Water Movement Within a Plant

AP Biology
Unit 5

Review: Properties of Water

Water is a polar molecule
Water molecules can form a
column
due to hydrogen bonds
between them

Cohesion = Water is
attracted to other water
molecules
Adhesion = Water is
attracted to other polar
molecules

Hydrogen
bond

Question
Why do plants wilt?
When there is enough
water it flows into
plant cells cells are
plump with water
(turgid)
If there isnt enough
water it flows out of
the cell cells are limp
(flaccid)

Movement Into Roots

Water is absorbed into the roots
through osmosis
Osmosis = diffusion of water
Osmosis is a passive process no
energy required
Water potential () determines
the direction that osmosis will
occur

Water Potential
Pure H2O has = 0
Water potential is a combination
of the pressure from solutes
(s)and the physical pressure
(p).
The more solutes there are in a
solution, the more negative the
water potential will be.

Water Potential
Water always moves
from areas of higher
water potential (less
solutes) to lower
water potential (more
solutes).
Moves from less
negative to more
negative .

No net
water
movement

Pathways of Water
Apoplast Pathway = water travels between
cells (outside of them)
Symplast Pathway = water travels through
cells (inside them to get from cell to cell)

Water Movement in Roots

Water and ions are able
to freely diffuse up to a
point in the root cells
To get into the stele
(where the vascular
tissue is located), the
water and ions must pass
through the cells of the
endodermis (symplast
pathway).

Casparian Strip
Blocks the water from
crossing the endodermis
through apoplast
pathway
control what enters the
vascular tissue
Prevents water and
solutes from leaking
out into the soil

Water Transport in Plant

Water is transported
through the plant in the
xylem
Cells that make up the
xylem:
Tracheids found in all
plants
Vessel Elements found in
some plants

Formation of xylem
1. Cell dies.
2. Cell contents disintegrate.
3. Water can move through
these hollow cells with
little resistance.

Capillary Action
movement of H2O up a very narrow tube
Does account for a little water movement
up the xylem, but not much (about 40 cm)

Image obtained without permission from http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/fieldcrops/graphics/soilh2o5.gif

Transpiration Pull
Accounts for most of the
water movement up the
xylem.
As H2O evaporates from the
stomata (=transpiration),
water from the xylem moves
into the leaf to take its place.
Because of the hydrogen
bonds between water
molecules, water is pulled
up the xylem.

Tension-Cohesion-Evaporation Model

Question
When you receive a bouquet of flowers,
why is it important to cut them under water?
Transpiration is still continuing, so if you
cut it under water, it will ensure that water
(not air) gets into the xylem.
Air bubble in xylem would disrupt the
column of water.

Transpiration Rate
Factors that affect transpiration
rate include: light, humidity,
temperature.
The plant might also close its
stomata to limit transpiration
Well look at this in more detail
in the upcoming dry lab.

Stomata and Guard Cells

Stoma is Greek for "mouth" (plural =
stomata)
Function of Stoma = to allow gas exchange
with the outside environment (CO2 and O2)
Guard cells regulate the opening of the
stomata

Stomatal Opening and Closing

When guard cells are
full of water (plump)
stretch away from
each other stoma is
open
When guard cells dont
have much water in
them (limp) dont
pull away from each
other stoma is
closed

Role of K+
K+ ions (potassium) control
the opening of stoma by
changing the water content
in the guard cells.
K+ in : H20 follows by
osmosis stoma open
K+ out: H20 follows by
osmosis stoma closed

Question
What conditions favor stomatal opening?
Plentiful water
Moderate temperatures

Hormonal Control of Stomata

Abscissic Acid (plant hormone) acts on
guard cells to close stomata.
stress hormone in plants
Farmers can use it as an anti-transpirant
(reduces water loss and the need for irrigation).
There are genetically engineered plants that
have a mutant era genethis makes them
highly sensitive to abscissic acid.