Bio Blast:

Dive into Chapter 2

 Welcome to Subtopic
2.2!

This subtopic is mainly about stoma

which is a part of plant which helps
it in many aspects such as preventing
excess water loss and much more!!!
Necessity of gaseous exchange in plant
Unlike animals that search for their own food, plants on the other hand
synthesise their own food through photosynthesis. In order to carry out
photosynthesis efficiently, plants need to exchange gases and absorb light.
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between plants and the
surroundings occurs through stomata. Stomata are the pores located on the
lower epidermis of the leaf (Photograph 2.5). Each stoma is guarded by a
pair of guard cells that controls the opening and closing of the stoma by
changing their shapes. The guard cells contain chloroplasts to carry out
photosynthesis.
 The Mechanism of
Stomatal Opening
and Closing

The mechanism of stomatal

opening and closing depends on
the conditions of the guard
cells whether turgid or flaccid.
The condition of the guard cells
depends on the potassium ion (K+
) uptake by the cells or the
sucrose concentration in the sap
of the guard cells
The Opening of Stoma

The Opening of stoma can be activated

by 2 methods, which is Intake of
Pottasium Ion and High Concentration of
Sucrose Solution in guard cell sap
 Uptake of potassium
ions by guard cells

• The potassium ions enter the

guard cells.
• The solute potential in the
guard cells increases.
• The water potential in the
guard cells decreases.
• The water molecules from the
epidermal cells diffuse into the
guard cells by osmosis.
• The guard cells become turgid
and curve outwards.
• The stoma opens
 Sucrose
concentration in the
guard cell sap

• In the presence of light,

photosynthesis occurs.
• The concentration of sucrose
in the guard cells becomes high.
• The water potential in the
guard cells decreases.
•The water molecules from the
epidermal cells diffuse into the
guard cells by osmosis.
• The guard cells become turgid
and curve outwards.
• The stoma opens
The Closing of Stoma

The Opening of stoma can be activated

by 2 methods, which is Intake of
Pottasium Ion and High Concentration of
Sucrose Solution in guard cell sap
 Uptake of
potassium ions by
guard cells

• The potassium ions move out

from the guard cells.
• The solute potential in the
guard cells decreases.
• The water potential in the
guard cells increases.
• The water molecules diffuse
out from the guard cells to the
epidermal cells by osmosis.
• The guard cells become
flaccid.
• The stoma closes
 Sucrose
concentration in the
guard cell sap

• In the absence of light,

photosynthesis does not occur.
• The sucrose concentration in
the guard cells becomes low.
• The water potential in the
guard cells increases.
• The water molecules diffuse
out from the guard cells to the
epidermal cells by osmosis.
• The guard cells become
flaccid.
• The stoma closes
 The Effect of Water Deficiency in Plants on
Stomatal Opening and Closing
Water from plants is lost in the form of water vapour to the surroundings through
the stomata. When stoma opens widely, the rate of water loss from the plants is
high. The opening and closing of the stoma is dependent on the turgor pressure
of the guard cells.

Fresh plants Wilted plants

• When the plant obtains enough
water, the guard cells become turgid.
• The inner cell wall of the guard cells
is thick and less elastic as compared
to the outer cell wall.
• The thin and more elastic outer cell
wall causes the guard cells to curve
outwards and the stoma to open
• When the plant lacks water, the guard
cells become flaccid.
• The thin and more elastic outer cell wall
causes the guard cells to lose turgidity
and the stoma to close
Questions!!!!

1. What is the ion needed for the opening of

stoma?
2. What gaseous are exchanged through stoma?

3. What is the function of stoma? (2+ Functions)

4. Explain the opening of stoma from your

understanding
(Potassium and Sucrose, both accepted )
Thanks! FUN Fact!!!
Cactus in the desert only open
their stoma at night for CO2.
Colder temperature at night can
reduce the loss of water