Briefly describe water potential. What
are the factors affecting it?
Briefly describe water potential. What are the factors affecting it?
Water
potential quantifies the tendency of water to move from one part to
the other during various cellular processes such as diffusion,
osmosis, etc. It is denoted by the Greek letter Psi or Ψ
and is expressed in Pascals (Pa). The water potential of pure water
is always taken as zero at standard temperature and pressure.
Water
potential (Ψw) is expressed
as the sum of solute potential (Ψs)
and pressure potential (Ψp).
Ψw = Ψs
+ Ψp
When some solute is
dissolved in water, the water potential of
pure water decreases. This is termed as solute potential (Ψs),
which is always negative. For a solution at atmospheric pressure, Ψw
= Ψs.
The water potential
of pure water or a solution increases on the application of pressure
values more than atmospheric pressure. It is termed as pressure
potential. It is denoted by Ψp
and has a positive value, although a negative pressure potential is
present in the xylem. This pressure potential plays a major role in
the ascent of water through the stem.
Water potential quantifies the tendency of water to move from one part to the other during various cellular processes such as diffusion, osmosis, etc. It is denoted by the Greek letter Psi or Ψ and is expressed in Pascals (Pa). The water potential of pure water is always taken as zero at standard temperature and pressure.
Water potential (Ψw) is expressed as the sum of solute potential (Ψs) and pressure potential (Ψp).
Ψw = Ψs + Ψp
When some solute is dissolved in water, the water potential of pure water decreases. This is termed as solute potential (Ψs), which is always negative. For a solution at atmospheric pressure, Ψw = Ψs.
The water potential of pure water or a solution increases on the application of pressure values more than atmospheric pressure. It is termed as pressure potential. It is denoted by Ψp and has a positive value, although a negative pressure potential is present in the xylem. This pressure potential plays a major role in the ascent of water through the stem.
