Transpiration pull and the Root Pressure

Transpiration pull is one of the mechanisms employed by a plant or tree to transport water from
the roots to the leafs. Transpiration is basically the loss of water from the mesophyll cell layer in the
leafs or through the aerial parts of the tree to the drier atmosphere (lower water potential) through
structures called stomata in the leafs when sunlight is absorbed by the leafs. The water loss via
diffusion and evaporation builds up negative water potential in the the leafs and exerts negative
pressure that causes water to move up from the Xylem to the leafs. As more water escapes the
leafs more negative pressure is induced which pulls up more water from the Xylem. The underlying
idea is that water is forced up from the Xylem by the tension that is created when water leaves the
mesophyll layer of the leafs.
Transpiration pull is exerted from the mesophyll cell layers down to the roots and sometimes all
the way to the soil solution. Stomata control transpiration, increasing and decreasing when
required. For instance during dry seasons and hot weather stomata will close to inhibit excess
water loss which will be detrimental to the plant. Energy is not required, the absorption of sunlight
and other environmental factors such as wind and humidity drive the process. The process
depends on the basic principles of pressure and chemical properties of water which facilitates such
a profound mechanism. It is, therefore, a highly efficient process.

Root Pressure: Root cells are highly adaptive to take in water. The epidermal cells of root hair are
permeable to water and water moves into the roots via diffusion through the hydrophilic walls of the
root hair.
Usually during night, roots cells take in minerals into the Xylem of the Vascular Cylinder (Stele) and
the Casprian strip in the endodermis stops the minerals from escaping which produces low water
potential in the Xylem. Water from the cortex flows into the Xylem by positive pressure that was
induced, which in turn exerts root pressure pushing water up the Xylem. Water flows from root hair
to the cortex passing through the Stele and into the Xylem
The positive root pressures are not enough to transport water all the way up to the leafs and it
works with processes like cohesion-adhesion and transpiration pull to move up water through the
tree. To produce root pressure minerals are to be taken into the Vascular Cylinder using active
transport which require energy.
All the above processes combined produce enough force to pull up water against gravity.
Outline of water flow
Root hair > Root Cortex > Xylem of Root > Xylem of Stem > Xylem of leaf midrib and vein >
Mesophyll layer > Atmosphere via Stomata

[Adhesion and Cohesion

Water molecules stick together because of hydrogen bond and and there is an unbroken chain of
water from the leaf to the root (Cohesion). The water molecules are also attracted to the
hydrophilic surface of the Xylem which stops gravity form pulling the water down (Adhesion).]