Plant Physiology

Absorption by Roots
Points to ponder:
1.What makes it possible for the water molecules to enter the root hair?
2.During rainy seasons wooden doors are difficult to open or close. Give reason.
3.If we sprinkle common salt on grass growing on a lawn, the grass on that spot
gets killed.
4. Potato cubes when placed in water become firm and increase in size.
5. We should gargle with saline water if we have throat infection.
6. Marine fishes when brought to river water dies due to bursting of the body.
7. Seeds and grains swell up when soaked in water.
1. Imbibition
2. Diffusion
3. Osmosis
4. Endosmosis
5. Exosmosis
6. Demonstration of osmosis
Question: Give two functions of the root.
Anchor plants
Absorb water and minerals from the soil
Translocate water and minerals to the stem
Store food
Provide mechanical support

Question: Why do plants need water and minerals?

Photosynthesis
Mechanical stiffness
Transpiration
Transportation

Question: What are the characteristics of roots for absorbing water?

Presence of root hair to increase the surface area for absorption
Thin cell wall
Higher concentration of solute (Cell sap) inside the root hair
Question 1: Which phenomenon is seen in the diagram shown below: Explain the process.

Question 2: Which process is shown in the diagram given below: Explain the process
I. The diagram given below is of an experiment just at the start. Study the diagram carefully and
answer the following questions.

What does the experiment demonstrate?

Define the process demonstrated in the experiment.
What changes are observed after a few hours?
Which limb of the U-tube contains more concentrated sucrose, Solution A or B?
Why is the membrane separating the two solutions labeled semi permeable?
 Name the process shown in the animation on the left.
Give two ways in which the process shown is useful for plants

Name the process shown in the animation given at the

Right. Define the process using the key words.
Which figure is showing exosmosis? Give reason for your answer
Which figure is showing endosmosis? Give reason for your answer
Define Hypertonic, isotonic and Hypertonic Solution
1. Osmotic Pressure
2. Tonicity- Hypertonic, Isotonic, Hypotonic solution
3. Turgid/ Flaccid- endosmosis/ exosmosis

Plasmolysis/ deplasmolysis
1.Active transport: Root pressure:

Turgor pressure/ Wall Pressure

Guttation
Bleeding
Class work
Q 1: Name the process shown below, and define it
Q 2: Which process is shown by the experiment given below
Q 3: Why do you think the following phenomenon occurs?
Q 4: Why do you think the following phenomenons occur?

Q 5: Which process enables the roots to absorb minerals from the soil?
Q 6: What is the function of Root hair?

Q 7: Give three characteristics which make it easier for the roots to absorb
water from the soil.
Q 8: Name the tissue which helps in:
a) Transport water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.
b) Translocate/ carry prepared food from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Q 9: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

a) Mention the condition in which the egg swells up.

b) Name and define the process which occurs in the above picture
Q 10: Which phenomenon is seen in the diagram shown below:

Q 11: Which process is shown in the diagram given below? Explain the process.
1. What is the common name for the tissues shown above?
2. Give three differences between the tissues shown above.
3. Why are these tissues called as complex tissues
4. Define translocation
OSMOTIC PRESSURE
• Osmotic pressure is the minimum pressure, which needs to be applied to a
solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a semipermeable membrane.
Try to answer---
What changes will you observe if we keep
i. A red blood cell
ii. A plant cell
In Hypotonic , Hypertonic and Isotonic solution.
Try to understand---
TURGIDITY–
Turgidity--- Turgor pressure, wall pressure
Turgor pressure, wall pressure
USES OF TURGIDITY IN PLANTS
Plasmolysis, flaccidity ---
Sequence of plasmolysis
Stages of plasmolysis
Cell to cell conduction of water from root
hair to xylem
Experiment to show that roots absorb water
Experiment to show that water is conducted
upward through xylem

(a) A twig with phloem removed and xylem intact

(b) A twig with xylem removed and phloem intact, leaves wilt
Experiment to show that water is conducted
upward through xylem
ASCENT OF SAP
• The process of upward movement of water is called Ascent of sap.
• Forces contributing to Ascent of sap:-
• 1. Root Pressure.
• 2. Capillarity ( narrow diameter)
• 3. Transpirational pull
• 4. Cohesion
• 5. Adhesion
Based on the animations shown below, answer the questions that follow:
Name the processes/ phenomena shown in the
1. animation on the left. Define at least two processes

2. Name the tissue which brings about the process shown

above.
What type of tissue is it?
which phenomenon is shown in the animation?