Project Report Name : "Transpiration of Plants"

Class : XII (Medical)

"Project Report on Transpiration of Plants"

Project Report Index

1. Transpiration of Plants - Introduction .....
2. Mechanism of Transpiration .....
3. Types of Transpiration .....
4. Measurement of Transpiration .....
5. Factor Affecting Transpiration .....
6. Significance of Transpiration .....
7. Advantage and Disadvantage of Transpiration .....
8. Conclusion .....
Transpiration of Plants - Introduction : Land plants absorb large amount of water
from the soil, small fraction of the water absorbed by the plants is really in the making of
their body structure. Rest of it is lost from the aerial parts of the plants in the form of
water vapours.
The loss of water in the form of vapours from the aerial parts of the plants is known as
transpiration.

All aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers and fruits) of the plants transpire water. Rate of
the transpiration is much higher during the day in comparison to night.

Mechanism of Transpiration : We have learnt that water rise up in the stem through
xylem. Form xylem vessels of leaves water diffuses into mesophyll tissue making cells
turgid. The walls of mesophyll cells remain saturated with water. From cell walls water is
lost into intercellular spaces in the form of water vapor. Soon, the concentration of water
vapour in the intercellular spaces are connected to atmosphere through stomata. The
air surrounding the leaves thus becomes more humid, and water vapours from there
diffuses into drier region of the atmosphere. The process of water loss involving
evaporation from the cells walls into intercellular spaces and then diffusion of water
vapor from intercellular spaces into the atmosphere through stomata, lenticels or
cuticles goes on continuously.

Types of Transpiration
Loss of water vapours from aerial of plants takes place through stomata, cuticle and
lenticels.
Transpiration have three main types
1. Stomata Transpiration
2. Cuticular Transpiration
3. Lenticular Transpiration
Stomatal Transpiration : Loss of water vapour through microscopic pores (stomates)
surrounding by specialized guard cell is called stomatal transpiration stomatal are

distributed mostly on the leaves. However they are found on young greens, stems,
flowers and fruits.
Culticular Transpiration : Some transpiration takes place by the direct evaporation of
water from the outer walls of the epidermal cells. The epidermal cells are mostly
cutinized and culticularized. This layer is impermeable to water. Water loss due to
evaporation through cuticle is called cuticular transpiration.
Lenticular Transpiration : Water loss through the lenticels in woody stems and fruits is
called lenticular transpiration.

Measurement of Transpiration
Simple Poto Meter Method : A small rubber tubing taken and a graduated one ml.
pipette is inserted into it. Both rubber tube and pipette is filled with water a tree branch
is taken and recut while immersed in water this is done to exclude the entry of air into
xylem vessel. The twig is now inserted into the other end of rubber tubing while its cut
end is still immersed in water. As the leaves lose water due to transpiration, the water
column is graduated pipette moves down. The fall in the level of water in the graduated
pipette after a fixed period of time will give the rate of transpiration.
Factor Affecting on Transpiration
A) Internal Factor :
i.

Leaf area larger leaves lose more water than smaller leaves.

ii.

Leaf structure the rate of transpiration is large due to large leaf structure.

iii.

Succulence, the succulent stem contain mucilage in their tissues.

This reduce the rate of transpiration with an increase in the shoot-root ratio.

B) External Factor :
i.

Atmosphere Humidity : Lesser the humidity higher is rate of transpiration.

ii.

Temperature : Higher the temp higher will be transpiration.

iii.

Wind Velocity : Higher the wind velocity higher will be transpiration.

iv.

Availability of water is also cause higher or lower transpiration.

Significance of Transpiration
Leaf anatomy was designed to facilitate gaseous exchange for photosynthesis and
respiration. Transpiration however becomes unavoidable. Under conditions of defect
water supply, it becomes a serious problem. It thus appear that transpiration has been
forced on the plants. Plants have to bear it even if they have to spent a lot of energy on
it. Carties, therefore rightly called Transpiration a necessary evil.

Advantage and Disadvantage of Transpiration

Advantages :
1. Ascent of Sap : Transpiration exerts a tension pull on water column in xylem which
is responsible for the ascent of sap.
2. Absorption of Water : Transpiration helps passive absorption of water.
3. Transport of Minerals : Transpiration assists translocation of mineral salts through
xylem.
4. Cooling Effect : Transpiration create cooling in the plants.

Disadvantage :

1. Wilting Injury : Permanent wilting is not recovered and lead to death of plants.
2. Stunted Growth : Excessive rates of transpiration leads to stunted growth of plants.