Chapter 9: Transport in Plants

Students should be able to:

1. Relate structure and function of root hairs to their surface area, and
to water and ion uptake.
2. State transpiration as the loss of water from aerial parts of a plant,
especially through stomata of the leaves.
3. Describe how water loss is related to cell surfaces, air spaces and
stomata.
4. Describe effects of temperature, humidity and light intensity on
transpiration rate.
5. Describe wilting.
6. Investigate the pathway of water using a suitable stain.
7. Explain movement of water through the stem in terms of
transpirational pull.
8. Identify the position of the xylem and phloem as seen in the TS of
a dicotyledonous stem and leaves.
9. State the function of the xylem and phloem.

9.1 A Recap on Structure and Function of Root Hair Cells

Structure
Long and narrow
Root hair cell is living
1. Cell sap conc. > Soil
solution conc.
2. Cell sap is prevented from
leaking out of root hair
cell
Adaptation
↑ SA: vol. Ratio ⇒ enhance rate of
absorption of H2O and mineral salts
Provide energy for active transport ⇒ by
respiration
Water enters by osmosis

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9.2 Transport & Vascular Tissue
9.2.1 Xylem

Functions

Conduct water & Provide

mineral salts from mechanical
roots  stem  support for the
leaves plant

Structure

• Long, hollow
tube from root
to leaf • Does not
• Hollow space hinder passage
(lumen) is of water
continuous
• Vessel is a
dead structure
• Wall is
strengthened
by lignin • Provide
mechanical
support to the
plant

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 9.2.2 Phloem
Function: Conduct manufactured food (sucrose & amino acids) from leaves to
other parts of the plant
Thin layer of Make up the phloem
cytoplasm

Living cells, provides

energy required for active
Cross-walls separating transport
sieve tube cells

Food moves by diffusion &

active transport
9.3 Investigating Pathway of Water

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9.4.1 Internal structure of a dicotyledonous stem
Cuticle prevents
Store food substances
evaporation of
water Phloem

Cambium

Xylem

• Xylem + Phloem arranged in

a ring

9.4.2 Internal structure of a dicotyledonous root

Xylem

Phloem

• Xylem + Phloem lie on different

radii, alternating with each other
• Epidermis is called a piliferous layer
 no cuticle (Why?) (Hint: What is
the role of the roots in a plant?)

9.5 Transpiration
• Definition: The loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of the plant,
especially through stomata of the leaves

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 Water vapour loss from

9.5.1 Loss of H2O by plants

Water moves out of
Evaporate from mesophyll cells
surface of epidermal
cell Forming

Cuticular Thin film of moisture

transpiration over surface of
intercellular air spaces

Water evaporates out of

intercellular air spaces

Water vapour goes

out through stomata

Stomata Open Stomata

Closed

↑ Water
Vapour Loss ↓ Water
Vapour Loss

Impt of transpiration
• Suction force from transpiration
pulls water & m.s from roots to
leaves
• As water evaporates  cools the
plant

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 9.5.2 Factors affecting transpiration rate

Transpiration Rate Note:

↑ Humidity ⇒ ↑ amt of water
vapour
Water Evaporation Rate

Humidity Wind condition

Temp. Of air Light intensity

Windy external air

↑ L.I. ⇒ ↑ size of
↑ Humidity ⇒ ↓ stomata
transpiration rate ↑ Temp ⇒ ↑ Blow away water
transpiration rate vapour
↑ Transpiration
WHY??
rate
↓ Humidity

↑ Transpiration
rate

9.6 Wilting

↑ Turgor pressure ↑ Support of Leaf Strong sunlight

• Advantages of wilting ↑ Transpiration

 Cells lose ↓ water rate

Cells lose water

↓ Turgor pressure

Stomata close Cells become flaccid

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• Disadvantages of wilting
 When stomata closes  amt of CO2 entering leaf ↓ 
photosynthetic rate ↓ (since photosynthesis uses CO2)

9.7 Transpirational Pull

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