OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of varying environmental conditions like

light, humidity and wind on the rate of transpiration in leafy shoots
using a simple potometer.

INTRODUCTION
The terrestrial plants take up water through their roots and xylem.
But, only a small fraction of the absorbed water is used by the
plants and the rest is lost through the aerial parts of the plant. This
loss of water in the form of vapour through the aerial parts of the
plant like stem, fruits, flowers, stomata of the leaves etc. is known as
transpiration.
o Mechanism of Transpiration:
Water rises up in the stem through xylem due to the suction pull
caused by the evaporated water. The upward transpiration pull is
greater than the downward gravitational pull so, the column of
water moves up. According to cohesion tension theory, the
evaporation of water from the leaves causes the upwards
movement of water. The water molecules have a high cohesion as
they are polar and so are electrically attracted to each other. The
column of water does not tend to break as it has a very high tensile
strength from the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules.
From xylem vessels of leaves water diffuses (down the
concentration gradient) 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
vapour. Soon, the concentration of water vapour in the intercellular
spaces is connected to atmosphere through stomata. The air
surrounding the leaves thus becomes more humid, and water
vapours from there diffuses into dry region of the atmosphere. The
process of water loss involving evaporation from the cell walls into
intercellular spaces and then diffusion of water vapour from
intercellular spaces into the atmosphere through stomata, lenticels
or cuticles goes on continuously. When Pressure begins to build in
the leaves, to prevent downward movement, guttation occurs.
Guttation is the loss if water through leaf openings on the leaf
margins called hydrathodes.
Loss of water through transpiration can be facilitated by the
opening and closing of the stomata depending on environmental
conditions.
The stomata open in the day to let carbon dioxide diffuse in, and to
let oxygen diffuse out as part of photosynthesis. At night
photosynthesis is unable to take place due to the absence of light so
the stomata are closed to reduce water loss. Light causes potassium
ions to be pumped into the guard cells which lowers their water
potential and so water diffuses into the guard cells causing them to
go turgid and so open. At night potassium moves out of the guard
cells into the surrounding cells so the water diffuses out of the
guard cells causing them to close. In hot climates the water loss by
transpiration can exceed the water uptake from the roots which
causes the plants to suffer from water stress. To combat this ABA is
produced by the plant which causes the rapid pumping of
potassium ions out of the guard cells which closes them and so
reduces the water loss by transpiration.
o Factors Affecting Transpiration:
A) Internal Factors:

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 contains mucilage in their
tissues. This reduces the rate of transpiration with an
increase in the shoot-root ratio.

B) External Factors:

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: It also cause higher or lower
transpiration.

o Significance of Transpiration:

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.

5. Diffusion of CO2: Transpiration is needed to keep the cells of the

spongy and palisade mesophyll cells moist as this allows carbon
dioxide to dissolve before diffusing into the cells for Photosynthesis.

HYPOTHESIS
In the different environmental conditions, there would be different
rate of transpiration in the same plant. The rate of transpiration
would be the highest when the plant is in high temperature and
light conditions and the least when environment is humid.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
o A spinach plants
o A glass tubes
o Screw gauge
o Bunsen burner
o Conical flask
o Two Titration stands
o Bowl of water
o Petroleum jelly
o An electric bulb
o A plastic bag
o Stop watch
o Ruler
o Marker
o Cello tape
o Table fan

PROCEDURE
Setting up the potometer:
o A glass tube of diameter 0.56 cm measured using a screw gauge was
taken.
o It was made U-shaped using flame which was longer at one end than the
other.
o The longer end was graduated to 0.25 ml which was 1cm using a scale
and marker.
o A Spinach plant was selected based on the diameter of the stem and with
a greater number of leaves so as to provide maximum surface area, and
kept immersed in water to maintain its freshness.
o The spinach shoot was then cut under water in a large bowl about 1 inch
up the root using a blade in a single stroke to avoid damage to the
vascular bundle and inserted along with the water through the smaller
end of the tube taking care that there were no air bubbles in the tube.
o Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) was immediately applied around the tube
edging to form an airtight seal around the stem.
o The plant along with the glass tube was raised out of the water and
clamped in the clamp stands in an upright position as shown in the figure.
o The whole system was full of water and completely air tight. As the plant
transpired it pulled water up through the tubing. This apparatus was a
simple potometer.
 Simple Potometer

Recording the rate of transpiration

 The apparatus was allowed to equilibrate for about 15 minutes and

then the rate of transpiration was recorded in different environmental
condition.

 The time required for unit volume (0.25 ml) of water transpired in
various conditions was noted. The whole experiment was carried out at
normal room temperature.
 Various environmental conditions used in the experiment
 Wind: A table fan was used for this purpose. It was operated in
medium mode so that it doesn’t disturb the apparatus.
 Light: An electric bulb was used such that all the leaves surface get
maximum intensity of light and no wind in the area.
 Humidity: The plant was covered with a plastic bag, so that the
water vapour transpired get accumulated and maintained a humid
atmosphere for the plant

 When one factor was changed, other factors were maintained constant
throughout the experiment.

 For each of these conditions the time taken for transpiration of the unit
volume water from the U- tube was noted.

Setup for study of effect of humidity on the rate of transpiration

 Setup for study of effect of light on the rate of transpiration

OBSERVATIONS

Sl. Environmental Time taken for transpiration of

No. Conditions 0.25 ml water (in minutes)

01 Control 33.27

02 Wind 24.34

03 Light 14.77

04 Humidity 60.37
The rate of transpiration is highest in light and temperature changed
environmental condition.

RESULT
The volume of water taken up by transpiration was worked out.
Volume of water uptake = (π) x (Radius of the tube) ² x (distance
travelled)
= 0.25 cm3
= 0.25 ml

The rate of transpiration (volume of water taken up per minute) was

calculated using the given formulae:
Rate of transpiration = volume of water uptake / Time taken

Under the different environmental conditions:

Sl. No. Environmental conditions Rate of transpiration

(ml/min)
01 Control 0.0075
02 Wind 0.0103
03 Light 0.0169
04 Humidity 0.0041

ANALYSIS
The results of the experiments were analysed.

Wind: 37.33% increase in rate of transpiration

Light: 125 % increase in rate of transpiration

Humidity: 45% decrease in rate of transpiration

Wind:

As per the hypothesis, there was a considerable amount of increase in

the rate of transpiration when the wind moved past the leaves of the
plant. Since, wind increased the rate of evaporation, there was a
greater change in the potential gradient of water in the mesophyll
cells and thus, less time was taken to uptake the unit volume of water.

Light:

Light increases the rate of transpiration. Here, the source of light

also contributed in increasing temperature. Thus, there is a very
large increase i.e., 125% more than the control condition. The heat
hitting the plant increased the amount of water pulled in by the
plant because it increased the rate of evaporation on the leaves.
Humidity:

The humidity in the environment was due to the accumulation of

water vapours in the plastic bag. This acted as a shield for further
transpiration by decreasing the rate of evaporation.
 LIMITATIONS
o The total water uptake is not the exact volume of water transpired
as it includes a small amount of water that is used by plants for their
biochemical reactions.

o The source of light, an electric bulb, also had an effect on heating the
leaves and increased the temperature condition from 28 oC to 32oC.

o The experiments did not leave any time for the plants to equilibrate
in between the experiments.
 PRECAUTIONS
o The fan was fairly close to the leaves but not so close that it
would buffet the leaves as this may cause the stomata to close.

o When measuring the distances, the eye was at a 90º angle from
the Lower meniscus of the glass tube. This way parallax error can
be avoided when looking at the scale on the ruler.

o There should be no wind in the area where the experiment is

taking place except supplied by table fan.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:

o NCERT LABORATORY MANUAL FOR BIOLOGY CLASS XII

o BIOLOGY NCERT TEXTBOOK FOR CLASS XI
o CORE LABORATORY MANUAL FOR CLASS XI- PHYSICS

Websites:

o www.google.co.in
o http://amrita.olabs.co.in
o http://users.rcn.com
o http://www.scienceproject.com
o http://www.allprojectreports.com
o http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-i/
measurement-and-experimentation/screw-gauge.php
o http://www.reviewmylife.co.uk
o http://www.biologyjunction.com