Question

Give reason for the following:

Antitranspirants can be used to keep cut flower fresh for a long time.

Answer 1

Antitranspirants:

1. Anti-transpirants are compounds that prevent or stop the transpiration from plants.
2. An example of an antitranspirant is a plant hormone called abscisic acid.

Use of antitranspirants in cut flowers:

1. Antitranspirants obstruct the transport of water molecules through cells of stomata and reduce the rate of transpiration.
2. The cut flowers may lose all the water content due to transpiration and get wilted.
3. Antitranspirants like abscisic acid can be applied on the surface of these flowers to reduce the rate of transpiration.
4. The slower transpiration will ultimately keep the cut flower fresh for a longer time.