UNIT – 2: PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

CHAPTER-3
ABSORPTION BY ROOTS AND TRANSPIRATION

Topic-1 Processes of Water and Mineral Absorption

Revision Notes
Introduction
� Plant physiology is the branch of Botany which deals with the study of metabolic activities or life processes of
plants. Stephen Hales is considered as Father of plant physiology. Father of plant physiology in India, is Sir. J.C.
Bose.
 � Water forms 66 % to 90 % of the total body weight of living beings. At least 75% of the mass of a plant is water.
Imbibition
� Imbibition is the absorption of water by solid particles of an absorbent substance without forming a solution. e.g.,
swelling of seeds.
� Imbibition is the phenomenon in which living or dead cells of plants in their dry or semi dry state absorb water
by surface tension.
� It is the passive absorption of water by substances such as cellulose and starch.
� Imbibition results in an increase in volume, liberation of heat and development of pressure called imbibition
pressure.
Diffusion
� Diffusion is the movement of molecules of a substance (gas, liquid or solid) from the
region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration.
� The diffusing particles create a certain pressure called diffusion pressure (DP) which is
directly proportional to the number or concentration of diffusing particles.
� The molecules move from higher DP to lower DP.
� Diffusion is important for gaseous exchange of plants with atmosphere through stomata
and lenticels.
� Transpiration of water vapour from stomata occurs through diffusion.
� Pollinators are attracted due to the diffusion of aromatic compounds.
Tonicity
� Relative concentration of the solutions that determines the direction and extent of diffusion is called tonicity.
Depending upon the tonicity, external solution may be:
(i) Hypotonic : If the external solution has low solute (or high solvent) concentration than the cell, then it is called
a hypotonic solution or in other words, the solution is said to be more dilute than the cytoplasm of the cell.
(ii) Isotonic : If the external solution has a similar solute or solvent concentration as the cell, then it is called as
isotonic solution.
(iii) Hypertonic : If the external solution has a high solute (or low solvent) concentration than the cell, then it is
called a hypertonic solution or in other words, it is said to be more concentrated than the cytoplasm of the
cell.
Osmosis
� Osmosis is the movement of water from the region of higher chemical potential (dilute solution) to the region of
its lower chemical potential (concentrated solution) when diffusion of solute is prevented by a semipermeable
membrane.
� In plants, osmosis plays very important role in absorption of water and mineral salts from soil by roots. Osmosis
can be of following two types, depending upon the concentration of the cell and the surrounding medium –
Endosmosis and Exosmosis.
� Endosmosis is the osmotic entry of water into a cell or system, when placed in pure water or hypotonic solution.
� Exosmosis is the osmotic withdrawal of water from a cell or system, when placed in a hypertonic solution.
� Osmotic pressure is the maximum pressure which can develop in a system due to osmotic entry of water into it
under ideal conditions. Osmotic pressure is also defined as the pressure required to completely stop the entry of
water into an osmotically active solution across a semipermeable membrane.
� Root pressure is a hydrostatic pressure. The cells of roots exert pressure due to which ascent of sap occurs. The
force of root pressure is maximum during spring in tropical regions and minimum in summer.
� Turgidity is a condition of being fully distended due to endosmosis. Healthy plant cells are turgid and plants rely
on turgidity to maintain rigidity.
� Turgor movements are seen in many leguminous plants. These movements are called sleeping movements.
� Flaccidity is a condition of absence of turgidity in which cell looses water from its cytoplasm due to exosmosis.
Such cell is known as flaccid cell. e.g., wilting property
of leaves when plant is exposed to the sun. Mnemonics
� Plasmolysis is the shrinkage of protoplast from the cell
wall due to exosmosis caused by hypertonic solution. Concept : Types of Solution
Permanent plasmolysis causes death. Mnemonics : Hand In Hands
Interpretation :
Hypertonic, Isotonic and Hypotonic solutions
 � Deplasmolysis is when a plasmolysed cell is kept in water or hypotonic solution. Water enters the cell due to
endosmosis and cell becomes turgid again.

Key Terms
 Apoplast pathway: It is the movement of water through cell wall of plant cells without crossing any membrane.
 Symplast pathway: It is the movement of water through network of cytoplasm of cells which is interconnected
by plasmodesmata.
 Wall pressure: It is the pressure exerted by the cell wall on protoplast of turgid cell.
 Impermeable membrane: It is the membrane which does not permit the solvent and solute molecules to pass
through it.
 Semi-permeable membrane: It is the membrane which permits only solvent molecules to pass through it.
 Permeable membrane : It is the membrane which allows both solvent and solute molecules to pass through it.
 Sleeping movements: They are the turgor movements observed in leguminous plants.

Absorption, Characteristics of Root and Ascent of

Revision Notes
Absorption of Water
� Absorption of water and minerals by plants mainly occur through roots. The maximum absorption takes place
through root hairs located in the root hair zone lying just behind the root cap.
� There are two distinct mechanisms of water absorption by plants – active absorption and passive absorption.
These two mechanisms operate independent of each other.
Active absorption
� Active absorption of the water involves the expenditure of metabolic energy (ATP) released through respiration.
� In this process the root cells play active role in the absorption of water.
Passive absorption
� Ions are absorbed from the region of their higher concentration to their lower concentration along the
concentration gradient without requiring any metabolic energy and it takes place by: a. Mass flow b. Diffusion
and c. Ion exchange
� Passive absorption is mainly due to transpiration, where the root cells do not play any active role, but they
remain passive.
� This process does not require the expenditure of metabolic energy.
� Passive absorption of water accounts for about 98% of total water uptake by a plant.
Root Hairs
� Root hairs play very important role in the absorption of water.
� These are tubular outgrowths of epiblema cells present just above the zone of elongation.
� Because of their narrow nature they can pass easily into soil interspaces where capillary water is available for
absorption.
� Cell sap of central vacuole exerts an osmotic pressure for absorption of water.
Ascent of Sap
� Upward transport of water to aerial parts along with the dissolved mineral salts from roots to the aerial parts
against the downward pull of gravity is called ascent of sap.
� Ascent of sap takes place through xylem.
� Several theories has been put forward to explain the mechanism of ascent of sap. These are Vital force theory,
Root pressure theory, Capillary force theory and Cohesive force theory. Today most of the workers believe in the
Cohesive force theory (Cohesion tension theory).
� Root pressure: The pressure developed in the roots due to inflow of water, which helps in pushing the plant sap
upwards is called root pressure.
Cohesive force theory
� Cohesive force is the force created due to mutual attraction between water molecules.
 � Due to transpiration, large quantity of water is lost. Water forms a continuous column in the xylem of the leaves
to the xylem of the root. Due to cohesion, the water column does not break.
� Cohesion of water and transpiration pull (tension)
theory was given by Dixon and Jolly (1894). It was
further improved by Dixon in 1914. Mnemonics
� According to this theory, a tension (transpiration pull)
is created in water in the xylem elements of leaves due Concept : Pathway of water absorption in plants
to constant transpiration. This pulls water to the top of Mnemonics : RECEP to R X (receptor X)
the tree. Interpretation :
� The continuity of water column in the xylem is Root hair, Epidermis, Cortex, Endodermis, Pericycle,
maintained due to cohesive and adhesive force of to Root Xylem.
water. This theory is widely accepted.

Topic-3 Transpiration

Revision Notes

� The loss of water in the form of water vapours from the aerial (living) parts of the plant is called transpiration.
� CoCl2 paper method is used to compare the rates of transpiration. Moisture coming out
from stomata turn blue CoCl2 paper pink.
Types of Transpiration
� There are three types of transpiration : stomatal, cuticular and lenticular
(a) Stomatal transpiration : occurs through stomata.
(b) Cuticular transpiration : occurs through cuticle of leaves & green herbaceous stems.
(c) Lenticular transpiration : occurs through lenticels present on woody stems.
� Ganong’s Potometer method of measuring the transpiration is based on the assumption
that the rate of absorption of water is approximately equal to the rate of transpiration.
� Transpiration is more rapid during day than night because stomata closes during night.

Mechanism of Transpiration
� Mechanism of stomatal transpiration can be briefly described in the following points –
(i) The water from saturated cells of spongy parenchyma evaporates and comes into intercellular spaces.
(ii) The water vapours from the intercellular spaces diffuse into outer environment through stomata.
(iii) Parenchymatous cells draw water from adjoining cells. Thus, it continues till they draw water from tracheary
elements.
Adaptations in Plants to Reduce Transpiration
� There are various adaptations in plants to reduce transpiration like:
(i) Leaves reduced to spines to reduce the surface area for transpiration.
(ii) Waxy leaf cuticle, which is impermeable to water and stops evaporation.
(iii) Reduced number of stomata which reduces the transpiration rate.
� Many arid climate plants have specialised form of photosynthesis, which is called CAM photosynthesis.
� In these plants, the stomata remain shut during the day to reduce evaporation but open at night to collect carbon
dioxide.
� Many chemicals (anti-transpirants) have been found to reduce the rate of transpiration without affecting CO2
uptake, e.g. Phenyl mercuric acetate (a fungicide),
and abscisic acid. Silicon emulsion & low viscosity
waxes cover stomata as a film, allow CO2 & O2
Mnemonics
exchange but resist diffusion of water. Concept : Environmental Factors affecting Transpiration
Guttation and Bleeding Mnemonics : Let’s Work Together in HomeWork
� Guttation is the loss of water in the form of liquid
Interpretation :
drops. It usually occurs due to root pressure. Light, Wind, Temperature, Humidity and Water avail-
� Bleeding is the exudation of sap or watery solution ability.
from the cut or injured parts of the plants.

Key Terms
 Transpiration : It is the loss of water from the living aerial parts of plant.
 Guttation : It is the exudation of water from hydathodes present at vein endings.
 Water potential : It is the potential energy of water.
 Ascent of sap : It is a process of rising up of water and minerals from roots to tip of leaves through xylem.
 Wilting : It is the dehydration of leaf cells which results in the closure of stomata.
 Hydathodes : It is the structure through which water oozes out as droplets.
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