5 TRANSPIRATION

KEY CONCEPTS

Transpiration is the loss of water as water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant.
There are three kinds of transpiration in plants: Stomatal transpiration (which occurs
during daytime when stomata are open for photosynthesis), cuticular transpiration and
lenticular transpiration (both of which are continuous processes).
Transpiration occurs more from the undersurface of the leaves.
Potometer is adevice to measure the rate of water intake by a plant.
The rate of transpiration increases with:
Intensity of sunlight
Higher temperature
- Higher velocity of wind
- Dry air
Closing of stomata and shedding of leaves reduce transpiration.
Sunken stomata, fewer stomata, narrow leaves and thick cuticle are some of the
adaptations that plants develop in order to reduce transpiration.
The advantages of transpiration are :
Cooling,
Creating asuction force,
Distribution of water,
Elimination of excess water.
Guttation is the loss of water as droplets along the margins (through hydathodes) in
plants like banana.
Bleeding is the direct flowing out of plant sap due to a cut in any part of the plant.

1. Tick mark (V) the correct answers in the following.

(a) The loss of water as droplets through leaves of an intact plant is called
(i) bleeding (ii) guttation
(ii) transpiration (iv) evaporation
(b) Which one set of conditions favours the fastest transpiration rate?
(i) A cool, humid, windy day (ii)) A hot, humid, windy day,
(ii) A hot, humid, still day (iv) A hot, dry, windy day.

37
 mav
through stomata only, but it also oCcur in
occurs
(c) Transpiration normally
small quantities from : (iü) Chloroplasts
(i) Root hairs lenticels
(iv) Both cuticle and
(iüi) Cuticle only
(d) Transpiration is :
the stem of a plant.
(i) the rise of water up during photosynthesis.
water produced
(ii) the excretion of excess leaves of
excretion of water with dissolved waste products from the
(iii) the
plant. plant.
the leaves of a
(iv) the loss of water vapour from
2. Name the following
droplets from the margins of leaves.
() Loss of water in the form of water
part of the plant
(11) Loss of water as water vapour from the aerial
(11) Escape of plant sap due to a cut in any part of the plant
(1v) The apparatus used to measure the water intake by a plant
(v) Transpiration through minute apertures on the undersurface of leaves of dicot
plants..
(vi) Transpiration through the minute openings on the surface of older stems
3. Give the specific function of the following structures found in plants :
i) Hydathodes
(iü) Lenticels
(ii) Stomata
(iv) Cuticle.
4. An apparatus as shown in the figure was set up to
5.
demonstrate a process taking place in plants on a cold Water
day. After leaving the pot in sunlight for about an hour, droplets
drops of water appeared on the inside of the polythene
bag.
(a) Name the process which is being
demonstrated.
Polythene
(b) Why were the pot and its soil bag
the polythene bag? left uncovered by

38
 (c) Why was the pot left in
sunlight?

(d) How do the water droplets form?

(e) How would you test that these are

water droplets?

(f) What control would you suggest in this experiment?

(g) Suppose the pot in this experiment was placed in shade instead of sunlight,
what difference would be noticed?

shown alongside.
5. Study the experimental set-up
experiment.
(i) Write the objective of the RESERVOIR

AIR-BUBBLE

AIR-TIGHT
CONTAINER

(iü) Name the apparatus.

39
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6.
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7
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to which plant
Explain (i)
Banyan. Guttation Cuticular
What the (i))
Nerium.
(refer Cacti.
(iii) two
In
the are
(vi) How State (ii)
(iv) (v) (ii)
(i)
9. 10.
 (iv) Transpiration and Translocation.

11. What is transpiration pull?

12. (a) State three advantages of transpiration to the plants.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(b) State four external and four internal factors which affect the rate of
transpiration.
External Factors :
(1) (i)
(iii) (iv)
Internal Factors:
(i) (ii)
(ii) (iv)
(c) State three factors which assist in the passage of water from the roots to the
top of a tall plant or a tree.
(i)
(ii)
(i)
13. Give specific reasons for the following :
in hot summer
(i) It is cool under a tree during midday

43
 leaves
Balsam) show wilting of during midday
(ii) Some herbaceous plants (e.g.
:
but recover in the evening

removed from the plant will wilt far more rapidly than th.
(iii) The leaf of Coleus
of peepal tree :

watery liquid along the leaf margin

14. Some plants (e.g. banana) show tiny droplets ofIf not, why?
in early morning. Can you call it transpiration?

15. How do forests contribute in bringing rains?

16. Three plants A, B andCare placed in beakers containing coloured water. The water
in each beaker is covered with a layer of oil. The leaves are removed from plant B,
while plant C is exposed to strong light.

OIL

(a) In which plant A, B or C would the water move up

fastest?
(b) In which plant would water move slowly?

44
 (c) Why is the water covered with oil1?
(d) What is being investigated by this experiment?
17. Plants have no blood, yet we sometimnes say that a plant is "bleeding". What is
the
meaning of "bleeding' in this statement ?
A tha

argin 18. Choose the odd one in each of the following sets :
i) Lenticels, stomata, root-hairs, cuticle.

(ü) Temperature, humidity, velocity of wind, food reserve.

19. Briefly explain how the rate of transpiration is affected by :

(i) intensity of light

(i) humidity of the atmosphere.

ter
B.

20. Given alongside is the diagram of an

experimental set-up to study the process COBALT CHLORIDE
of transpiration in plants. Study the same PAPER
and then answer the questions that CLIPS
follow :
SLIDES
(i) What is the colour of dry cobalt
chloride paper ?

45
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