Chapter 11
Transport in Plants
6. If the concentration of salt in the soil is too high and the plants may wilt
even if the field is thoroughly irrigated. Explain.
The salts present in the soil dissolve in the irrigated water and form
hypertonic solution outside the root hairs of the plant and the root hairs cannot
absorb water from hypertonic solution, since water molecules cannot move from
hypertonic solution to hypotonic solution in the cells of root hair. Hence the plants
become wilt even the field is irrigated.
7. How phosphorylase enzyme open the stomata in starch sugar
interconversion theory?
The discovery of enzyme phosphorylase in guard cells by Hanes (1940)
greatly supports the starch – sugar interconversion theory. The enzyme
phosphorylase hydrolyses starch into sugar and high pH followed by endosmosis
and the opening of stomata during light. The vice versa takes place during the
night.
8. List out the non-photosynthetic parts of a plant that need a supply of
sucrose?
The non photosynthetic parts of a plant that need a supply of sucrose:
1. Roots
2. Tubers
3. Developing fruits and
4. Immature leaves.
9. What are the parameters which control water potential?
The concept of water potential was introduced in 1960 by Slatyer and
Taylor. Water potential is potential energy of water in a system compared to pure
water when both temperature and pressure are kept the same. It is also a measure
of how freely water molecules can move in a particular environment or system.
Water potential is denoted by the Greek symbol Ψ (psi) and measured in Pascal
(Pa). At standard temperature, the water potential of pure water is zero. Addition of
solute to pure water decreases the kinetic energy thereby decreasing the water
potential. Comparatively a solution always has low water potential than pure water.
In a group of cells with different water potential, a water potential gradient is
generated. Water will move from higher water potential to lower water potential.
Water potential (Ψ) can be determined by, 1. Solute concentration or Solute
potential (ΨS) 2. Pressure potential (ΨP) By correlating two factors, water
potential is written as
ΨW = ΨS + ΨP Water Potential = Solute potential + Pressure potential
1. Solute Potential (ΨS) Solute potential, otherwise known as osmotic potential
denotes the effect of dissolved solute on water potential. In pure water, the addition
of solute reduces its free energy and lowers the water potential value from zero to
negative. Thus the value of solute potential is always negative. In a solution at
standard atmospheric pressure, water potential is always equal to solute potential
(ΨW= ΨS). 2. Pressure Potential (ΨP) Pressure potential is a mechanical force
working against the effect of solute potential. Increased pressure potential will
increase water potential and water enters cell and cells become turgid. This
positive hydrostatic pressure within the cell is called Turgor pressure. Likewise,
withdrawal of water from the cell decreases the water potential and the cell
becomes flaccid.
10. An artificial cell made of selectively permeable membrane immersed in a
beaker (in the figure). Read the values and answer the following questions?
a. Draw an arrow to indicate the direction of water movement
b. Is the solution outside the cell isotonic, hypotonic or hypertonic?
c. Is the cell isotonic, hypotonic or hypertonic?
d. Will the cell become more flaccid, more turgid or stay in original size?
e. With reference to artificial cell state, is the process endosmosis or exosmosis?
Give reasons.
(a) An arrow to indicate the direction of water movement:
(b)Outside solution in hypotonic.
(c) The cell is hypertonic.
(d) The cell become more turgid.
(e) The process is endo - osmosis because the solvent (water) moves inside the cell.
Endosmosis is defined as the osmotic entry of solvent into a cell or a system when
it is placed in a pure water or hypotonic solution.