Transpiration

Transpiration Definition

“Transpiration is the biological process by which water is lost in the form of water vapour from the aerial parts of the plants.”

Table of Contents

• Overview
  Types
  • Stomatal Transpiration
  • Lenticular Transpiration
  • Cuticular Transpiration
• Factors
  • Cellular Factors
  • Environmental Factors
  • Relative Humidity
  • Temperature
  • Light
  • Air
  • Water Availability
  • Surface Area of the Leaves
• Ascent of Saps
• Opening and Closing of Stomata
• Significance
• Conclusion

Like all living organism, plants also require an excretory system to discharge excess water from their body. This process of elimination of excess water from the plant body is known as transpiration. It is generally the evaporation of water from the surface of the leaves.

During the process of transpiration, water molecules in the plant tissues are removed from the aerial parts of the plants. Only a small amount of water absorbed by the plants is utilised in growth and development. The rest is eliminated in the form of transpiration.

Transpiration in Plants

There are three different types of transpiration in plants:

It is the evaporation of water from the stomata of the plants. Most of the water from the plants is transpired this way. The water near the surface of the leaves changes into vapour and evaporates when the stomata are open.

Lenticels are minute openings in the bark of branches and twigs. Evaporation of water from the lenticels of the plants is known as lenticular transpiration.

Lenticels are not present in all the plants. A minimal amount of water is lost through lenticels.

It is the evaporation of water from the cuticle of the plants. The cuticle is a waxy covering on the surface of the leaves of the plants. About 5-10% of the water from the leaves is lost through cuticular transpiration. During dry conditions when the stomata are closed, more water is transpired through the cuticles.

Also Read: Guttation

Different factors affecting the rate of transpiration are:

The cellular factors affecting the rate of transpiration are:

1. The orientation of leaf,
2. The water status of the plant,
3. Structural Peculiarities of the leaf,
4. Total number and distribution of stomata in a leaf.

The environmental factors affecting the rate of transpiration are:

1. Light,
2. Humidity,
3. Temperature,
4. Atmospheric pressure,
5. Wind speed or velocity.

The amount of water vapour present in the air at a particular time and temperature is expressed as a percentage of the amount required for saturation at the same temperature. The rate of transpiration is inversely proportional to relative humidity. More the relative humidity less is the transpirate rate.

A high temperature lowers the relative humidity and opens the stomata even in darkness. As a result, the rate of transpiration increases.

The stomata open during the day and close in the dark. Presence of light is directly proportional to the rate of transpiration.

If the air is still, the transpiration rate is low. This is because the water vapour accumulates around the transpiring organs and reduce the diffusion pressure deficit of the air.

If the air is moving, the saturated air around the leaves is removed and the transpiration rate increases.

The transpiration rate is directly proportional to the absorption of water by the roots from the soil. A decrease in water absorption causes the closure of stomata and wilting, thereby reducing the rate of transpiration.

A leaf having more surface area will show more transpiration rate than the leaf with a lesser surface area.

Also Read: Difference between Transpiration and Guttation

When water evaporates through the leaves, a pull is created through the xylem, and water moves back to the leaves. This is known as the transpiration pull.

The ascent of sap that is driven by transpiration depends on the following properties of water:

• Cohesion – This is the mutual attraction between molecules of water.
• Adhesion – The attraction of water molecules towards polar surfaces.
• Surface tension – The molecules of water are more attracted to each other in the liquid phase than in the gas phase.

Stomata consist of a pair of guard cells with an aperture in between. It remains open during the daytime and is closed at night. The reason for the opening and closing of this structure is the turgidity of guard cells.

The interior wall of the guard cells present towards the aperture is dense and flexible. The stomata open when the turgidity of the guard cells increases. The exterior walls bulge out, and the interior walls form a crescent shape.

The orientation of the microfibrils in the guard cells also plays an important role in the opening of the stomata. The radial orientation of the microfibrils makes it easier for the stomata to open. The stomata close when the turgidity of the guard cells decreases due to the water loss and the interior walls form a crescent shape retrieve their original shape.

In dicots, the lower side of leaves have more stomata while in monocots, both the sides have an equal number of stomata.

Also refer: Photosynthesis

The significance of transpiration is explained below:

1.  Transpiration helps in the conduction of water and minerals to different parts of the plants.
2. Due to the continuous elimination of water from the plant body, there is a balance of water maintained within the plant.
3.  It maintains osmosis and keeps the cells rigid.
4.  A suction force is created by transpiration that helps in the upward movement of water in the plants.
5. Certain hydrophilic salts are accumulated on the surface of the leaves, which keeps the leaves moist.
6. It maintains the turgidity of the cells and helps in cell division.
7. Optimum transpiration helps in the proper growth of the plants.
8. The cooling effect of a tree is due to the evaporation of water from its leaves.

In addition to the significance, transpiration has a few drawbacks:

• Transpiration slows down if the transpired water is not compensated by absorption from the soil.
• A lot of energy is released during transpiration.
• Plenty of unnecessary water is absorbed by the plants during the process.

Transpiration in plants is a crucial process. In the absence of transpiration, excess water will get accumulated in the plant cells, and the cells will eventually burst. More than 10% of the earth’s moisture is from transpiration. It is known to be a part of the water cycle.

Also Read: Transportation in Plants

To know more about transpiration in plants, its definition, types, process, factors affecting transpiration rate and other related topics, keep visiting BYJU’S Biology or download BYJU’S app for further reference.