8 Transport in Plant
OBJECTIVES: TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
Define transpiration;
Describe the mechanism for moving water through the
plant;
Explain how the temperature, wind speed and humidity
affect transpiration rate;
Define translocation;
Identify source and sink in the plant; and
Explain why some parts of the plant act as a source or a
sink.
Transpiration
The main force that draws water
from the soil and through the plant
The greatest lost of water takes
place through the stomata
More stomata is located in the
lower epidermis
Transpiration
Transpiration – water evaporates from leaves
and lowers the water potential in the leaf tissues
3. water moves from xylem to enter leaf tissues
down water potential gradient
2. Water moves up the stem in the xylem as a column
of water due to the tension caused by water loss from
the leaves and the cohesion between the water
molecules, called as Transpiration PULL or
Transpiration stream.
1. water uptake occurs by osmosis from
the soil solution ( high water potential)
into the root cells (lower water potential)
Transpiration
• Wilting occurs if water loss exceeds water uptake
– cells becomes flaccid, the tissues become limp
and the plant is no longer supported
• Stomata allow the uptake f carbon dioxide for
photosynthesis.
• When the stomata are open, water evaporated
from the spongy mesophyll can diffuse out of the
leaf down the water potential gradient.
Transpiration
• The cell walls that are losing
water in this way replace it by
drawing water from the nearest
vein.
• Most of this water travels along
the cell walls without actually
going inside the cells
Importance of
Transpiration
• It creates a negative pressure gradient that
helps draw water and minerals up through
the plant from its roots.
• Helps to keep the plant cool on hot weather
– a method of evaporative cooling.
• It supports photosynthesis and encourages
the exchange of gases, helping maintain the
levels of CO2 and )2 in the atmosphere.
• Plays a significant role in water cycle.
• Creates water vapor that forms into a fog
and clouds.
Leaf structure may
reduce transpiration
• Thick, waxy cuticle reduces evaporation from the
epidermis
• Stomata may be sunk into pits which trap a pocket of
humid air
• Leaves may be rolled with stomata on the inner
surface close to a trap layer of humid air
• Leaves may be needle shaped to reduce their surface
area
Atmospheric conditions
may affect transpiration
Wind moves humid air away from the leaf surface and
increases transpiration (air movements)
High temperature increase the water holding capacity of
the air and increase transpiration
Low humidity increases the water potential gradient
between leaf and atmosphere and increases transpiration
High light intensity causes stomata to open (to allow
photosynthesis) which allows transpiration to occur
Translocation Sucrose and Amino Acids Pathway
• Translocation is the movement of
sucrose and amino acids in the
phloem, from regions of production
(the ‘source’) to regions of storage
or to regions where they are used in
respiration or growth (the ‘sink’).
Thank you.