Lecture 2

Structure and role of water

and its components
 STRUCTURE OF WATER

Oxide of hydrogen

Chemical formula H2O

Powerful Solvent

Covalent Bond
 Polar molecule – Uneven distribution of charges

Positive Charge

Hydrogen atom

Oxygen atom

Negative Charge
Partial –ve and partial + ve charges are equal :No net charge = Neutral
Covalent Bond
 Properties of Water
1. Colourless & Odourless – Universal solvent

2. Molecular Weight 18 g / mol

3. Freezing Point 0° C

4. Boiling Point 100 ° C

5. Density 1 g / 1 ml

6. Specific Heat 1 Calorie

7. Latent Heat of Vaporization 44 KJ / mol

8. Polar Molecule – Cohesion, Adhesion & ST

 Role of water
Main constituent of protoplasm: 90-95%

Constituent of Organic Compounds

Participates directly in metabolic processes

Water is universal solvent and carrier for many substances

Medium for biochemical reactions

Maintains the turgidity of the cells ( Proper activities )

Helps in translocation of organic and inorganic solutes

Water is the source of H atom for the reduction of CO2 in the reaction of PS

It increases the rate of respiration

Thermal regulation against high temperature

The elongation of growth phase depends upon absorption of water

 Important terms
Solute : A substance dissolved in a liquid

Solvent : A liquid that dissolves the solute

Solution : A solvent containing solute
 Water potential
Potential - Capacity or energy to do work

Free energy / mol is chemical potential ( (Psi) )

Chemical potential of water is called as water potential

= w
Water potential of Pure Water = Zero (0) (Maximum Water
Potential)
Definition

The difference between the free energy of water molecules

in pure water and the free energy of water molecules in
any other system
 Components of Water Potential

1.Solute Potential Osmotic Potential

2.Pressure Potential Turgor Potential

Significant only in soil

3.Matric Potential water relations

4.Gravitational potential Applicable only in

Trees
 Solute particles

Reduces the free energy of water

Decreases the water potential

Sign of Solute Potential = Always Negative

Water potential of any solution?

Plant Water Potential ?

Soil Water Potential ?

Always less than ‘0’ - Negative value

Components of Water Potential

w = s + p + m + g
S = Solute potential
p = Pressure potential
m = Matric potential
g = Gravitational Potential

For Plant Water Potential

w = s + p
 In normal plant cell
The water potential

In a normal plant cell, the water potential

w = s + p : partially turgid cell

w = Zero :Fully turgid cell, because s = p (Highest)

w = s - Flaccid cell or plasmolysed cell, where p = Zero (Lowest)

Generally water moves from high water potential
to low water potential
 Potential Cell A Cell B

SP (Bars) - 12 -5

PP (Bars) +4 +2

A and B in contact with each other

Determine the direction of flow of water ?

Potential Cell A Cell B

SP (Bars) - 12 -5

PP (Bars) +4 +2

WP (Bars) -8 -3

Direction of flow of water

B to A
Which statement is correct ?

1. Water always move from high water potential

to low water potential

2. Water always move from low concentrated solution

to high concentrated solution

High concentrate solution – Hypertonic solution

Low concentrate solution – Hypotonic solution

 The process involved in the
absorption of water and dissolved
mineral salts and by plant cell
membrane and the movements
within the plant

Diffusion

Osmosis

Plasmolysis

Imbibition
 Diffusion

The movement of particles or molecules from a

region of higher concentrations to a region of
lower concentration
Does not required energy when the
concentration of diffusing particles uniform in
the throughout the system it will stop
Eg. Gaseous (CO2 and O2) exchange in plants
Diffusion
Significance of Diffusion in Plants

•The absorption of CO2 by the green plant cell takes place

by means of diffusion.

•The oxygen produced in green plants cells during

photosynthesis is removed out of the cells by diffusion.
 Osmosis

The movement of water molecules

from a region of higher Water Potential
to lower Water Potential through a
selectively-permeable membrane
Osmosis
End osmosis
Living plant cell is placed in hypotonic solution
Water enter in to the cell called as End Osmosis

Ex osmosis
Living plant cell is placed in hypertonic solution
Water comes out from the cell called as Ex Osmosis
 Osmotic effects on cells

Cell in Hypotonic Cell in Hypertonic

Solution Solution

Turgid Flaccid
 Significance of osmosis in plants

1. Water absorbed by roots from the soil

2. Cell to cell movement of water & dissolved substances

3. Opening and closing of stomata

4. Maintain Turgidity of the cells – Cell expansion - Growth

 PLASMOLYSIS
Shrinkage of protoplasm from the cell wall due to
the process of Exosmosis

Incipient Plasmolysis

Incipient plasmolysis is stage where protoplasm

begins to contract from the cell wall

Deplasmolysis
If a plasmolysed cell in tissue is placed in water, by endosmosis, water
enters into the cell sap, and become turgid and the protoplasm again
assumes it normal shape and position
 Deplasmolysis

Incipient Plasmolysis Plasmolysis

Advantages of plasmolysis
•It indicates the semi permeable nature of the plasma membrane.

•It is used in determine the osmotic pressure of the cell sap.

•Plasmolysis is used in salting of meat and fishes.

• Addition of concentrated sugar solution to jam and jellies

check the growth of fungi and bacteria which become plasmolysed
in concentrated solution.
 Imbibition

Absorption of water molecules or any liquid molecules

by a substance making them to swell

Hydrophilic colloids present in the substances in the

form of Cellulose, Starch, Protein & Oil
Imbibing Capacity

Starchy Seeds 2
Proteinaceous Seeds
1
Protein seeds > Starch Seeds
 Significance of Imbibition in plants

Germination of Seeds

Adsorption of water by the root

Diffusion Pressure Deficit (DPD) (Suction pressure)

Diffusion pressure of a solution is always lower than its pure solvent.

DPD
The difference between the diffusion pressure of the solution and its
solvent at a particular temperature and atmosphere conditions is called as
diffusion pressure deficit (D.P.D).

If the solution is more concentrated D.P.D increases but it decreases with

the dilution of the solution

D.P.D of the cell sap or the cells is a measure of the ability of the cells to
absorb water and hence is often called as the suction pressure (S.P).

It is related with osmotic pressure (O.P) and turgor pressure (T.P) of cell
sap and also the wall pressure (W.P) as follows.
In a fully turgid cell T.P equals the O.P
D.P.D. (S.P) = O.P – W.P But
O.P = T.P = D.P.D = O
(W.P) = T.P
In fully plasmolysed cells: T.P = O
Therefore, D.P.D = O.P
D.P.D = O.P – T.P
 SOIL WATER

 Water in the soil – Soil water

 Source of water – Rain & Irrigation

Types of soil – Texture
based
Clay, Silt, Sand and Gravel
Form of water
1. Run – away water

2. Gravitational water

3. Hygroscopic water

4. Capillary water

5. Chemically combined water

 Run – Away Water (Runoff)

During / after rain, some amount of water

drains away on soil surface

Horizontal movement of water on soil surface

Not available for plants

 Gravitational Water
A part of water percolates downwards through
large pores between the soil particles due to gravity

Vertical movement of
water

Not available for plants

 Hygroscopic Water

Water held by colloidal soil particles

by adsorptive force between soil particle & water

Not available for plants

Adsorbed water
 Chemically combined water

Some mineral have water in the combined form

This water gets evaporated on heating at 105°C
Ex: Fe, Si & Al

FeSO4 XH2O

Not available for plants

 Capillary Water
Water held between the spaces of non colloidal soil
particles in a thin film due to the influence of
surface tension

Capillary
water

Available for plants

 FIELD CAPACITY / WATER HOLDING CAPACITY

The amount of water retained by the soil after

excess water has drained away and downward
movement

Water potential of soil is between - 0.1 to − 0.33 bar

1. --------------- soil has high WHC Clay

2. --------------- soil has lowest WHC Sand

 Permanent Wilting Point

The amount of water that remains in soil when the

plants show permanent wilting
After permanent Wilting, plants cannot be recovered
by giving water

Permanent Wilting Percentage or Wilting Coefficient

Water potential of soil is −15 bars

Water tightly held with soil

At –30 bars, water is held so tightly and the water is in
non-liquid - vapour phase

At –60 bars, vapour water also is absent which is called

Ultimate wilting Point
 Available Soil Water

The amount of water retained between field capacity

and permanent wilting point is available for plant
growth

Water potential Range - 0.1 to -15 Bars

Hygroscopic water Capillary water Gravitational water

Available Soil
Water
Wilting Point Field Capacity
 Water Potential Ranges – Soil Water Constants

A B D E F

0 -0.1 - 0.33 - 15 - 30 - 60

Water Potential (Bars)

A Saturated Soil

B Field Capacity (FC)

C Available Soil Moisture (ASM)

D Permanent Wilting Point (PWP)

Water Vapour
E

F Ultimate Wilting Point (UWP)

Review
Water potential of pure water ----------
Hypertonic solution is ----------------------
---------------------soil is having high water holding capacity
Hypotonic solution is ---------------------------
w = ?
The entry of CO2 into stomata is an example for --------------
Diffusion -15 bars

Osmosis -1 to -0.33 bars

Plasmolysis -30 bars
Imbibition -1 to -15 bars
Field capacity Semi permeable membrane
Permanent wilting point Energy is not required
Vapour phase Seed germination
Ultimate wilting point Exosmosis

Available water -60 bars

Review
Water potential of pure water Zero
Hypertonic solution is higher concentrate solution
Clay soil is having high water holding capacity
Hypotonic solution is lower concentrate solution
w = s + p
The entry of CO2 into stomata is an example for diffusion

Diffusion -15 bars

Osmosis -1 to -0.33 bars

Plasmolysis - 30 bars
Imbibition -1 to -15 bars
Field capacity Semi permeable membrane
Permanent wilting point Energy is not required
Vapour phase Seed germination
Ultimate wilting point Exosmosis

Available water -60 bars