3.3.4.2 mass transport in plants Flashcards
xylem
transports water and minerals from the roots, up the plant, to the leaves
adaptations of the xylem
elongated, hollow tubes with no end walls
no organelles
walls with lignin for support
what is transpiration
evaporation of water from the plant via stomata
what is the transpiration pull
when a column of water is pulled up the xylem due to transpiration
cohesion-tension hypothesis
water evaporates from the leaves at the top of the plant, reducing water potential in the cells
water moves into the xylem by osmosis.
this creates tension in the column of water
the cohesive forces between water molecules, due to hydrogen bonding, meaning the water is pulled up
adhesive forces between the water and the xylem walls helps the water move up the xylem
factors which increase the rate of transpiration
light - more light, more stomata open for photosynthesis
temperature - higher temp, water molecules have more kinetic energy, evaporating from the leaf faster, increasing conc gradient inside and outside of the plant
humidity - lower the humidity, faster the transpiration rate because conc gradient between inside and outside of the plant increase
wind - more wind, greater rate of transpiration as more water molecules are moved away from the stomata, increases gradient
why does the diameter of a tree decrease during the day
more light and higher temp.
increases rate of transpiration and transpiration pull
water pulled up via cohesion tension
this pulls the walls of the xylem inwards
what is a potometer
apparatus used to estimate transpiration rates
what does a potometer measure
water uptake of a plant
how does a potometer work
water is pulled up the plant by cohesion tension
causing the bubble to move towards the plant
the more water is lost by transpiration, the more water is uptook, the further the bubble will move
how do you set up the potometer
- cut the shoot underwater - to prevent water entering the xylem. cut it at a slant - to increase surface area
- assemble the potometer underwater and insert shoot
- ensure apparatus is water and airtight by sealing it with vaseline
- dry leaves and allow plant time to acclimatise
- shut tap to form an air bubble
- measure the distance of the air bubble and the time taken
phloem
transports sugars and amino acids around the plant
structure of the phloem
sieve tube - transport solutes
companion cells - produce ATP for each sieve tube element
no organelles except mitochondria
what is translocation
movement of solutes to parts of the plant where they are needed
explain the terms source and sink
source - usually the leaves. where the solute is made, high conc of the solute
sink - where the solute is used up, low conc of the solute