Question

Describe the process of respiration in the following part of a plant.
Stem.

Answer 1

Plants do require oxygen for respiration which in return give out carbon dioxide. Unlike animals and humans, plants do not have any specialized structures for gaseous exchange but they have stomata (present in leaves) and lenticels (present in stems) which are involved in the exchange of gases. Compared to animals, plant roots, stems, and leaves respire at a very lower rate. During respiration, very little amount of gas exchanges takes place within the different parts of the plants. Therefore, each part takes care of its own energy requirements. Roots, stems, and leaves of plants exchange gases for respiration separately. In the case of the stem, the air gets diffused in the stomata and passes through various parts of the cell for respiration. The carbon dioxide produced during this stage also diffuses through the stomata. In higher plants or woody plants, the gaseous exchange is carried out by lenticels.