Water is extremely important for plant life. It acts as a solvent for the transport of nutrients, participates in photosynthesis and other biochemical reactions, provides structural support through turgor pressure, and helps regulate temperature. Without enough water, plants wither, photosynthesis deteriorates or stops, and various other essential functions are disrupted.
Solvent and Transport Medium
- Water acts as a solvent for mineral nutrients, allowing them to be absorbed from the soil and transported throughout the plant via the xylem and phloem.
- It facilitates the movement of various molecules within and between cells, enabling biochemical reactions and metabolic processes.
Why is the plant-water relationship important?
Knowledge of plant water relation is important as water is essential for plants and animals. It acts as a medium for the dissolution of substances. A huge amount of water is taken up daily by plants and a considerable amount is lost in transpiration.
What is the relationship between plants and water?
The most abundant element in all physiologically active plant cells is water. A large amount of water is used every day and a significant amount of water is lost through transpiration.
Functions of Water in Plants
The various functions of water in plants are as follows:
1.Since many enzymes are dissolved in the cellular water, it serves as a medium (and sometimes a substrate) for biochemical reactions within the cells.
2.Structural support: Water provides the turgor pressure that gives many cells their shape. As a result, many tissues lose their structure and shrivel when water is insufficient.
3.Transport of solutes between organs through xylem and phloem vessels, and evaporative cooling of leaves during transpiration.
4.Cell expansion: Turgor pressure provides the physical force needed to expand cells during growth.
Absorption of water by plants
Plants absorb water through their entire surface — including roots, stems, and leaves — although roots are primarily responsible for water absorption. The root area is where the most absorption occurs. These root hairs are delicate structures that are constantly renewed, with approximately 100 million new root hairs forming each day.
Water flows through the roots in two ways. They can be classified as
1) Apoplast pathway
2) Symplast pathway
Water absorption mechanism
Water can be absorbed in two ways:
1.Active Absorption – In this process, roots actively absorb water using metabolic energy. This typically occurs when transpiration is low and soil moisture is high. It helps in the absorption of water by the root cells which are actively involved in this process.
2.Passive Absorption: In this method, water is pulled into the plant mainly due to transpiration. Root hairs do not actively participate in this process. It usually occurs when the transpiration rate is high.
FAQs
What is water 💦?
Ans: Water is a transparent, tasteless, and odorless liquid that is vital for all known forms of life.
What is pink in your water?
Ans: The pink color in water is usually caused by a bacterium called Serratia marcescens.
Is water a mixture?
Ans: No, water (H₂O) is not a mixture; it is a compound.
