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
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
General Mechanism of Water Movement

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
General Mechanism of Water Movement

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
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Wind and Air Movement

Transpiration
Factors Affecting Transpiration: Wind and Air Movement

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