Which would lose water by transpiration faster: a plant growing in shade or a plant growing in direct sunlight? Why?
The table shows differences which have been found between sun and shade plants.
Sun leaves Shade leaves small leaves large leaves short internodes long internodes leaves and/or stems often with red pigmentation leaves green thick cuticle thin cuticle 2 or 3 layers of cells in palisade tissue 1 layer of cells in palisade tissue leaves thick leaves thin most of the chloroplasts found in the palisade layer chloroplasts evenly distributed between the palisade and spongy mesophyll layers compensation point high compensation point low leaves/shoots wilting slowly leaves/shoots wilting rapidly
Plant growing in shade will lose water by transpiration faster because of the leaves of a plant grown in the shade are larger than the leaves grown in direct sunlight.
Explanation:
When it’s a hot day, you might get a little sweaty. Plants “sweat” as well. Similar to how we lose water through our skin, plants lose water through their leaves.
Although you might not be able to see them, plants have small pores, or holes, on their leaves. Take a look at the bottom of a leaf under a microscope, and you will be able to see these holes, which are known as stomata. This is where plants can lose water through transpiration.
Even though it’s an invisible process, the loss of water from plants through transpiration is an important part of the water cycle because it adds a lot of water to our air.
The table shows differences which have been found between sun and shade plants.
| Sun leaves | Shade leaves |
| small leaves | large leaves |
| short internodes | long internodes |
| leaves and/or stems often with red pigmentation | leaves green |
| thick cuticle | thin cuticle |
| 2 or 3 layers of cells in palisade tissue | 1 layer of cells in palisade tissue |
| leaves thick | leaves thin |
| most of the chloroplasts found in the palisade layer | chloroplasts evenly distributed between the palisade and spongy mesophyll layers |
| compensation point high | compensation point low |
| leaves/shoots wilting slowly | leaves/shoots wilting rapidly |
Plant growing in shade will lose water by transpiration faster because of the leaves of a plant grown in the shade are larger than the leaves grown in direct sunlight.
Explanation:
When it’s a hot day, you might get a little sweaty. Plants “sweat” as well. Similar to how we lose water through our skin, plants lose water through their leaves.
Although you might not be able to see them, plants have small pores, or holes, on their leaves. Take a look at the bottom of a leaf under a microscope, and you will be able to see these holes, which are known as stomata. This is where plants can lose water through transpiration.
Even though it’s an invisible process, the loss of water from plants through transpiration is an important part of the water cycle because it adds a lot of water to our air.
