Question

Explain the excretory system in plants?

Answer 1

Compared to animals, plants do not have a well-developed excretory system to throw out nitrogenous waste materials. This is because of the differences in their physiology. Therefore, plants use different strategies for excretion.

1) The gaseous waste materials produced during respiration (carbon dioxide) and photosynthesis (oxygen) diffuse out through stomata in the leaves and through lenticels in other parts of the plant. Excess water evaporates mostly from stomata and also from the outer surface of the stem, fruits, etc., throughout the day. This process of getting rid of excess water is called transpiration.

2) The waste products, like oxygen, carbon dioxide and water, are the raw materials for other cellular reactions. The excess of carbon dioxide and water are used up in this way. The only major gaseous excretory product of plants is oxygen.

3) Many plants store organic waste products in their permanent tissues that have dead cells, e.g., in heartwood. Plants also store waste within their leaves or barks. These wastes are periodically removed as the leaves and barks fall off.Some of the waste products are stored in special cells or cellular vacuoles.

4) Some plant wastes are stored as a thick, white fluid.This white fluid is called latex.

5) Gums are a group of sticky, water- soluble wastes found in the common gum tree (babul). Resins are another group of wastes found commonly in the stems of conifers (e.g., pine, fir).