LU5 Transpiration

STT 1043 Plant Physiology
LU 5: Transpiration
Transpiration
Transpiration = When a leafs guard cells shrink, stomata open, and water
is lost.
In turn, more water is pulled through the plant from the roots
The
rate
of
transpiration
is
directly related to
whether stomata
are open or closed
Stomata account
for only 1% of a
leafs surface but
90% of the water
transpired
Transpiration
Transpiration is a necessary process and uses about 90% of

the water that enters a plants roots
The other 10% is used in chemical reactions and in plant

tissues
Transpiration
Importance
Transpiration is responsible for:

I.
Transporting minerals from the

soil throughout the plant
II. Cooling the

evaporation
plant
through
III. Moving sugars and plant

chemicals photosynthesis
IV. Maintaining turgor pressure
Transpiration
General Mechanism of Water Movement
Plants depend on a vascular

system connecting root to shoot
Water is lost through transpiration
A control feedback mechanism

(stomata) keeps absorption and
transpiration in balance
Transpiration
Plants depend on a vascular

system connecting root to shoot
Water is lost through transpiration
A control feedback mechanism

(stomata) keeps absorption and
transpiration in balance
Transpiration
Water losses from leaf

when stomata open and
this process is called
transpiration
Transpiration
develops
pressure gradient
Difference
in
osmotic
pressure drives movement
of water into the cells
Transpiration
Leaves and green shoots are

principal organs of transpiration
the
Transpiration may occur through the

cuticle, lenticels or stomata
Cuticular, lenticular or stomatal transpiration
Transpiration
Cuticular Transpiration
Cuticle = a layer of wax-like

covering on the epidermis of
leaves and herbaceous stems.
It is meant to regulate
transpiration
However, some water may be

lost through it
Cuticular transpiration accounts nearly 20% of the total water loss by a

plant
Transpiration
Lenticular Transpiration
Loss of water in the form of water vapour taking place through the lenticels
present in woody stem and fruits
It amounts 1-5 % of the total water loss by the plant
Transpiration
Stomatal Transpiration
Stomata are minute pores confined to epidermis of green shoot and leaves
Opening and closing of stomata are controlled by guard cells
Maximum loss (80-90 % of the total water loss) of water from the plants
tissues takes place through the stomatal openings
The loss of water in the form of water vapour through the stomata of the
plants constitutes stomatal transpiration
Transpiration
Control of Water Movement
Stomata stomatal opening causes evaporation and loss of water

and induce water to flow
Root control is also through root absorption: if root temperature is

cold or roots lack aeration, transpiration is reduced because lack of
absorption produce water deficit that causes stomatal closure
Transpiration
How Much Water do Plants Transpire?
An invisible process, since the water is evaporating from the leaf

surfaces, you dont just go out and see the leaves sweating
During a growing season, a leaf will transpire many times more

water than its own weight
An acre of corn gives off about 3,000 4,000 gallons (11,400

15,100 L) of water each day, and a large oak tree can transpire
40,000 gallons (151,000 L) per year
10% of the earths atmospheric

moisture from plant transpiration
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration
Atmospheric factors affecting transpiration
The amount of water that

geographically and over time
I.
Temperature
II. Relative humidity

III. Wind and air movement
IV. Soil-moisture availability
V. Type of plant
transpire
varies
greatly
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Temperature
Transpiration rates go up as the temperature goes up,

especially during the growing season, when the air is warmer
due to stronger sunlight and warmer air masses.
Higher temperatures cause the plant cells which control the

openings (stoma) whether water is released to the atmosphere
to open, whereas colder temperatures cause the openings to
close.
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Relative Humidity
As the relative humidity of the air surrounding the plant rises

the transpiration rate falls
It is easier for water to evaporate into dryer air than into more
saturated air
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Wind and Air Movement
Increased movement of the air around a plant will result in a higher

transpiration rate.
This is somewhat related to the relative humidity of the air, in that as

water transpires from a leaf, the water saturates the air surrounding
the leaf.
If there is no wind, the air around the leaf may not move very much,
raising the humidity of the air around the leaf
Wind will move the air around, with the result that the more
saturated air close to the leaf is replaced by drier air.
Transpiration
Transpiration
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Soil-moisture availability
A plant cannot continue to transpire

rapidly if its water loss is not made
up by replacement from the soil.
When absorption of water by the

roots fails to keep up with the rate
of transpiration, loss of turgor
occurs, and the stomata close.
Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Types of Plant
Plants transpire water at different rates.
Some plants which grow in arid regions, such as cacti and

succulents, conserve precious water by transpiring less water than
other plants.
Transpiration
Mechanism of Transpiration
Turgor pressure inside mesophyll cells of the leaf forces water

outwards through the cell wall.
Water is collected in the intercellular spaces. From intercellular

spaces, water diffuses out of the stomata into the atmosphere.
Transpiration
Mechanism of Transpiration
When plant roots can no longer absorb enough water to satisfy

transpiration from its leaves, it begins to dehydrate
At this point the stomates can over-ride photosynthesis and close

down for certain parts of the day to avoid further water loss
Under extensive water stress where the plant is unable to rehydrate

at night, the stomates will remain closed all day
While this is every effective in preventing water loss, it prevents the

absorption of CO2 and therefore prevent photosynthesis
Transpiration
Consequences of Water Stress
When transpiration exceeds water absorption by the roots, the plant

dehydrates
This usually happens each day with the plant rehydrating again
each night
As the soil dries out this rehydration is not complete, resulting in the
plant becoming water stressed
Transpiration
How Stomates Open and Close
Each stoma is flanked by a pair of guard cells that are capable of

changing shape, thereby widening or narrowing the gap between
the two cells
When guard cells take in water by osmosis, they become turgid and
swell
Guard cells are not uniformly thick this, along with a series of radically
oriented cellulose microfibrils in the cell wall, cause the guard cell to buckle
outwards
As they swell, the gap between the guard cells widens
If the plant loses water, the guard cells become flaccid and the gap
closes
Transpiration
Mechanism of Stomatal Action
The epidermal cells surrounding the guard cells are usually turgid,
pushing against the guard cells
As the guard cells absorb water and expand, they tend to bow
outward, separating at the middle and causing the stomata to open
Transpiration
Environmental Factors that Influence Stomatal Opening and Closing
CO2
Low partial pressure of carbon dioxide cause the stomata
to open
High partial pressure of carbon dioxide cause the stomata
to close
Light
Typically, stomata close in darkness and open in light
Some exceptions, such as CAM plants that open their
stomata at night, fix carbon dioxide into organic acids in the
dark, and close their stomata during the day
Transpiration
Environmental Factors that Influence Stomatal Opening and Closing
Water stress
As water potential decreases (water stress increases), the
stomata close
Temperature
High close
Wind
High - close

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STT 1043 Plant Physiology

Transpiration is a necessary process and uses about 90% of

The other 10% is used in chemical reactions and in plant

Transpiration is responsible for:

Transporting minerals from the

II. Cooling the

III. Moving sugars and plant

Plants depend on a vascular

Water is lost through transpiration

A control feedback mechanism

Plants depend on a vascular

Water is lost through transpiration

A control feedback mechanism

Water losses from leaf

Leaves and green shoots are

Transpiration may occur through the

Cuticular, lenticular or stomatal transpiration

Cuticle = a layer of wax-like

However, some water may be

Cuticular transpiration accounts nearly 20% of the total water loss by a

It amounts 1-5 % of the total water loss by the plant

Opening and closing of stomata are controlled by guard cells

Stomata stomatal opening causes evaporation and loss of water

Root control is also through root absorption: if root temperature is

An invisible process, since the water is evaporating from the leaf

During a growing season, a leaf will transpire many times more

An acre of corn gives off about 3,000 4,000 gallons (11,400

10% of the earths atmospheric

Atmospheric factors affecting transpiration

The amount of water that

II. Relative humidity

Transpiration rates go up as the temperature goes up,

Higher temperatures cause the plant cells which control the

As the relative humidity of the air surrounding the plant rises

Increased movement of the air around a plant will result in a higher

This is somewhat related to the relative humidity of the air, in that as

A plant cannot continue to transpire

When absorption of water by the

Plants transpire water at different rates.

Some plants which grow in arid regions, such as cacti and

Turgor pressure inside mesophyll cells of the leaf forces water

Water is collected in the intercellular spaces. From intercellular

When plant roots can no longer absorb enough water to satisfy

At this point the stomates can over-ride photosynthesis and close

Under extensive water stress where the plant is unable to rehydrate

While this is every effective in preventing water loss, it prevents the

When transpiration exceeds water absorption by the roots, the plant

Each stoma is flanked by a pair of guard cells that are capable of

As they swell, the gap between the guard cells widens

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