PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Az Agrrmrnki MSc szak tananyagfejlesztse

TMOP-4.1.2-08/1/A-2009-0010
Principal Manuals in Plant
Physiology
Arteca, R.N. (1996): Plant Growth Substances. Principles
and Applications. Chapman & Hall, New York, p. 332.
Davies, P.J. (Ed.) (2004): Plant Hormones. Biosynthesis,
Signal Transduction, Action! Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht/Boston/London, p. 750.
Hopkins, W.G., Hner, N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to Plant
Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, p. 503.
Salisbury, F.B., Ross, C.W. (1992): Plant Physiology.
Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, p. 682.
Taiz, L., Zeiger, E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Sinaurer
Associates Inc., Publishers, Sunderland, p. 782 + 137.
Water and Plant Cells,
Water Potential
 Overview
1. Water in Plant Life
2. The Structure and Properties of Water
3. Water Movement by Diffusion, Osmosis and
Bulk Flow
4. Hydrostatic Pressure and Osmotic Pressure
are two Components of Water Potential
5. Methods for Measurement of Water Potential
 1. Water in Plant Life

1.1. Without water life could not exist

1.2. The actual water content of different plant cells,
tissues and plant parts is variable
1.3. The productivity of various ecosystems depends on
annual precipitation
1.4. Water loss to the atmosphere is an inevitable
consequence of photosynthesis
 Productivity of various ecosystems as a function of annual precipitation

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 68.

 Water pathway through the leaf

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 97.

 2. The Structure and Properties of Water

2.1. Water has unique physical and chemical properties

2.2. The thermal properties of water are biologically
important
2.3. Water is the universal solvent
2.4. Polarity of water molecules results in cohesion and
adhesion
 Some chemical properties of water compared with other molecules of
similar molecular size

Source: Hopkins W.G., Hner N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to

Plant Physiology. p. 2.
 A) Structure of a water molecule
B) Hydrogen bonds among water molecules

Source: Hopkins W.G., Hner N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to

Plant Physiology. p. 2.
 Solvent properties of water molecules

Source: Hopkins W.G., Hner N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to

Plant Physiology. p. 4.
 A) The shape of a droplet placed on a solid surface
B) Observation of capillarity

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 70.

3. Water Movement by Diffusion, Osmosis and
Bulk Flow

3.1. Diffusion is the net movement of molecules by

random thermal agitation
3.2. Diffusion is effective over short distances
3.3. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a
selectively permeable membrane
3.4. Bulk flow is driven by hydrostatic pressure
 Diffusion is accomplished through the random thermal motion of
individual molecules

Source: Hopkins W.G., Hner N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to

Plant Physiology. p. 6.
 Osmosis is the directed movement of the solvent molecules (usually
water) across a selectively permeable membrane

Source: Hopkins W.G., Hner N.P.A. (2009): Introduction to

Plant Physiology. p. 7.
 A seal syringe can be used to create positive and negative pressures in
fluids such as water

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 71.

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 71.
4. Hydrostatic Pressure and Osmotic Pressure
are two Components of Water Potential

4.1. The hydrostatic pressure developed by osmosis

can be demonstrated using an osmometer
4.2. The plant cell is a special osmotic system
 a) A mechanical osmometer in a beaker
b) A cell as an osmotic system

Source: Salisbury F.B., Ross C.W. (1992):

Plant Physiology. p. 44.
 The concept of water potential and its components

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 76.

 The concept of water potential and its components

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 76.

 The concept of water potential and its components

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 76.

 The concept of water potential and its components

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. p. 76.

5. Methods for Measurement of Water Potential

5.1. Water potential can be measured in any plant tissues

and organs
5.2. Methods for measurement of water potential:
psychrometer, pressure chamber, cryoscopic osmometer,
and pressure probe
 The use of isopiestic psychrometry to measure the water potential of a
plant tissue

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Web

material, http://5e.plantphys.net
 The pressure chamber method for measuring plant water potential

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Web

material, http://5e.plantphys.net
 The concept of a commercial water potential meter based on pressure
chamber method

Source: PMS Instrument Company, 1725 Geary Street SE,

Albany, OR 97322 USA, http://pmsinstrument.com
 'Pump-up chamber': the commercial water potential meter

Source: PMS Instrument Company, 1725 Geary Street SE,

Albany, OR 97322 USA, http://pmsinstrument.com
 Measuring of water potential using 'Pump-up chamber'

Source: PMS Instrument Company, 1725 Geary Street SE,

Albany, OR 97322 USA, http://pmsinstrument.com
 A cryoscopic osmometer measures the concentration of total dissolved
solutes by measuring the freezing-point depression of a solution

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Web

material, http://5e.plantphys.net
 Use of the micromanometer, a pressure probe, to measure cell turgor
pressure

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Web

material, http://5e.plantphys.net
 Diagram of the simplest pressure probe

Source: Taiz L., Zeiger E. (2010): Plant Physiology. Web

material, http://5e.plantphys.net
 Summary

Water limits both agricultural and natural

ecosystems. The hydrogen bonds give water its
unusual physical properties. Bulk flow, diffusion and
osmosis are the major forces of water movement.
Concentration, pressure, and gravity contribute to
water potential in plants. Plant cells typically have
negative water potentials. Measurement of water
potential serves important data about plant and
water relationship.
 Questions
What is the importance of water in a plant's life?
What kind of driving forces are involved in water
movement?
What are the components of plant water potential?
How plant water potential can be measured?
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Next lecture:
Water in plants: absorption, transport and
transpiration

Compiled by:
Prof. Vince rdg
Dr. Zoltn Molnr