Transport in

Plants
Chapter 11

How do plants absorb water?

Mechanism of ascent
Transpiration
 How do plants absorb water?

Water absorbing structures of the plant is the root hair zone. These are root epidermal
extensions that increase area of absorption.
When root hair is deficit in a plant, a symbiotic association is made with fungi called
MYCORRHIZA. Mycorrhiza penetrates the root cells and its hyphae increase area of
absorption. In turn the plant provides sugars and nitrogen containing compounds. Some
plants have obligate association. Eg:pinus
Pathways:
APOPLAST- water passes from root hair to xylem through cell wall or intercellular
spaces, without crossing cell membrane. This flow stops at casparian strips.
SYMPLAST-water passes from cell to cell by crossing plasma membrane.
 APOPLAST
Movement is dependent on
gradient.
Does not provide any barrier.
Majorly used for transportation
due to easy flow and less
resistance.
SYMPLAST
Occurs through plasmodesmata.
Movement is slower as water travels
through cell membrane.
When water stops at casparian
strips, and is unable to penetrate, it
is directed to wall regions that are
not suberized. Therefore it travels by
symplastic movement.

This implies that water transport is ultimately symplastic. This is the only way to reach xylem cells,
where it is again free to move using both path ways.
Mechanism of ascent

Passive transport Active transport

Does not require ATP(energy) Does not require ATP(energy)
Force of transport lies in shoot Force of transport lies in root
Transpiration plays major role Osmotic (root) pressure plays
Rate of absorption is 96% major role

apoplastic Rate of absorption is 4%

symplastic
Transpiration

Loss of water in the form of vapours from aerial parts of the plant
Function:
1. Mineral absorption
2. Ascent of sap
3. Lowering temperature
98% of the water evaporates through STOMATA. The rest is used for photosynthesis
and other plant needs.
AFFECTED BY:
1. External factors: Temperature, Light, Humidity, Wind speed etc.
2. Properties of water: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension.
These properties provide water with high tensile strength & capillarity,
 Tiny apertures on the surface of leaves.
Function:
1. Transpiration
2. Exchange of gasses.
GUARD CELLS-
two specialized epidermal cells, that have a kidney shape in dicots and dumbbell
shape in monocots.
They also contain chloroplast.
Stomata
Inner wall is thick, outer wall is thin.
Turgidity of cells control opening and closing of stomata. When cells are turgid,
stomata opens and releases water (day) and when cells are flaccid stomata closes
(night).
Opening of stomata is also caused by celluosic MICROFIBRILS that are oriented
radially rather than longitudinally. These are present in the cellwalls of guard cells.
Lower surface of dicots have greater number of stomata than the upper layer, hence
called dorsiventral leaves.
Lower and upper surface of monocots have same number of stomata, hence called
isobilateral leaves.
 The process of photosynthesis requires water. The system of xylem
vessels from the root to the leaf vein can supply the needed water.
The force that plants use to move water molecules into the leaf
parenchyma cells comes as water evaporates through the stomata,
since the thin film of water over the cells is continuous, it results in
pulling of water, molecule by molecule, into the leaf from the
xylem.
Also, because of lower concentration of water vapour in the
atmosphere as compared to the substomatal cavity and intercellular
spaces, water diffuses into the surrounding air. This creates a pull
Measurements reveal that the forces generated by transpiration can
create pressures sufficient to lift a xylem sized column of water over
130 metres high.
Thankyou

Credits: shailja dhanuka