil . Water moves along the water
potential gradient across layer of cells by moving
through the cytoplasm or vacuoles by osmosis or
by di usion through cell walls into the xylem vessels .

Adaptive features for absorption of water : 1. Numerous root and root hairs :
increase surface are for water absorption 2. Long and ne root hairs : to keep close
contact with soil particles to facilitate water absorption 3. Epidermis is one cell thick
: shortens di usion distance for absorption of water 4. Root hair cells have many
mitochondria to release energy by respiration to take in minerals by active transport
against concentration gradient which lowers water potential of root cells so water
will enter the roots by osmosis

Xylem vessels : non living cells , hollow to lower resistance to water movement,
have thick and ligni ed cell wall to prevent xylem vessels from collapsing under
pressure of transpiration pull ( for transportation of water and minerals )

Phloem vessels : living cells , have sieve plates to allow movement of organic
substances , have companion cells to support metabolic activities of phloem
vessels

Support in plants : by turgidity of thin walled cells ; when cells gain water by
osmosis the cells become turgid and presses against each other so it allows the
plant to stand upright . When too much water is lost through transpiration , the cells
become accid and can’t press against each other so the plant wilts ->
disadvantage because the leaves can’t be spread open which lowers surface area
for light absorption

By rigidity of plants of thick walled cells : walls of xylem are thick and ligni ed so it
is hard and rigid which provides mechanical support for the plant to stand upright .

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