Water (H2O) is an incredibly important for all plants. Water is needed for photosynthesis, the process which provides all energy that a plant needs to survive. Without water, the plant would receive no energy and would die. Water also provides a wetness of the cells to help in the exchange of gases, which is also required for photosynthesis, as carbon dioxide gas is required. Water transports minerals and nutrients into and throughout the plant from the soil, ensuring that the plant receives essential nutrients and minerals required for survival. Some plant structure is supported by water, without the water, the plants wouldn’t be able to stand up. Water enters these plant cell vacuoles and creates a turgid tissue, supporting the plant and keeping it standing. Water also can be a habitat for some plants, providing ponds, wet and moist soil, rivers, oceans and lakes. These plants need water in their habitat, without it they would die.
The correct water balance needs to be maintained in order for plants to survive. If there is too little water, then the plant will dehydrate and won’t be able to carry out necessary survival processes, and if there is too much water, the plant will become overhydrated and will not function properly. This is why the correct water balance needs to be maintained, as it is crucial to a plant’s survival.
Water enters and exits plants through cellular processes. One of the processes is transpiration. Transpiration is when water is lost from the plant by being carried from the roots, through the xylem, and finally diffuses through the stomata by evaporation. The water travels up the xylem due to adhesion, which is when water rises due to the water molecules being attracted to the walls of the xylem, and because of cohesion, which is the attraction between water particles and as water evaporates, the water is drawn up further creating a transpirational pull. Plants have adaptations to help prevent transpiration, as transpiration can cause water loss, dehydrating the plant. But adaptations in plants can also encourage transpiration, as transpiration can help maintain the right amount of water when a plant is saturated in water, as overhydration of the plant is dangerous, and transpiration encourages water loss.
Another process that plants use to obtain water or release water is osmosis. Osmosis is the natural movement of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis is used when water is collected from the soil into the roots, and is also used in plants who don’t possess a vascular system to collect water.
The correct water balance needs to be maintained in order for plants to survive. If there is too little water, then the plant will dehydrate and won’t be able to carry out necessary survival processes, and if there is too much water, the plant will become overhydrated and will not function properly. This is why the correct water balance needs to be maintained, as it is crucial to a plant’s survival.
Water enters and exits plants through cellular processes. One of the processes is transpiration. Transpiration is when water is lost from the plant by being carried from the roots, through the xylem, and finally diffuses through the stomata by evaporation. The water travels up the xylem due to adhesion, which is when water rises due to the water molecules being attracted to the walls of the xylem, and because of cohesion, which is the attraction between water particles and as water evaporates, the water is drawn up further creating a transpirational pull. Plants have adaptations to help prevent transpiration, as transpiration can cause water loss, dehydrating the plant. But adaptations in plants can also encourage transpiration, as transpiration can help maintain the right amount of water when a plant is saturated in water, as overhydration of the plant is dangerous, and transpiration encourages water loss.
Another process that plants use to obtain water or release water is osmosis. Osmosis is the natural movement of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis is used when water is collected from the soil into the roots, and is also used in plants who don’t possess a vascular system to collect water.