Plant Experiments

Application:
• Models of water transport in xylem using apparatus including filter paper, porous pots or
capillary tubing
The movement of water up the length of the xylem can be modelled using a number of simple
apparatus
 These include capillary tubing, filter or blotting paper and porous pots

Capillary Tubing:
 Water has the capacity to flow along narrow spaces in opposition to external forces like gravity
(capillary action)
 This is due to a combination of surface tension (cohesive forces) and adhesion with the walls of
the tube surface
 The thinner the tube or the less dense the fluid, the higher the liquid will rise (xylem vessels are
thin: 20 – 200 µm)

Filter Paper:
 Filter paper (or blotting paper) will absorb water due to both adhesive and cohesive properties
 When placed perpendicular to a water source, the water will hence rise up along the length of the
paper
 This is comparable to the movement of water up a xylem (the paper and the xylem wall are both
composed of cellulose)

Porous Pots:
 Porous pots are semi-permeable containers that allow for the free passage of certain small
materials through pores
 The loss of water from the pot is similar to the evaporative water loss that occurs in the leaves of
plants
 If the porous pot is attached by an airtight seal to a tube, the water loss creates a negative
pressure that draws more liquid

Skill:
• Measurement of transpiration rates using potometers

A potometer is a device that is used to estimate transpiration rates by measuring the rate of
water loss / uptake
 When a plant is affixed to the potometer, transpiration can be indirectly identified by the
movement of water towards the plant
 This water movement can be assessed as a change in meniscus level or by the movement of an
air bubble towards the plant
 The initial starting position of the meniscus or air bubble can be adjusted by introducing
additional water from a reservoir

When measuring transpiration rates with a potometer, it is important to remember that not all
water is lost to transpiration
 A small amount of water (~2%) is used in photosynthesis and to maintain the viable turgidity of
plant cells

Skill:
• Design of an experiment to test hypotheses about the effect of temperature or humidity on
transpiration rates
Potometers can be used to test a number of variables that may affect the rate of transpiration in
plants
 These variables include temperature, humidity, light intensity and wind exposure

Temperature:
 Increasing the ambient temperature is predicted to cause an increase in the rate of transpiration
 Higher temperatures lead to an increase in the rate of water vaporisation within the mesophyll,
leading to more evaporation
 The effect of temperature variation can be tested experimentally by using heaters or submerging
in heated water baths

Humidity:
 Increasing the humidity is predicted to cause a decrease in the rate of transpiration
 Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air – less vapour will diffuse from the leaf if there
is more vapour in the air
 The effect of humidity can be tested experimentally by encasing the plant in a plastic bag with
variable levels of vapour

Light Intensity:
 Increasing the light intensity to which a plant is exposed is predicted to cause an increase in the
rate of transpiration
 Increasing light exposure will cause more stomata to open in order to facilitate photosynthetic
gas exchange
 The effect of light intensity can be tested experimentally by placing the plant at variable
distances from a lamp

Wind Exposure:
 Increasing the level of wind exposure is predicted to cause an increase in the rate of transpiration
 Wind / air circulation will function to remove water vapour from near the leaf, effectively
reducing proximal humidity
 The effect of wind can be tested experimentally by using fans to circulate the air around a plant.

Variables

 Independent variable - time.

 Dependent variable - the distance moved by the bubble along the capillary tube.
 Control variables - temperature, air flow or draughts, adequate supply of water.
Risks

Care must be taken when inserting the plant shoot into the rubber tubing attached to the capillary
tube and with the scissors used to cut the plant shoot.

Determining the effect of environmental conditions on transpiration rate using a potometer

Aim

To determine the effect of environmental conditions on transpiration rate using a simple

potometer.
Apparatus

 drinking straw or clear plastic tubing

 soft green leafy shoot
 Vaseline
 marking pen
 play dough / putti/ Prestick
 plastic bag
 elastic band
 ruler
Method

A potometer measures the rate of transpiration by measuring the movement of water into a plant.
The following experiment uses a simple hand made potometer.

Learners will be divided into four groups as each group will investigate a different factor and
then all the results can be shared at the end of the investigation.

Perform the following steps under water:

1. Cut the stem of the leafy shoot (at an angle to increase the surface area) under water .
The reason we cut it under water is to prevent air bubbles entering the xylem vessel. You must
use a very sharp knife or new scalpel and cut at an angle in order to increase surface area for
water uptake in the xylem. Florists who cut plants before immersing them in water follow the
same procedure for this reason.
2. Test to make sure the stem of the leafy twig will fit snugly into the top of the straw.
3. Remove the leafy shoot from the straw and set aside, keeping the stem submerged, and
the leaves above water.
4. Fill the straw with water. Place your finger over one end of the straw to stop the water
from running out.
5. Put the leafy shoot into the open end and seal it with play dough/ putti/ Prestick while
removing it from water KEEPING YOUR FINGER ON THE STRAW! Perform the following
steps above water.
6. Seal with Vaseline. Make sure it is air tight and water tight. If not, all the water will run
out when you take your finger off the straw.
7. Mark the water level on the straw.
8. Place your potometer under one of the following conditions for one hour:
 as is, in a warm, sunny place (no wind)
 as is, in a warm, windy place
 with a plastic bag tied around the leaf, in a warm, sunny place
 a shady place.
9. Every 10 minutes use a marking pen to mark the change in water level on the straw.
Continue taking measurements for 1 hour.
10. Measure the distance the water moves during each time interval.
Results

Each of the four groups that investigated different environmental conditions should contribute
their results for the final analysis.

 Draw a table and record the class' results.

 Plot a bar graph to compare the total distances the water moved in the different straws in
1 hour under the four different environmental conditions.
 At the end of the experiments, all students must plot the following line graphs:
 the effect of temperature on the rate of transpiration
 the effect of light intensity on the rate of transpiration
 the effect of relative humidity on the rate of transpiration
 the effect of wind on the rate of transpiration
Observations

Record your observation from the table, bar graph and line graphs.

Conclusions

 What can you conclude from this investigation?

 Give two ways in which you can improve your experimental results.
Questions

1. Why is it important to cut the stem at an angle under the water?

2. Which part of the stem does the straw represent?
3. Which four factors are you investigating?
4. Under which condition is the highest rate of transpiration?
5. Name one possible error that could have occurred in your investigation.
6. What are the potential limitations of this investigation?

Determining the effect of light intensity on transpiration

Aim

To determine the effect of light intensity on transpiration.

Apparatus

 plants
 plastic bag
 piece of string
 graduated measuring cylinder
Method

1. Use at least three plants of the same species and as close to the same size as possible
(think of why this might be important).
2. Ensure that all three plants are exposed to the same amount of light.
3. Use clear plastic bags to completely cover all the leaves of each plant.
4. Tie the bottom of the plastic around the main stem of the plant, allowing the water lost
from the plant to collect inside the bag. Try not to crush the leaves of the plant with the bag.
5. Place the bags on the plants early in the morning. Leave the bags on all day and check for
signs of water drops inside. If there are water drops, shake the bag so that the water drops to the
bottom of the bag.
6. At the end of the day, carefully remove the bags to ensure that you do not lose any water.
It will help if you tilt the plant slightly while removing the bags.
7. Collect the water inside a measuring cylinder and measure how much water the plant has
lost.
8. Tie a new plastic bag around the plant and leaver overnight.
9. The following morning, collect and measure the water that was released by the plant
overnight.
Results

Record the amount of water lost during the day and during the night.

Using the three plants, figure out the average water loss for each time period.

Plot a bar graph comparing the average amount of water loss in the day and night.

Observations

Write down anything you observed about the plants, the plastic bags and the rate of water loss
from the plant.

Conclusions

What can you conclude regarding the rate of transpiration at different light intensities? Was there
higher or lower water loss when you left the plant overnight compared to when you monitored it
throughout the day?

Questions

How can you improve this experiment to determine the effects of different light intensities on
transpiration?

In this experiment what are the key variables we are controlling for? Have we properly
controlled for these?
Advantages of transpiration Disadvantages of transpiration

Cools the plant down Excessive water loss causes the plant to wilt

Assists in the transport of water from the soil

Important for transport of water through the xylem

Regulates the concentration of cell sap

Distribution of salts and minerals in the plant

Table 5.2: Table comparing the advantages and disadvantages of transpiration

Structural adaptations of plants to reduce rate of transpiration.

When the rate of transpiration is too high, it can have detrimental effects on the plant, as you will
see in the next section on wilting and guttation. For this reason, plants have developed structural
adaptations to minimise the amount of water loss.

Position of stomata: Stomata are found on both surfaces of the leaf but there are usually more
on the ventral (lower) surface of the leaf. This means that less water vapour is lost because the
ventral side of the leaf is in the shade and therefore does not get as hot.

Sunken stomata: some plants such as xerophytes have sunken stomata as a way of preventing
water loss. Xerophytes (pronounced "zero-phytes") are plants that are normally found in hot, dry
areas such as deserts. The sunken stomata creates a small pocket of moist air. The high humidity
in the air pocket reduces the water potential gradient between the leaf air spaces and the exterior,
and therefore decreases the rate of transpiration.
Figure 5.20: Sunken stomata.

Thickened cuticle: Some plants that occur in dry places have a thick cuticle that reduces
transpiration.

Figure 5.21: Desert plants like cactus have thick cuticles to avoid water loss.

Hairs on leaves: Hairs trap a small layer of water vapour that works in three ways to reduce
transpiration:

 Creates a pocket of moist air to reduce the water potential gradient.

 Increases the sheen on leaves to make them more reflective.
 The combination of the above effects result in a cooling effect that also decreases
transpiration.
Figure 5.22: Hairy leaves to trap water.

 Reduction of leaf size: Small leaves have a smaller surface area for transpiration to
occur.


Leaf spines: Some plants have spines instead of leaves. Spines usually have thicker cuticles and
a very small surface area, which decreases transpiration.

Figure 5.23: Spiny leaves have a small surface area to decrease transpiration.

 Leaf arrangement: vertical leaf arrangement (like proteas) decrease the surface area
exposed to the sun in the heat of the day, In rosette arrangements the upper leaves shield the
lower leaves from the Sun.
 Rolling of leaves: When leaves roll up, water vapour gets trapped in the tunnel made by
the leaf, therefore reducing the water potential gradient, and therefore reducing the rate of
transpiration.