PRACTICAL 10
Date: 28th of January 2013 Name: Yevgeniya Migranova Tutorial group: J Lab partners name: Zhannur Issayev
Nazarbayev University
23.11.2013
Introduction:
This practical will investigate rate of water uptake by a plan shoot. First of all, water uptake begins in a root by passing the epidermis and travelling to the vascular tissue in the middle. Then the water travels up the xylem owing to transpiration and water pressure. Such qualities of water as adhesion and cohesion allow it to move up the shoot. As the water fills up the leaves of the plant, turgidity of cells increases; consequently, latera; flexible cell wall expands and stomata gets open. Stomata are vital for transpiration. The wider stomata are open, the stronger is transpiration. As they close, transpiration rate decreases significantly. The experiment allows us observe how different conditions, such as light intensity, wind speed and temperature affect the rate of transpiration.
Results:
Experiment 1. Light intensity Table 1. Light intensity Distance of light from the plant (cm) 20 30 40 50 60 Potometer change (mm) Rate of transpiration (cm/s) 0.27 0.21 0.17 0.13 0.1
Experiment 2. Wind Speed and Temperature Table 2. Wind Speed and Temperature Wind speed (km/h) Temperature (Co) Potometer change (mm) 10.8 7 5.1 3.4 2.8 Rate of transpiration (cm/s) 0.36 0.23 0.17 0.11 0.3
38 36 33 30 26
Graph 2. Temperature
Experiment 3. Surface area According to the graph paper of the log book, the surface area of the leaf is around 96 cm .
2
Discussion:
Deducing from the results of experiment one, it is possible to deduce that the greater is the light intensity, the higher is the transpiration rate. This is because an increase in light intensity results in an increase of rate of photosynthesis; therefore, the plant needs to open stomata and increase transpiration rate. Increase in wind speed from the experiment 2 also increases transpiration rate, because the wind removes water vapor from around the leaf. Another factor increasing transpiration rate is the temperature. At higher temperatures plants transpire more readily because water molecules move more rapidly at higher
temperatures than at low temperatures. Finally, experiment 4 demonstrates that larger surface area causes higher transpiration rate because more stomata are located on larger leaves. Possible mistakes could be made due to poor construction of the potometer, wrong calculations or timing.
Conclusion:
The practical results have demonstrated that increase in light intensity, wind speed, temperature and surface area also increases transpiration rate. Light intensity, wind speed, temperature are external affecters of the transpiration rate; whereas, the surface area is the property of the leaf itself and higher transpiration rate is a result of high amount of stomata.
References:
Kent, Michael. 2000. Advanced Biology. United Kingdom: Oxford University press. Campbell, Neil A. 2008. Biology. Pearson Education Press.