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11: Plant water relations

  • Page ID
    150542
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    • 11.1: Water Potential
      Water potential is a measure of the potential energy in water. Water moves from high water potential to low water potential, which drives the flow of water in the plant.
    • 11.2: Transpiration
      Transpiration refers to the loss of water vapor through plant stomata, mainly in the leaves. Hot, dry, and windy conditions increase transpiration rate.
    • 11.3: Cohesion-Tension Theory
      According to the cohesion-tension theory, the main force that drives water up a plant is transpiration and cohesion and adhesion of water in the xylem.
    • 11.4: Water Absorption
      Root hairs increase the surface area of roots to increase water absorption. Before entering the root vascular tissue, water and minerals pass through endodermal cells. The endodermis is reinforced by the Casparian strip, which prevents substances from moving between the cells. Water may move through an apoplast, symplast, or transmembrane pathway.
    • 11.5: Water Transport
      Most plants secure the water and minerals they need from their roots. The path taken is: soil→roots→stems→leaves. The minerals travel dissolved in the water (often accompanied by various organic molecules supplied by root cells), but less than 1% of the water reaching the leaves is used in photosynthesis and plant growth. Most of it is lost in transpiration, which serve two useful functions: providing the force for lifting the water up the stems and cools the leaves.
    • 11.6: Transport of Water and Solutes in Plants
      The structure of plant roots, stems, and leaves facilitates the transport of water, nutrients, and photosynthates throughout the plant. The phloem and xylem are the main tissues responsible for this movement. Water potential, evapotranspiration, and stomatal regulation influence how water and nutrients are transported in plants. To understand how these processes work, we must first understand the energetics of water potential.


    This page titled 11: Plant water relations is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Tom Buckley.

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