Unit 2: Plant Physiology

Absorption by Roots
4 UheProcesses Involved
4.1 ABSORPTION BY THE ROOTS
In the Chapter The
roots not
only fix the plant in the soil giving
i support but the most important and life

Syllabus supporting function of the roots is to absorb water

( Absorption by rooIS; imbibition; difusion and and mineral nutrients from the soil and conduct them
into the for supply to the
osmosis; osmotic pressure; root pressure;
turgidity and flaccidity: plasmolysis and
stem leaves, tlowers, fruits,
etc.
deplasmolysis, the absorption of water and
minerals, active and passive transport (in brie). 4.2 NEED OF WATER AND MINERALS
() The ise of water up to the xylem; Forces
FOR PLANTS
responsible for ascent of sap. Besides being/alconstituent of protoplasm., water
Scope of Syllabus . is needed inside the plant body for four purposes
Understanding of the processes related to photosynthesis, transpiration, transportation and
absorption of waler by the roots. mechanical stiffness.
Characteristics ot roots, which make them suitable
A. Photosynthesis: Water
is used up in the green
for absorbing waler. leaves as a raw material) in the synthesisof
Structure of a single full-grown root hair. 8ucose
2. Transpiration: A large quantity of water gets
A general idea of cohesive and adhesive forces;

transpirational pull. evaporated as water vapour during transpiration,

for cooling in hot weather, for producing a
Expenments to show the conduction of water
Suction force, etc.
through the xylem.
3. Transportation: Transportation of substances in
water solution from the roots upward into the
shoot (mineral salts) or from leaves to other
Plant physiology is the branch of biology which (Sugar, ete).
parts
deals with the life functions of the plant) It
includes the functioning of cells, tissuès, organs, 4. Mechanical stiffness: Water
provides turgidity
organ-systems and the organism ás a whole. This (fully distended condition), which is necessary
chapter deals with some of the most fundamental for the stiffness of plant tissues.
processes like
Mineral nutrients required by the plant
OSmosis, which are absorbed from the soil by the roots
have Some of these nutrients are absorbed
only.
as salts
tremendous (nitrates,
phosphates, sulphates, etc.) and some simply as ions
significance in
the life of all
potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, etc.).
These elements required
organisms.
are as constituents of cellO
and cell organelles as well as in the synthesis of a
variety of compounds or
enzymes within the cell.
Absorption by Roots-The
Proceses Involyed 37
 the occurrence of osmosie
4.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF ROOTS FOR the outside i.c. 1or
later.
which is described
ABSORBING WATER (ii) Root hairs have hin walls. Like all plant cells,
of the draw water Irom the
The ability roots to
root hairs also have two ouler layers- a cell
soil is dependent on three characteristics: (1) a hugej
wall and a cell membrane (Fig. 4.2).
and root hairs, (ii)
Surface area provided by rootlets
Root hairs containing the solution (cell sap) at a
The cell wall is thin and permeable. It allows
the movement of water molecules and dissolved
concentration higher than that
of the surrounding
substances Íreely in and out of the cell.
soil water and (ii) Root hairs having thin walls.
(i) Surface area of roots is enormous (Fig. 4.1). The cell membrane is very thin, and semt.
It is a common experience that even a small
permeable, which means that it allows water
garden plant such molecules to pass through, but not the larger

as balsam, when molecules of the dissolved salts. The secret of

the absorption of water from the soil by the roots
gently uprooted
from the soil, lies mainly in this characteristic.
shows a thick
bunch of rootlets EPIDEAMAL CELL

(branch roots).
CELL WALL
When carefully
CELL MEMBRANE
examined, each
rootlet would
CYTOPLASM -
show hundreds
VACUOLE
root hairs. If all
the root hairs of
this plant were to NUCLEUS
ROOT HAIRS
be laid end to Fig. 4.1: A freshly
germinau BEGINNING
TO GROW OUT
end, they woula seed showing the single root
cover a length of Witn root hairs
FULLY GRoWN
ROOT HAIR
many kilometres.
A botanist H.J. Dittmer
(1937) worked out that
a four Fig. 4.2:A single full grown root hair and
month-old TYe plant had an aggregate root length of fwo more in successive
stages of growth
about 600 kn. The number of root hairs in it exceeded from the epidermal cells
14billion and their estimated total length would even
exceed 10,000 km. Thus, altogether, the roots of any plant
provide a huge surface area to jacilitate the absorption Progress Check
water. 1. List the threeprimary functions of root.
(ii) Root hairs contain cell sap, of a higher 2. Mention four purposes for which the
need water. plants
concentration than that of the surrounding
3. Where the mineral nutrients
water. Root hairs are the extensions of the are mostly used
in plants?
Outer (epidermal) cells of the root. They also
4. List three main characteristics
contain large vacuoles filled with a solution the roots
that enable them to draw water from the
sol.
called cell sap. Some salts are dissolved in it
and the cell sap,
therefore, usually nas a
4.4 ABSORPTION AND
higher
concentrationwater. than that of the
WATER AND MINERALS
CONDUCTION OF
surrounding This
characteristic is an
important requirement to draw in water from The entire mechanism of
absorbing water and

CONCISE BIOLOGY-X
 the Soil by the rools, its movement
minerals from
through the thickness ot the root and sulbsequently

its upward conduction through the stem, is the result

main phenomena :
of five
1 . Imbibition
A
2. Ditfusion
3. Osmosis
4. Active transport
5. Turgidity and Flaccidity (Plasmolysis)
4.4.1 Imbibition : C
soluble
Imbibition is a phenomenon by which the living or, Fig. 4.3:Diffusion of a
(schematic).
dye in water, lorrning a soluticn

dead plant cells absorb water by surface attraction. s A-Diffusion slarted,

-DiffuSion
C- Diffusion
progressing
Substances which are de up of cellulose or completed, making a homogeneous solution
molecules of the solute are evenly distributed in the
proteins are hydrophilic (strong affinity for water). solvent.
They imbibe water or moisture and swell up, e.g
dry seeds, wooden doors, swell up on contact with Let us see how the definition of diffusion applies
water or on in this case
exposure to moist air. Dueto imbibitional
pressure, seed coat ruptures in case of germinating The molecules of the dye are more crowded
seeds. It is also an important force in the ascent of (more concentrated) in and near the tablet of the
sap dye.
4.4.2 Diffusion These molecules move away farther and farther
in the regions where they are fewer or absent
Diffusion is the free movement of molecules of a
(less concentrated).
substance (solute or solvent, gas, liquid) from the region
of their higher concentration to the region of their This movement continues until the molecules are
lower concentration when the two are in a direct uniformly distributed. Stirring with a spoon or
contact. rod
glass hastens the process of uniform diffusion
and you get a homogeneous solution much faster.
Diffusion can be easily demonstrated by a simple 4.4.3 Osmosis and
activity. osmotic pressure
A. OSMOSIS
Experiment 1. Place a sugar cube or a small tablet
of a soluble dye or a crystal of potassium Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from
permanganate in a beaker containing water, in one of
their region higher concentration (dilute solution
with a lower solute concentration) to their region of
or
corner (Fig. 4.3). The sugar, the dye, or the potassium lower concentration
permanganate slowly dissolves and spreads in the (concentrated solution or witha
liquid. Eventually, the molecules of this substance are higher solute concentration) through a semi permeable
membrane.
diffused, distributed uniformly throughout
or the
water. An important thing to note in the above
Inthe movement of molecules, there was no definition is that only the water molecules move from
obstacle of any kind in the path of the molecules of their higher concentration (whether in dilute
the dye (solute) and they could move freely in water solution, or in pure water) to their lower
inall directions. concentration (in stronger solution or just a solution
in relation to pure water).

Absorption by Roots-The Processes Involved 39

 After a few hours, lhe Jevel of the sugar solution
With reterence to a cell, the osmosis can be either
in the thistle funnel in the experimental set-up
the extent ol
nward or outward depending on

concentration of the solutions surrounding it. will risc.

push/ The level of water in

the thistle funnel in the
ENDOSMOSIS (cndo :
inward, osmo:

control will remain unchanged.

thrust)is the inward diffusion of water through a sen
soluti0n
The level of waler in thc beaker in the
permeable membrane when the surrounding
while the one
1S concentrated. This tends to swell up
less
the cell.
cxperiment will drop slightly in

the beaker in the control wil remain unchanged.

EXOSMOSIS (exo: outward) is the outward
diffusion of water through a semi-permeable I f the water in the beaker in the experimental

membrane when the surrounding solution is more

set-up is tasted, it found sweet.
is not

This tends to cause shrinkage of the cell. Three main conclusions from this experiment
Concentrated.
CAN YOU ANSWER 1. In the experimental set-up, some water of the beaker

if the concentration of the surrounding solution is the
same as that inside the celil, in which direction will the
net movement of water molecules be across the cell
membrane?
INWARD/OUTWARD/ NO NET MOVEMENT.
Experiment 2 (explaining osmosis). Take some
concentrated sugar solution in a thistle funnel. Cover
the mouth of the thistle funnel with a cellophane
paper (or egg membrane or animal bladder) and tie
it securely. Invert the thistle funnel in a beaker
containing water and suspend it as shown in Fig.4.4.
Mark the level of the sugar solution on the stem of
the thistle funnel. This is the
experimental set-up
LEVEL RISES
INITIAL
LEVEL-
WATER
SUGAR
SOLUTION
CELLOPHANE
PAPER
Fig. 4.4: Experiment to demonstrate osmosis, showing
thistle funnel containing sugar solution
other
As a control (for comparison), take another
thistle funnel with plain water filled in it and suspend
it in another beaker also containing water. Again
mark the level on its stem.
has passed through the cellophane paper to enter
the thistle funnel containing the sugar solution.
2. Sugar from the thistle funnel has not passed into
the beaker.
3. The cellophane paper has acted as selectively
It has
or differentialy permeable membrane.
allowed water molecules to pass through, but
not the sugar molecules.
Modified version of experiment 2
Experiment 3. If you had slightly modified the
experimental set-up in Fig. 4.4 by taking a more
concentrated sugar solution in the thistle funnel and
very dilute or less concentrated sugar solution in the
beaker, the result would still be the same, i.e., the level
of the sobution in the thistle
furnel would rise. This again
is because some water from the less concentrated
sugar solution in the beaker would move into the more
concentrated sugar solution in the thistle funnel, by
crossing through the cellophane paper.
Rubber sheet and muslin cloth instead of
cellophane as a barrier
If in the set-up, we had used a rubber sheet and in
another similar set-up, a muslin cloth instead
of
cellophane as in the above experiment, what would
happen? Obviously, no change in the level of sugar
solution would occur in the first case-the rubber sheet
is impermeable and would not allow the water molecules
from the beaker to cross over to the other side.
In the second case, the meshes or pores of the
muslin cloth are so large that they would not hold

40
CONCISE BIOLOGY-X
 back even the sugar molecules, and the entire sugar 0) Iwo regions of different concentrations of
solution would flow down to a common level due to
water molecules, or
gravity. The muslin cloth is, therefore, freely
solution.
(ii) two regions of different concentrations of
permeable for sugar Sugar molecules.
The experiment be performed by using
same can
2. The two liquids separated by
a visking bag (semi-permeable membrane) as
are a
cellophane
shown in Fig. 4.5. Place Sugar solution in a knotted paper which behaves like a
semi-permeable
visking bag and insert a long glass capillary tube'till
membrane. A semi-permeable membrane is one
which allows the
some of the sugar solution rises into the capillary tube. passage of molecules selectively.
It allows
Tie the mouth of the bag firmly round the capill ary
a
solvent (e.g. water molecules) to
tube and support it on a clamp stand. Immerse the
pass through it freely but prevents the
passage
of the
visking bag in a beaker with water. After about an solute (sugar or salt molecules in solution)
hour, the level of sugar solution in the (Fig. 4.6).
capillary tube
rises. This rise is due to the water molecules diffusing How long can osmosis continue ?
throughthe wall of the visking bag. Theoretically, osmosis should continue until the
Two key points in the above
experiments concentration of water molecules becomes
equal
1. There (isotonic) both sides of the membrane. In the
on
are two
liquids of different concentrations.
The sugar solution has a experiment shown in Fig. 4.4, the column of sugar
higher concentration solution in the thistle funnel
of sugar
molecules, whereas there may be fewer, keeps rising upwards
or no
with the influx of water from the beaker, and with
sugar molecules in the beaker. It is very the height and
it,
important to understand that the concentration weight of this column of solution
also be visualized from the side would also increase. Such an increase in
can
of the the height
and weight of the
solvent, i.e. there rising column reduces
osmosis. A stage will be reached when no further
are more water molecules in a
unit volume in the beaker than in osmosis
the same
volume of sugar solution in the thistle
funnel in SEMI-PERMEABLE
Fig. 4.4. Thus, there are two of regions different
MEMBRANE
concentrations (tonicity) which you may express LESS DILUTE SOLUTION
in the
following ways (FEWER WATER
MOLECULES)
LEVEL RISES

INITIAL LEVEL
ORE DILUTE
-CAPILLARY TUBE SOLUTION HIGHER
(MORE WATER CONCENTRATION
OF SUGAR
MOLECULES)
BINDING MOLECULES BUT
THEY CANNOT
PASS THROUGH
WATER THE POREES

BAG

SUGAR SOLUTION
WATER MOLECULES GO r the pores were large enough
IN THIS DIRECTION for sugar molecules to
KNOT pass
through, the separating
(From their higher to lower
membrane would be freely
Fig. 4.5:
concentration) permeable
Experiment showing oSImosis
Visking bag containing by using Fig. 4.6: Schematic
sugar solution representation of osmosis and the nature of a
semi-permeable membrane

Ahsorption by Roots-The Processes Involved

41
 OCcurs even if the
concentration of water molecules 1. Isotonic (iso
Is
:
ame,, onus : tension
not the same on the two sides of the membrane. onc
In this state of
equilibrium, the water molecules from
iration). The relative concentration a .
molecules and the solute on
either sida
the beaker tend of the
to
force upwards through the cell membrane is the same. In such
membrane, but the weight or the pressure from above there is no net movement of water
a solution,
holds them downwards. mol
across the cell membrane. (No osmosis) olecules
B. OSMOTIC PRESSURE 2. Hypotonic (hypo :ower). In this
condition
solution outside, the cell has
If in the above
experiment (Fig. 4.4), an airtight lower e a

piston bearing some weight was introduced in the concentration than the fluids inside the solute
a result, the water molecules
cell. A
thistle funnel from the from outside will
shown in
very beginning as move into the cell (endosmosis).
Fig.
4.7, the level of the
solution would not
rise at all,
showing thereby that there was no
3. Hypertonic (hyper higher). : In this
condition
of water. Thus, we entry the solution outside the cell has
may say that osmotic pressure is
concentration than the fluids
a
higher solute
equal to the
weight or
pressure required to inside the cel
oSmosis. nullify Consequently, the water molecules
from the
interior of the cell will move out
WEIGHT
To understand the abOve three
(exosmosis)
may suppose that (i) a red blood cell and
conditions, we
(i) a plant
cell have been placed in different three kinds of
solutions as shown in Fig. 4.8.
INITIAL PISTON
The results may be
eVEL as follows
A. Cell shape and size remain
unchanged The solution
outside is isotonic (iso: similar).
-

WATER
B. Cell
shrinks in size and loses shape The solution
outside is
SUGAR
SOLUTION C. Cell slightly
hypertonic (hyper: higher).
outside is
enlarges or even bursts The solution
CELLOPHANE hypotonic (hypo: lower).
PAPER When fully distended, the cell is called
i.e., when it cannot withstand turgid
Fig. 4.7: An expeniment to demonstrate
Osmotic pressure of water molecules).
any further inflow

In the case of
plant cells, another
Osmotic pressure is the determines the behaviour of the cell striking feature
minimum pressure that must
be exerted to prevent the to
when subjected
passage of the pure solvent varying external fluid environments. This feature
into the solution when the two is the
permeable membrane.
are
separated by semi
a
rigidity of the wall which resists bulging
cell
and
OR, very simply
protects the delicate cellular parts inside. The
Osmotic pressure of a solution is
phenomena related to this behaviour are the
a

tendency to take in water by

measure ot its
turgidity, plasmolysis and flacidity (described later
osmosis. in section 4.4.5).

4.4.4 Active Transport

TONICITY. Relative concentration of the
solutions that determine the
direction and extent of Active
transport
is the
passage of a substance (sa
diffusion is called tonicity. Based on it, the solution Or 1On from its lower to higher concentration through a
be of three
can
types :
isotonic, hypotonic and hving cell membrane using energy from
the cell. [Acuve
hypertonic solutions. transport is in a direction opposite to that of
diffusion.
42

CONCISE BIOLOGY-X
 Fate of an animal cell (RBC) and a plant cell when placed in three different kinds of salt solutions

() ANIMAL CELL
A-Placed in B-Placed in C Piaced in
ISOTONIC SOLUTION HYPERTONIC SOLUTION HYPOTONIC SOLUTION

WATER WATER WATER

Water eniering the cell equals Water entering cell is less

Water entering the cell
the water leaving it. than the water leaving it. exceeds the water leaving it.

i ) PLANT CELL

water comes out of the water enters the cell

--- ---
ISOTONIC sOLUTION HYPERTONIC SOLUTION HYPOTONIC SOLUTION

Fig.4.8:Salt solutions of different concentrations in relation to cells. Upper- human red blood cel; Lower-a plant cel. These
were placed in-A. isotonic solution; B. hypertonic solution, C. hypotonic solution (A conceptual representation only: even the
largest plant cell cannot match the size of the smallest beaker)

Certain nutrients such as 1ons of nitrates,

sulphates, potassium, zinc, manganese, etc. cannot
pass through the cell membrane of the root cells ? Progress Check
easily. This is because their concentration is higher
1. Write true
root cells, and it is so maintained in order or false.
inside the (i) is the
Diffusionregion movement ofmolecules
to develop osmotic pressure for absorbing water. In from a of their lower
this way, the concentration gradient of these jons is to that of a higher one.
concentration
opposite to that of diffusion. In other words, to obtain (1) Osmosis includes diffusion, but not vice
them, these ions will have to be "forcibly" carried versa.
X
inward from the region of their lower concentration (ii) Osmosis is unidirectional.
outside to the region of their higher concentration
inside, and this requires energy supplied by the cell (iv) Exosmosis may cause bursting ofa
in the form of cell.
ATP
(v) Semi-permeable membrane prevents the
passage of the solute molecules.
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
(vi) In an experiment on osmosis, if external
Passive transport is nothing different from diffusion
Pasive refers to requiring no input of energy There
pressure is applied on a dilute solution,
ess water will pass into the concentrated
Is a free movement
of molecules from their higher solution.
concentration to their lower concentration.

Absorption by RootsThe Processes Involved

 exerted by the cell wall on the
2. In what way is active lransport opposile to
diffusion? called wall pressure.
cell conlen
3. A cell kept in a cerlain solution bursts alter If, at any time, the ce
wall 1s
unable
some time. Comment upon the kind or to
the turgor pressure, It ruptures
Solution. and
contents burst out. This is exactly what ha
4. Which process- diffusion, osmosis or
active when and
transport, needs involvement of energy? fruits vegetables sometimes burst
5. Can we call diffusion passive transport ? I When turgid, the cell
is in
so, how? balanced state no -

more water is Somewhat

leaving it. Its turgor pressure cOunter-balanr
entering or
4.4.5 Turgicdity and Flaccidity (Plasmolysis) the wall pressure and, therefore, there
Every livin8 plant cell, directly or indirectly' is further absorption of water even though ie
in with concentration of solutes inside the cell
contact fluids. The root hairs, in particular, may be
are surrounded by soil greater than that outside the cell.
water. All such cells are
subjected to osmosis and the water continues to enter cell wal plasma membrane
as
long as the cell sap is more concentrated than the
surrounding fluids.
When a cell reaches a state where it cannot
vacuolar sap
OSMOTIC TURGOR
accommodate any more water, i.e., it is fully PRESSURE- PRESSURE
ALL
distended, it is called turgid and the condition waler moves into
PRESSURE
is called turgidity. the cell due lo
osmotic
When a cell is turgid, its wall is concenlrabon of cen wall restrains

from
stretched under cell contents cell contents press expansion of cell
pressure inside, and in its turn, it
presses A
n wall with wall pressure
the cell contents towards the plant cell showing osmotic
centre of the « wall pressure, turgor pressure and
pressure represented together
Thepressure of the cell contents on the cell wall
is called turgor pressure and the Plasmolysis and Flaccidity: When
pressure such as the cell of a leaf of an
a
living cell,
aquatic plant, is placed
Table 4.1: Differences between
diffusion, osmosis and active transport
1.
Diffusion is the transport of gases or
substances in solution from dissolved Osmosis is the
transport of water through a semi-
a
region of high Active transport is the
concentratuon to a
region ot low Concenlralion
Permeable membrane from a solution of low passage of
When the two are in direct
concentration to a solution ot
high concentration. salt or an 1on
contact. rom its
lower to higher
concentration using energy
from the cell through a
2. iving membrance.
Liquids and gases can diffuse over
considerable distances. Water only transported over a short distance. Cell energy from ATP 1s

Movement of the molecules needed for transpiration.

of solute or solvent. Movement of the molecules of
only water as a solvent. Movement of ions
4. other than water
only
Rapid in gases, but slow in
solutions.
Slow process
5.
Transport from high to low Rapid process.
along a gradient. concentration lransport of water from a
solution of low
concentration (more water molecules) that of a It is movement o
to
igh concentration (fewer water molecules against
Occurs with or without a molecules).
non-iiving Either living or non-living
a Cconcentrationgradient.
permeable membrane.
membrane needed. semi-permeable A living select
44
membrane is essential.

CONCISE BIOLOGY-
in fresh water, it remains in a iully distended (flaccid) cell is returned to water belore it 1s dead,

condition. Its plasma membrane remains in close
contact with the cell wall and presses against it
(Fig 4.9 A and C) just ike a rubber bladder of a
football pushing against the leather casing. If this
plant cell is now kept in >% salt solution tor a tew
minutes, it will lose its distended appearance, the
its protoplasm again swells up pressing tight against
the cell wall. The recovery or the reversal of
plasmotysis is called deplasmolysis. You can easily
understand that plasmolysis is the result of outflow
of water from the cell and deplasmolysis is the result
of its re-entry

cytoplasm will shrink and the plasma membrane will The terms defined
withdraw from the cell wall (Fig. 4.9 B and D-F).
is the state of a cell in which the cell
This shrinkage from the cell wall is calledplasmolysis Turgidity
said to be wall is and stretched by an increase in the
rigid
and the cells in this state are
limp or flaccid
(the condition is called
flaccidity). Flaccidity is the volume of vacuoles due to the absorption of water.
The cell is then said to be turgid.
reverse of turgidity. It, however, a
plasmolysed
Plasmolysis is the contraction of cytoplasm
from the cell wall caused due to the withdrawal
of water when placed in a
strong (hypertonic)
solution.
Flaccidity is the condition in which the cell
content is shrunken and the cell is no more "tight.
The cell is then said to be flaccid.

USES OF TURGIDITY TO PLANTS

A-Cells in water, B-After keeping in 5% 1. Turgidity provides rigidity to soft tissues such
in normal turgid condition
San soluuon 0ra w as the leaves. When there is not enough water
Fig. 4.9: UPPER
(A and B) : Plasmolysis of
the cell becomes flaccid in a leaf, it ie, its
wilts, and
petiole lamina
plasmolysed). It the become loose and the léaf droops down.
leaf cells in a water plant
plasmolysed cell is soon

LOWER
relurned to the ordinary water,
t regains its original (turgid)
Wilting of the leaves is usually noticed when
(C F):DiagrammatiC cOnauon (0eplasmolysed).
a plant is exposed to the hot afternoon sun
piesentdtion ol sequence
n plasmoysis
when the amount of water lost during
transpiration is more than the water absorbed
HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
through the roots.
ACUOLAR PLASMA
MEMBRANE MEMBRANE PLASMOLYSED
URg In the evening, when transpiration is reduced,
CELL WALL the quantity of water absorbed exceeds the
VACUOLE GELL
loss of water through transpiration, the
turgidity of the leaf cells is restored and the
leaves again stand out.

Plasmolysis in practice
meat addition of salt to pickles is a method
Salting of or

of killing bacteria by plasmolysis water is drawn out of

the bacterial cels
Weeds can be killed in a playground byy sprinkling excessive

salts around their base. Excessive application of fertilizers

rsion in a
C - a turgid cell, D, E &F-the cell after im hypertonic in the agriCulfural Jields may stmilariy damage the
roots

solution showing the successive stages n he snnkg

protopiasm rom the cel wall caused by tne witndrawal o water
and dimimiISh Ihe yiela.
from the vacuole, affer immersing the cell in a hypertoniC 50Uion.

Absorption by RootsThe Processes Involved

 2. Turgor pressure helps to push through the hard Due to root pressure, water (cell sap) can
sround as in mushrooms and in a scedling the tube (or in stem in natural
the conditione in
Fig.4.10). Sometimes, the roots of certain trees certain
height only. ILoss of water (cell sap) loa
have been seen to walls or a
crack the concrete a cut stem is called "bleeding. through
tloor of an adjoining building. This again is due Turgor in the opening and
4.
closing of
stomata in Class IXstomata:
st
to turgor pressure. You have read about

opening and closing depend on the turgidirof

guard cells. Each guard cell has a thicke
on the side facing the
stoma and a thin wal
the
opposite _ide. Guard cells contain
chloroplasts (Chapter 6, Fig. 6.2). As a
esult
the of
synthesis of glucoseduring photosynthesis
and some other chemical
changes, the osmotir
of
Fig. 4.10:A geminating seed develops force lo pressure the contents or the
guard cells
push through the upper layers of the soil increase and they absorb more water
from the
3. Turgor in root cells builds up root pressure:If
neighbouring cells, thus
becoming turgid. On
account of turgor, the guard cells
you cut a well-watered pot plant (e.g. balsam) a
arched outwards and the
become more
few centimetres above the soil and immediately aperture between them
fix widens, thereby opening the
stoma. At
a
glass tubing to it by means of a rubber or when there is night,
connection, water will start coming out of the shortage of water in the
leaf,
the guard cells tlaccid and their inner
cut end of the
stem and rise up in the glass turn rigid
walls become straight, thus
tubing. This rising water can raise the mercury closing the stomatal
filled in a
connected
manometer (Fig. 4.11). aperture.
This upward flow of water is due to a
heavy
5. Turgor Movement: The rapid drooping of the
leaves of the sensitive
pressure from the roots which is called r0ot plant (Mimosa pudica) is
pressure.
an
outstanding example of turgor movement. If
one of the leaves is touched, the
leaflets fold up and within
even
lightly,
2 to 3 seconds, the
MANOMETER entire leaf droops. If the leaf is
somewhat strongly, the wave ot tolding and
touched
drooping spreads from the stimulated leaf to all
CELL SAP
neighbouring leaves. Slowly, the leaves recover
CELLS REMAINING TURGID
STEM
PETIOLE

uslladah

MERCURY
LEVEL
RISES JLVINUS CELLS
LOSING
TURGOR
Fig. 4.11: An experiment to demonstrate root pressure
PETIOLE
Root pressure is thee
due to
pressure developed in the roots
continuedinward movement of water through
cell-to-cell osmosis which in helps the
ascent of cell Fig. 4.12: Petiole of sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is heid
by turgid pulvinus tissue (left). When leaf is touched, cells
sap upward through the stem. ne lower side of pulvinus lose water, and the petiole collap
(right)

CONCISE BIOL.OGY-
 and again stand erect. In this PERICYCLE ENDODERMIS
plant, the stimulus of touch leads
to loss of turgor at the base
of the leaflets and at the base of
the petioles called pulvinus
(Fig. 4.12). Somewhat similar ROOT HAIR
turgor movements are found in
insectivorous plants whose leaves
dose up to entrap a living prey.
WATER ENTERING
The bending movement of certain ROOT
THAIR

flowers towards the sun and the

CORTEX
sleep movements of the leaves of XYLEM PHLOEM
EPIDERMIS
certain plants at night are also due Fig. 4.13: Diagrammatic cross-section of a part of a root showing by arrows
to turgor movements. the of water fron a root hair to xylem
cellHo-cell conduction
IMBIBITION AND TURGOR TOGETHER
Guttation: In certain plants, like tomato, grass,
GENERATE MUCH FORCE the
Imbibition is the passive absorption of water by banana ferns,
or root pressure is high enough to
force the water all the way through the stem and
substances such as cellulose(in cell wall) and starch. Turgor
comes out through the ends of leaf veins. This water
1s the
pressure set up inside the plant cels due to hydrostatic
pressure on the cell walls on account of incoming water as
apppears as tiny drops along the margins or the tips

a result ofendosmosis. The seeds and grains swell up when of the leaves (next chapter Fig. 5.12), especially in
in The the early mornings. This loss of excessive water is
soaked
force
water to thus absorbed is
due imbibition and endosmosis. called guttation.
by
generated the water strong enough
to make the seed coatsburst. Some other observed
examples are as follows:

Soakedseeds when kept in a

fully filled closed Progress Check
container
burst it open with a
great pressure.
Name the following:
Basement godowns fully stocked with bags
containing foodgrains have got their walls cracked (i) The state of a cell when it cannot
accommodate any more water.
after the rain-water has.flo oded in.
(m Pressure of the cell contents on the cell
wall.
4.5 ROOT PRESSURE
(1) The condition that is opposite to turgid.
Experience: If you cut off the shoot of a plant, (iv) The state of a plasmolysed cell after the
the water pushes out from the root stump. This is re-entry of water.
due to root (v) The pressure under which water passes
pressure. from the living cells of a root into xylem.
Root pressure is built up due to
cell-to-cell
Osmosis in the root tissue (Fig. 4.13 & 4.14). As one
4.6 IMPORTANCE OF ROOT HAIRS AND THE
turgid cell presses the next cell, the force of the flow
of water increases inward. When water reaches the UPWARD MOVEMENT OF ABsORBED
xylem vessels (centrally placed vertical channels), it WATER AND MINERALS

enters the pores of their thick

walls with considerable Absorption of water by the root is by means of
force. Thus, the root pressure is one of the forces root hairs. A root hair contains cell sap which has a
to
raise water up through the stem into the higher concentration of salts as compared to the
leaves outside soil water. This difference sets off psmosis and
(Fig. 4.14). But this force alone cannot push water
up to the top of a tall tree (you will read more about the outside water diffuses into the root hair. From the

it in section 4.7). cell bearing root hair, water continues to pass to

Absorption by Roots-The Processes Involved

 ddjoining cells one alier another to finally enter the
Nylem vesscls (Fig. 4.13 and 4.14). The turgidity
acquired by the cells in the
process also helps to push
the water
upwards through the xylem vessels.
Absorption of mineral elements from the soil
involves active
transport by the cells. Minerals may
also be absorbed as ions rather
than as salts.
TEST TUBE
TO STEM
FILM OF SOIL VACUOLE
WATER AROUND
PARTICLESs WATER
(Staring) (Both after

8 A B some time)

Fig. 4.15: Experiment to show that the roois apsoro water

A

OT tube (B), proving that water lost in test tube A was

HAIR absorbed by the roots.
Experiment 2. To show that water is conducted
upwards through the xylem.
medium-sized young balsam plant is
A
uprooted,
washed and placed in a beaker containing a stain eosin
SOL
PARTICLES solution (pink) in water (Fig. 4.16). The roots should
be completely submerged in the solution. This
EPIDERMIS XYLEM VESSEL set-up
is kept aside for 3-4 hours. At the end of this
4.14:Root pressure builds up due period,
Fig. to osmosis and turgidity the plant is taken out of the solution and
of root cells, and up into the
xylem vessel. washed in
The dilute solution of water and mineral salts, THE LEAF

absorbed from the soil by the roots, can be used for CTRANSVERSE
SECTION)
food manufacture in the leaves, only if it can travel
up to the highest points of the plant. This upward
tlow occurs
through the xyiem. XYLEM TISSUE
4.7 SOME EXPERIMENTS ON ABSORPTION STAINED PINK
AND CONDUCTION OF WATER IN THE
PLANTS.
Experiment I. To show that roots absorb water
(Fig. 4.15). THE STEM (TRANSVERSE

Take a test tube (A) filled with water. Pull out a

SECTION))
young lealy plant (such as balsam) from the soil with
its
roots intact. Insert the roots into the test tube
soon. Put tew
a
drops of oil in the test tube to prevent
any loss of water by evaporation. Mark the level of
water. Set similar test-tube (B) but
up a THE ROOT
without the TRANSVERSE SECTION)
plant. In a day or two you will find that the level of BEAKER cONTAINING
EOSIN SOLUTION
water in the test tube (A) falls but Fig. 4.16:
not in the test- Experiment to show that water is conducted
through xylem upwar

CONCISE BIOLOGY-X
 a tranSverse sectioin of the rools, stem
tap water. 1Then, Experiment 4. To show that food from the
and examined under microscope.
leaves is made
a
and Teaves is conducted downwards through the
vessels will appear distinct from the rest, phloem in the stem.
The xylem
because these will
be stained red by the dye. Cut round the stem of a healthy potted
a ring
Vascular bundles in the stem, root, leaf stalks and leaf plant or around a thin twig of guava or any other
veins are all continuouS and form an unbroken system tree, deep enough to penetrate the phloem and
the transport system Cambium but not the xylem (girdling). It will be seen
of tubes. Collectively, hey Jorin
throughout the
entire plant. Water and salt travel that sap starts oozing out from the farther cut-margin
substances travel
upwards mainly in the
xylem and food of the stem showing thereby that sap in the peripheral
up and down in the phloem. parts flows in a downward direction. After some
weeks, it will be observed that the part of the stem
Experiment 3. Conduction of water through above the ring has grown in diameter (Fig. 4.18), and
xylem can also be shown by another but delicate
the stem below the girdle has stopped growing and
experiment (Fig. 4.17). Take two leafy shoots suchas may even die when the stored organic contents of
those of a balsam plant, which have been cut under the lower part The fresh,
water to prevent any air bubbles getting in. Keep their
are
exhausted.
condition of the leaves, in this experiment, also
healthy
lower ends dipping in water. Remove about 3 cm long, of
proves that the leaves continue to get a supply
outer ring (phloem) of the stem in one of them as
water through the deeper located xylem.
shown in beaker (A), keeping the central part intact

(ringing experiment also called girdling). In the other

beaker (B), remove an equal length of the central part STEM
SWOLLEEN
(xylem) after incising the stem for full thickness and WITH
The shoots then ACCUMULATED
këeping the peripheral part intact. are ENDOF
EXPERIMENT FOOD
fixed to stands and are allowed to remain for about
two days with their lower ends immersed in water. It

will be found that the leaves in the first twig remain

A
turgid and stand out almost normally, but those in START END

the second twig get wilted and droop down. The

experiment proves that water is conducted upwards Fig.
bark,4.18: AA
leaving WOOdyintact.
the xylem stemwas girdled
A bulge oy remoVing
develops a ring
above the o
girdle
in a plant through the deeper part, i.e. xylem. in a few weeks time. B--Bark compared at the start and at the
end of the experiment

Progress Check
-XYLEM
PHLOEM Look at Fig. 4.15. Why was oll added over
water in the test tubes ?

2. Look at the experiment shown in Fig, 4.16.

Why was it necessary to take coloured eosin
solution in water in the beaker??
the
3. Which part of the stem, the xylem or
is located deeper internally ?
phloem,
Fig. 4.17: An
4. Look at Fig. 4.18. Why has the stem below
experiment to show that water Is conducie0
the ring stopped growing and even slightily
upwards through xylem
A WIg witn phloem removed and xylem intact, decayed?
BA with
WIg xylem removed and phloem intact, leaves wit

49
Absorplion by Roots-The Processes Involved
 4.8 FORCES CONTRIBUTING TO ASCENT specially important in tall trees, such as
OF SAP which do not have enough root pressure. pines,
four main
There aremovement forces which contribute to Downward movement of sap is relatively simple
the upward (ascent) of sap. The food manufactured in the leaves 1s dissolved in
Root pressure builds up sufficient force to push water and it flows down mainly on account of the
the sap in the xylem vessels up to a certain force of gravity.
height and may be enough for herbaceous
WATER - UP AND UP
Plants.
Capillarity (narrow diameter) of xylem vessels MOLECULE BY MOLECULE
causes the water from a lower level to rise too All the water
fill up the
inside the
vacuum created by the loss of water coconuts comes from the
due to
the
transpiration from the leaves. Narrower ground. As one molecule of
diameter of a tube, greater will be the height water evaporates
of water
rising in it exerting a force called from the
capillary force. leaves during transpiration,
3. another molecule rises up to fill
Transpiration pull. As the water is lost from
the leat surtace
by transpiration, more water
its place and this goes on in
molecules are pulled up due to the succession throughout the
water molecules to tendency of tall1
remain joined (cohesion), stem right
from the roots. The
and thus to
produce a continuous column of secret lies in the force of
water through the stem.
cohesion.
4. Adhesion. It causes the water to
stick to the Cohesion is the molecular
surface of cells thus
drawing more water the attraction by which
particles of body are united
a
molecules from below when the leaf cells
lose mass.
throughout the
water during transpiration. This pulling force Can you guess from where
(or suction force) the sweet
provided by the leaves is coconut milk" comes? taste of the

RESUME OF THE CHAPTER

All plants need water for
Mineral elements are
photosynthesis, transpiration, transportation and
requiredas constituents mechanical function (turgidity).
Roots and specially the root hairs
of cell and cell
organelles.
Root hairs contain cell sap of
provide enormous surface area.
a
higher concentration than that of the
Diffusion is the movement of molecules of
their lower concentration. a substance from surrounding water.
a
region of their
higher concentration to the
Osmosis is the diffusion of region of
through a sem-permeable water molecules from the region of
membrane. higher water potential to
Osmotic pressure is the that of lower water
The external osmotic
pressure by which the water
molecules tend to cross
potential
which environment of cell can be the
the solution outside has a
a
(i)
isotonic with the
which the solution lower solute concentration
semi-permeable membrane by osmosis.
hypertonic
of water).
in
outside the cell has a
same concentration
causing endosmosis on both sides, (i)
higher solute hypotonic in
(inward movement of water)
Active
transport is concentration causing and
(m)
uses energy.
in a
direction opposite to that of
exosmosis (outward movement
osmosis, i.e., from the low
to a
higher concentration of
50
solutes. it

CONCISE BIOLOGY-
 eves s Que to the loss of t urgidity.
Wifting or drooping o
with mineral salls absorbed by the roots is known as
sap
e Water along
eThe continuous absorption ol water Dy the roots builds up a pressure (root pressure) that pushes the sap up througn e

stem.
Root pressure, capillanity and tanspiration pull conte n the ascent of sap up to the topmost regons.

Review Questions
CHOICE TYPE a selectively permeable membrane in between
A. MULTIPLE
(Select the most appropriate option in each case) (d) an endless inflow of water into a cell
1. Absorption of water by the plant cells by surface 7. The highest water potential (capacity to move out to
attraction is called : concentrated solution) is that of
higher
Y Pure water (b) 10% salt solution
(a)Diffusion (6) Osmosis
Imbibition (d) Endosmosis (c) Honey (d) 50% sugar solution
2 A plant cell placed in a certain solution got 8. The space between the cell wall and plasma
plasmolysed. What was the kind of solution? membrane in a plasmolysed cell is filled with

(a) Isotonic sugar solution (b) Hypotonic salt solution (a) isotonic solution (b) hypotonic solution
e Hypertonic salt solution (d) Isotonic salt solution e hyperto solution (d) water

3 The of a cell in which the cell wall is rigid and

state 9. What is responsible for gutation?
stretched by the increase in volume due to the (a) Osmotic pressure 6 ) Root pressure
absorption of water is called
(C)Suction pressure (d) Capillarity
a) Flaccidity Turgidity 10. The most appropriate characteristic of a semi-
() Capillarity (d) Tonicity permeable membrane is that
4. Which one of the following is a characteristic NOT (a) it has minute pores.
related with the suitability of the roots for absorbing (b) it has no pores.
water? it allows the solute to pass
) through but not the solvent.
(a) Tremendous surface area ) it allows a solvent to pass through freely but prevents
(b) Contain cell sap at a higher concentration than the the passage of the solute.
Surroundingg soil water
() Root hairs have thin cell walls B. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE
G Grow downward into the soil 1. Name the following8:
5. Movement of molecules of a substance from the (a) The condition of a cell placed in a hypotonic solution.F loctid
region of their higher concentration to the region of (6) The process by which intact plants lose water in the
their lower concentration without the involvement of form of droplets from leat margins.
a separating membrane, is called
Grurtaion
(c) The process by which water enters root hairs. LndotnoI
(a) Osmosis
(c) Active transport
Diffusion (d) The tissue concerned with upward conduction of water
(d) Capillarity in plants. Y19n
6. Osmosis and diffusion are the same except that in (e) The term for the inward movement of solvent
osmosis there is molecules through the plasma
(a) a freely permeable membrane
membrane.o3edid
() The process by which molecules distribute themselves
(6) a cell wall in between evenly witnin the space they occupYT.

Absorption by Roots-The Processes Involved

 (i) Cels that have lost their water
ater cont
n pressure whauh is tespons1ble tor the movemen be deplasmolysed.
content are
saddt
I v e the
lcstus the tlclls ot the t (iv) Xylem is the waler
conductii
cquivalent terms tor the tollowng plants. tissue it
e s u r e esertead by the ell
on the e wal ontents (v) The protoplasn shrinks, when a cel
h e cndtion in whixh the ell cohtents aré shtunken. h YPotonte solution. kept i
T o s s ot water The cell wall of the
stem through a cu (vi) root cell is

Complete the
tollowing statements
permeable membrane.
a dilleremi
(T
false statements by
a t o t o n i c solution is one in which the solution Kept (b) Correct the
word only
altering the last
t s i d e the cell has lower solute concentration than

Jei the cell. What is the

3. difference between laccid' and't
of tlaccid condition
( Active transport is one in which the ions outside the Give one example in
o t s move in
lants.
by utilising 4. Give reasons for the following:
.Ai
(c The
bending movements
of certain flowers towards tne (a) If you sprinkle some common salt on
grass
sun and the sleep movements of certain plants at night
on a lawn, it is killed at that spot. owing
are
examples of taut.a..OUWdd (b) If'you uproot a plant trom the soil, its leaves SOon
It is better to
wilt
4Fill in the blanks by
choosing the correct alternative (c) transplant seedlings in flower-bed
the evening and not in the morning.
a
in
trom those
given in brackets.
(a) When
(d) A plant cell when kept in a hypertonic salt solution for
placed in a more
concentrated solution, the cell about 30 minutes turns flaccid.
contents will . (shtfk/ swell up) (e) Potato cubes when placed in water become firm
( The pressure by which the . molecules tend to cross and
increase in size.
the
semi-permeable membrane is called osmotic
5. Mention whether the following statements are
pressure. (salt / water) true (T) or false (F) and give explanation in support
(C) Active
transport js in a direction
. to that of of your answer.
diffusion. (oppösite / same) (a) Plasmolysis is reverse of
deplasmolysis.
Match the items in column I with those in
column Il (b) Guttation is another name tor
bleeding in plants. (T/E)
Column I (c) Soaked seeds burst their seed coats.
(T/E)
(a) Xylem Iv () semr-permeable (d) If the phloem of a twig is removed keeping the
intact, the leaves of a twig wilt.
xylem
(b) Phloem (1) permeable (T/)
(c) Cell membrane-"(ii) downward (e) Guttation in plants occurs maximum at
flow
of sap mid-day. (TYF)
(d) Root pressure v (iv) upward flow of water () Dry seeds when submerged in water swell to
endosmosis.
up due
(e) Cell wal (T/F)
(v)guttation
D. LONG ANSWER TYPE
C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE
1. Give two
1. Differentiate between the following: examples of
turgor movements in plants.
(a) Plasmolysis and deplasmolysis Explain the mechanism of closing and opening ot the
stomata.
(b) Turgor pressure and wall pressure
3. Concentration of mineral nutrient elements is
(c) Guttation and bleeding
inside the higher
root-hairs than in the surrounding soil. How
(d) Turgidity and Flaccidity
do roots take them in
2. (a) Mention whether the from the soil ?
following statements are
4.
true (T) or false (F). Explain how soaked seeds swell up and burst tneu
seed coats.
(i) A plant cell placed in, hypotonic solution
gets, 5. Leaves of a sensitive
plasmolysed: fuqiD (T/E) plant wilt and droop down
(ii) Addition of salt to pickles prevents slight touch. What mechanism brings about otnis
growth o change
bacteria because they turn turgd.
[tat tal (T/E) 6. What is transpiration pull? How is it caused?
52
CONCISE BIOLOGY-X
 E. STRUCTURED/APPLICATION/SKILL TYPE

plant a cell after

diagram represents
1, The following solution.
im a strong sugar
being placed

WATER

SUGAR

ARCHMENT PAPER

Guidelines I to 5 indicate the following:

(2) Strong Sugar Solution, can be set up comparison for
(1) Cell Wall, (d) What control experiment
cell and its
(4) Large vacuole, root-hair,
(3) Protoplasm, (e) Keeping in mind the
name the parts that correspond to (1)
(5) Nucleus Surroundings,
paper and
state of the cell shown in
the diagram? concentrated sugar solution (2) parchment
(a) What is the (3) water in the beaker.
Name the
structure which acts as a selectively ot
(b) that can be used instead
permeable membrane. () Name any other substance
above experiment.
been placed in distilled water instead of parchment paper in the
(c) If the cell had have of the process to the plants.
which feature would not Mention two advantages
strong sugar
solution, g)
a layer of epidermal
been seen 4. The diagram below represents
the
one feature of this plant cell which is not
fully root hair. Study
(d) Name any cells showing a grown
follow:
present in an animal cel. the questions that
diagram and
answer

was placed in a liquid other

2. A leaf cell of a water plant
assumed a shape
water. After sometime, it
than pond
as shown below: D

CELL
WALL
PLASMA
MEMBRANE
B, C and D.
(a) Name the parts labelled A,
Name and explain
(b) The root hair cell is in a turgid
state.

the process that caused this state.

one distinct difference
between the parts
(c) Mention
labelled A and B.
of the above root hair cell as it would
(d) Draw a diagram
it has acquired. solution ot fertilizers is
(a) Give the term for the state of the cell appear when a concentrated

of the liquid
Comment on the nature (tonicity) added near it.
(6)
surrounding the cell. h Y to cubes each I cm° in size,
were placed
5. Two potato
the diagram of the cell (A & B), the container
(C) Redraw in the space provided, separately in two containers
some time.
placed in ordinary water for
water and the other (B) containing
if it is soon
(A) having when the
solution. After 24 hours
below represents experimental an
concentrated sugar
3. The diagram given in water were found
the cubes were examined, those placed
a certain process. Study size and those
set-up to demonstrate to be firm and had
increased slightly in
same and answer the questions
that follow : solution were found to
placed in concentrated sugar the
Name the process. O ST decreased in size. Use
(a) o
be soft and had somewhat that follow :
the questions
above intormation to
answer
(b) Define the above-named process.
size of
in the experimental set-up and increase in the
(c) What would you observe (a) Account for the firmness
in water
alter an hour or so the potato cubes placed
53

Absorption by
Roots- The Processes Involved
 of the
tor the
softness and decrease in size
B
Account
(b) solution.
were placed in sugar
cubes which
potato being SUG
CROSE
define the physical process o 5% Stic
Name and MOLECULES
LUTIONOSE
()
in this experiment
investigated
below and answer the 10% SUCHOSE
the diagram given WATER
6. Study SOLUTION

questions that tollow

MOLECULEs

9. A candidate in order to
SEMLPERMEABLE
MEMBRANE
study the process af.
has taken 3 potato cubes and
put them in 3 diosm
beakers
24
containin8 3
different solutio differer
hours, in the first beaker the potat
increased in size, in the second
beaker the Cube
Water cube decreased in size and in the p
third aker
change in the size potato cube there
was no of the
(a) Name the process being studied in the above
following diagram shows the resultIt of
of the
experiment. experiment: same
(6) Explain the process mentioned in (a) above.
2014)
(c) Why is oil placed over water?
(d) What do we observe with
regard to the level of water
when this set up is
placed in (1) bright sunlight
(2) humid conditions (3) windy day?
(e) Mention any three
adaptations found in plants to foster
the procesS mentioned in
(a) above. SIZE INCREASED SiZE
Show by a series of DECREASED SIZE REMAINS SAME
diagrams,
the change which a
plant cell will undergo when placed in (a) Give the technical terms of
(a) the solutions used
Hypertonic salt solution and beakers, 1, 2 and 3. in

(6) Hypotonic salt solution. (b) In beaker 3 the size of the

potato cube remains the
8. Study the
experimentalset up in
Explain the reason in brief.
same.
figure and then (c) Write the specific feature of
answer the questions that follow: the cell sap of rpot hairs
which helps in
(a) What
phenomenon is being studied by this set up ? (d) What is osmosis?absorption water.
of
(6) Explain the phenomenon mentioned in
(a) above e) How does a cell wall
(c) What is meant and a cell membrane dier n
by 'semipermeable membrane ? their permeability 3
(d) What will you observe in the set up after about
hour? Give a
half an
reason for
your answer.