Kaitlyn Tang
Core prac cal 8: Inves gate the effect of environment condi ons on water uptake in a
plant shoot
Rate of transpira on can be affected by abio c factors like light intensity, humidity, wind speed and
temperature.
Hypothesis
Increased humidity (chosen independent variable) decreases the rate of transpira on. This will be
shown from the decreased rate of water uptake of the plant shoot in this experiment. Since there is a
smaller concentra on gradient between the air spaces in the plant and the atmosphere, rate of
diffusion and evapora on, in other words, transpira on, will decrease as well.
Independent variable: Humidity surrounding plant
Two condi ons of humidity.
To increase humidity, cover the shoot with a clear plas c bag with a damp interior. This increases the
amount of water vapour surrounding the plant and decreases the concentra on gradient.
Dependent variable: Distance of bubble moved in a certain amount of me (2mins)
A bubble potometer will be used in this experiment. Assuming that the plant shoot takes up an equal
volume of water to replace the same amount of water lost from transpira on, the rate of
transpira on can be (indirectly) determined by measuring the distance that the air bubble has
moved in a fixed amount of me, eg, for 2 minutes.
Mark the posi on of the bubble at the start of the experiment with a marker and start the stopwatch
right away. Mark another line of the posi on of the bubble again a er two minutes. Measure the
distance between the two lines with a ruler.
Controlled variables
Keeping all condi ons as similar as possible between two subjects except for the independent
variable (humidity) allows us to carefully look at the effect of changing humidity have on the rate of
water uptake in a plant shoot.
- Time for air bubble to move: use a stopwatch
- Same plant: Cut the two shoots from the same plant (with leaves that have thin waxy
cu cles), with the same number of leaves and approximate same surface areas of the leaves.
- Light intensity: Run the two experiments at the same place and me of the day to ensure
same light intensi es are received by the shoot; make sure no light sources are blocked.
Note that many plants close their stomata when the light intensity is insufficient for
photosynthesis to prevent excess water loss. They may be observed as not transpiring very
much. A same high-light intensity can be used for both humidity condi ons to promote
photosynthesis and transpira on for op mum observa on.
- Air movement: Ensure there is no great differences in air movements eg. fans turned on as it
will affect the concentra on gradient of diffusion.
- Temperature (may be hard to control): Do not wet the plas c bag with hot water to reduce
difference of temp experienced by the two plant shoots.
- Reset bubble to 0 each me
Kaitlyn Tang
Method
1. Set up the bubble potometer underwater: lay the capillary tube and rubber connector and
fill both with water.
2. Cut two leafy shoots from the selected plant and insert into the rubber connector
underwater. If air gets into the xylem, it may prevent the plant from taking up water due to
blockage.
3. Dry the leaves gently with a paper towel.
4. Clamp the capillary tube into a stand, placing the bo om of the capillary tube into a beaker
of water.
5. Smear petroleum jelly around all joints to maintain air ght condi ons.
6. Leave for 5 minutes to allow a bubble to be drawn up into the capillary tube.
7. Draw a line with a marker to mark the star ng and ending posi on of the bubble in the 2
minutes and measure distance moved by a ruler.
8. Repeat process for both condi ons for 3 mes.
9. Compare results, calculate rate of transpira on and plot graph.
Risk assessment
Hazard Risk Safety precau on Ac on Risk level
Biohazard- Irrita ng/ Use disinfectant and wash Seek assistance Low
plant sap contamina on hands with soap a er from teacher
handling plant
Scissors cut Be careful when cu ng Prepare first aid; Low
plant shoot tell teacher
Capillary tube cut Take care and be gentle Prepare first aid; Low
breaking when handling and tell teacher
assembling cu ng into
the tubing
References
Title of ar cle Web address Date Accessed
h ps://prac calbiology.org/exchange-of- 23/04/24
Measuring rate of
materials/transpira on-in-plants/measuring-rate-of-
water uptake by a
water-uptake-by-a-plant-shoot-using-a-potometer
plant shoot using a
potometer
Transpiration- h ps://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/c242ac4 aaf/6 23/04/24
Factors Affecting
Rates of
Transpiration
Investigating h ps://www.saps.org.uk/teaching- 23/04/24
transpiration with a resources/resources/1263/inves ga ng-
potometer transpira on-with-a-potometer/
