St. Peter’s School, Mazagaon, Mumbai- 400010.

Online study material

Subject: Biology Std: X
Chapter: Transpiration

➢ Instructions:
• Kindly download the videos from the links provided below and watch the videos carefully.
• Read the study material given below carefully.
• Copy the notes in your note book.
• Diagram based questions to be done along with the diagram.
• Refer to concise biology for detail understanding of the topic.
• Copy and solve the worksheet neatly in your note book.
Link for the video:
[Link] : Transpiration

[Link] : Factors affecting rate of transpiration

[Link] : Adaptation in plants to reduce transpiration

Q1. Define transpiration.

Ans. Transpiration is the loss of water in the form of water vapour from the leaves and the
other aerial parts of the plant.

Q2. Differentiate between Evaporation and transpiration.

Ans.
Evaporation Transpiration
1. Loss of water from the surface of 1. Loss of water in the form of
the water bodies in the form of vapour from the aerial parts of a
vapour. plant.
2. It is a physical change controlled 2. It is a vital and partly a physical
by the temperature and humidity process controlled by both internal and
of the atmosphere. external factors.
3. It is a fast process 3. It is a slow process

Q3. What are the different kinds of transpiration?

Ans. The three kinds of transpiration are:
a) Stomatal transpiration : This type of transpiration occurs through stomata. Stomata
are minute openings present in the epidermal layer of leaves. In dorsiventral leaves,
most of the stomata occur on the lower surface. It occurs only when the stomata are
open.
b) Cuticular transpiration: Cuticle is a waxy layer secreted by the epidermis on the two
surfaces of the leaf. The thickness of the cuticle varies from plant to plant. The greater
the thickness of the cuticle, the lesser is the evaporation. Desert plants tend to have
thicker cuticles to cut down transpiration.
c) Lenticular transpiration: Lenticels are special openings that develop on the barks of
older stems in place of stomata. Lenticels never close. They remain open all the time
 and water from the cell surface directly facing the lenticel evaporates and contributes to
transpiration.

Q4. List the factors that affect the rate of transpiration.

Ans. External factors :
a) Intensity of light : During the day, the stomata are open to facilitate the inward
diffusion of CO2 for photosynthesis. At night they are closed. Therefore, more
transpiration occurs during the day.
b) Temperature: Increase in temperature allows more water to evaporate and decrease in
temperature reduces evaporation.
c) Velocity of wind: Transpiration increases with the velocity of wind.
d) Humidity: Transpiration is reduced if the air outside is humid.
e) Carbon dioxide: Increase in the CO2 level in the outside air over normal 0.03% causes
stomatal closure and results in the decrease of transpiration.
f) Atmospheric pressure: Rate of transpiration increases with the decrease in atmospheric
pressure.
Internal Factors:
Water content of the leaves, size of transpiring area, thickness of cuticle, number and position
of stomata and leaf orientation.

Q5. List the adaptations in plants to reduce transpiration.

Ans. Adaptations to reduce transpiration:
a) Sunken stomata: Stomata occurs below the level of epidermis to create a small cavity
for reducing the rate of transpiration. Example: In Nerium, stomata occur in cavities
having hair on the lower surface of leaves.
b) Fewer stomata: The number of stomata may be reduced.
c) Narrow leaves: The leaves may become narrower to reduce surface area. Example:
Nerium.
d) Reduced exposed surfaces: In some cases, leaves may get wavy, rolled or folded to
reduce exposed surface. Example: Grasses.
e) Loss of leaves: in some cases, leaves may be dropped or may be absent or changed into
spines as in most cacti.
f) Thick cuticle: The leaves may be covered by thick cuticle, e.g. Banyan, and most
evergreen trees.

Q6. What is the significance of transpiration?

Ans. Transpiration has great significance for the plants.
a) Cooling effect: Evaporation of water from the aerial parts results in lowering of their
temperature which will otherwise rise due to exposure to sun.
b) Suction force: Transpiration helps in ascent of sap by producing a suction force
acting from the top of a plant.
c) Distribution of water and mineral salts: Transpiration from the leaves surfaces tends
to draw water towards them and thus helps in the distribution of water throughout the
water body.
Q7. What is a potometer? State its limitations.
Ans. Potometer is a device that measures the rate of water intake by a plant and this water
intake is almost equal to the water lost through transpiration.

Limitations:
i) Introduction the air bubble is not very easy.
ii) The twig may not remain fully alive for a long time.
iii) Any change in the outside air temperature may affect the position of the air bubble in
the capillary tube.

Q8. Draw a neat and labelled diagram of a portion of leaf showing one single stomata.
Ans.

Q9. Give the exact location and function of the following.

Structure Location Function
1. Lenticels On the surface of the woody Diffusion of gases for
stems/old stems. photosynthesis and
respiration.
2. Hydathodes On the margins of leaves. Guttation or exudation.
Tips of veins in a leaf.
3. Guard cells In the leaf epidermis and a Regulate the opening and
pair of guard cells surrounds closing of stomata in leaf to
the stomata and forms facilitate transpiration and
stomatal pore. exchange of gases.
4. Cuticle Waxy layer on the surface of Being transparent allows
leaves. sunlight to reach the
mesophyll of leaves/
prevents evaporation of
water from leaf surface.
Q10. What is wilting? Some plants show wilting of their leaves at noon even when the soil is
well watered. Why is it so?
Ans. Wilting refers to the loss of cellular turgidity in plants which results in the drooping of
leaves or plants as a whole because of lack of water.
During noon the rate of transpiration exceeds the rate of absorption of water by roots. Due to
the excessive transpiration, the cells of leaves lose their turgidity and wilt.
Diagram based questions:
1. Given below is the diagram of an experimental set-up to demonstrate a certain
phenomenon in plants. Study the diagram and answer the questions that follows:

i) Name the phenomenon being demonstrated.

Ans. Transpiration
ii) What is the purpose of putting oil in the test tube?
Ans. Oil is put on the surface of water to prevent loss of water by evaporation.
iii) What is the purpose of the spring balance in the set-up?
Ans. The spring balance progressively measures the change in weight of the set-up. This is
because as the plant transpires, it creates the suction force in plant which allows roots to
absorb more water from the test tub. Hence, the water in the test tube will get reduced. Thus,
the weight of the entire set up will decrease.
iv) Would it make a difference if the experimental set-up is kept in bright sunshine?
Ans. Yes , the transpiration rate will increase. Transpiration would occur faster. The
observable changes will occur in less time.

2. Given below is the diagram of an experimental set up to study the process of transpiration
in plants. Study the same and then answer the questions that follows:

i) What is the aim of the above experiment?

Ans. To show that more transpiration occurs from the lower surface of a dicot leaf.
ii) What is the colour of dry cobalt chloride paper?
Ans. Blue
iii) Is the experimental leaf a monocot or a dicot? Give a reason to support your answer.
Ans. Dicot leaf. Because the leaf has reticulate venation.
iv) Why are glass slides placed over the dry cobalt chloride papers?
Ans. To keep the strips of cobalt chloride paper at their places.
v) After about an hour what change, if any, would you expect to find in the cobalt chloride
paper placed on the dorsal and ventral sides of the leaf? Give a reason to support your
answer.
Ans. After an hour, the cobalt chloride paper placed on the upper surface of the leaf either
does not turn pink or turns pink in a much longer time than the one on the lower surface
which turns pink much faster. As numerous stomata are found on the under surface of a dicot
leaf.

3. The apparatus shown in the following diagram is Garreau’s potometer designed to

demonstrate unequal transpiration from the two surfaces of a dorsoventral leaf. Before
keeping the leaf in between the cups, anhydrous calcium chloride (CaCl2) contained in
two small vials were weighed and placed in both the cups. The ends of the cups were
closed with corks through which two mercury manometers were connected. After few
hours, CaCl2 vials were taken out and weighed again.

i) What is the purpose of keeping CaCl2 vials inside the cup?

Ans. CaCl2 is a hygroscopic compound that absorbs moisture/water without changing its
state. CaCl2 vials inside the cup will absorb water.
ii) After few hours CaCl2 vials were taken out and weighed again. Will you expect any
difference in weight? If so, give reason.
Ans. The vial placed towards lower surface of a leaf weighs more as compare to the one
placed near the upper surface of a leaf due to absorption of water lost by the leaf of the plant
through transpiration.
iii) What was the purpose of using a manometer?
Ans. Manometer is used to measure the pressure. The pressure is measured with the displaced
of fluid in the tube.
iv) What do you mean by transpiration?
Ans. Transpiration is the loss of water in the form of water vapour from the leaves and the
other aerial parts of the plant.

4. An apparatus shown below was set up to investigate a physiological process in plants.

The setup was kept in sunlight for two hours. Droplets of water were then seen inside the
bell jar. Answer the questions that follow:

i) Name the process being studied.

Ans. Transpiration
ii) Explain the process named above in (a).
Ans. The process in which plants lose water in the form of vapour from its aerial parts.
iii) Why was the pot covered with a plastic sheet?
Ans. To prevent escape of the soil water as vapour.
iv) Suggest a suitable control for this experiment.
Ans. A similar set up without a living plant.
v) Mention two ways in which the process is beneficial to plants.
Ans. Cooling effect: Evaporation of water from the aerial parts results in lowering of
their temperature which will otherwise rise due to exposure to sun.
Suction force: Transpiration helps in ascent of sap by producing a suction force
acting from the top of a plant.
vi) List three adaptations in plants to reduce the above-mentioned process.
Ans. Sunken stomata: Stomata occurs below the level of epidermis to create a small
cavity for reducing the rate of transpiration. Example : In Nerium, stomata occur in
cavities having hair on the lower surface of leaves.
Fewer stomata: The number of stomata may be reduced.
Narrow leaves: The leaves may become narrower to reduce surface area. Example:
Nerium.
 St. Peter’s School, Mazagaon, Mumbai- 400010.
Transpiration Work sheet

1. The figure given below represents an experimental set up with a weighing machine to
demonstrate a particular process in plants. The experimental set up was placed in bright
sunlight. Study the diagram and answer the following questions:

i) Name the process intended for study.

ii) Define the above-mentioned process.
iii) When the weight of the test tubes A and B is taken before and after the experiment,
what change is observed? Justify.
iv) What is the purpose of keeping the test tube B in the experimental set up?

2. Given below is the diagram of an apparatus used to study a particular phenomenon in

plants:

i) Name the apparatus.

ii) What is it used for?
iii) What is the role played by the air-bubble in this experiment?
iv) What is the use of the reservoir?
v) What happens to the movement of the air-bubble if the apparatus is kept
a) In the dark
b) In sunlight
c) In front of a fan
vi) State two limitations of using this apparatus.

3. Give biological reason for the following:

i) The leaves of certain plants roll up on a bright sunny day.

ii) Balsam plant wilt during mid-day even if the soil is well watered.
iii) In some xerophyte’s leaves are modified into spines.

4. Differentiate between Guttation and bleeding.