Factors Affecting Transpiration

Factors Affecting Water

Loss
• Diffusion rate is affected by:
• Surface area (the higher the surface
area, the greater the rate of diffusion).
• Difference in concentration (the greater
the concentration gradient, the higher
the rate of diffusion).
• Length of the diffusion path (the greater
the length, the lower the rate of
diffusion).
Preventing Excess Water
Loss
• Cuticle (waxy layer) on leaf which is
impermeable to water.
• Most stomata found on underside of leaf as
it is cooler.
• Thick leaves = reduced water loss.
• Spines/ hairs increasing boundary layer
(undisturbed layer of air).
• Stomata closed at certain times of the day.
• Stomata may be sunken and found in pits.
 Study the graph in Fig. 2. It shows
how four different factors affect
transpiration rate.

a) Which factor appears to have the greatest effect on

transpiration rate?
b) For each factor, briefly explain why you would expect
it to affect transpiration rate as it does.
a) Which factor appears to have the greatest effect on transpiration rate?

Temperature

Because it:
Increases the rate of evaporation
Increases the rate of diffusion
 b) For each factor, briefly explain why you
would expect it to affect transpiration rate
as it does

Relative humidity:
High RH
more water vapour in the air outside the leaf - reduces
the diffusion gradient - reduces transpiration.

Low RH
less water vapour – steeper diffusion gradient -
increases transpiration
Stomatal opening:

Open
more water vapour can diffuse out –
transpiration increase

Closed
less water vapour can diffuse out –
transpiration decreases
Wind speed:

Wind blows away any water vapour which has

diffused out of the leaf – increases the
diffusion gradient – so as wind speed
increases transpiration increases
An Experiment – Factors affecting the rate of
transpiration
Collect 4 similar leaves. Add vaseline:
Leaf A – No vaseline
Leaf B – Vaseline on the top surface
Leaf C – Vaseline on the bottom surface
Leaf D – Vaseline on the top and bottom surface

Weigh all the leaves then hang them up by the

stem.
Bring your practical book next lesson!
 Factors affecting the rate of
transpiration
Write up the practical from last lesson into your practical
book.

• Method
• Results table (including calculations of % mass lost)
• Analysis of the results – what did you find out and why?

Then collect a set of questions from the front desk and

start them.
 Homework
Unit 2 booklet – complete the sections:

- Haemoglobin, starch, cellulose, glucose, glycogen

- Exchange and transport

Complete all sections including exam questions.

Hand in Wednesday 28th January

 Factors affecting the rate of
transpiration
We use apparatus called a potometer to measure
the rate of transpiration.

What is the
function of
each labelled
part?
 Factors affecting the rate of
transpiration
Reservoir – allows the apparatus to be refilled with water to reset the
experiment.

Air bubble – allows you to see how much water is taken up into the shoot.

Capillary tube and scale – if we know the diameter of the tube, we can calculate
the volume of water taken up by the plant.

Beaker of water – allows water to be taken into the apparatus so an air bubble
can be seen in the capillary tube.
What other piece of equipment would we
need to calculate the rate of transpiration?
Why must the shoot be cut and the
equipment be assembled underwater?
Set up a potometer so that you can investigate
how wind speed affects the rate of transpiration.

Cut a leafy shoot from a plant outside.

Fill the apparatus with water.

Cut the shoot underwater.

Assemble the apparatus underwater, sealing the

shoot into the rubber tubing with vaseline.