of leaves. In well-watered plants, the cells are turgid, their cell walls are sa

Question

of leaves. In well-watered plants, the cells are turgid, their cell walls are saturated with liquid water that has been supplied by the xylem cells. The air spaces in the spongy mesophyll contain air and water vapor. Cuticle Upper epidermis Palisade mesophyll cell Bundle sheath cell Xylem Phloem Vein Lower epidermis Guard cell Spongy mesophyll cells Air spaces Stoma Cuticle PRINCIPLES OF LIFE 2e, Figure 24.12 © 2014 Sinauer Associates, Inc Look at the diagram to help you answer the following questions 7. The water in the cell walls is converted to water vapor in the airspaces of the leaf via evaporation Where does the water vapor in the airspaces of the leaf go, and what causes it to do so? Consider the concentration of water vapor in the leaf airspaces and in the atmosphere

Explanation / Answer

Plant utilizes only 5 to 10% of absorbed water through root. Remainng 90 to 95% of water is evaporated in atmosphere by the process known as transpiration. Water from the cell wall converted into water vapor in airspaces of leaf and from there it releases out in the atmosphere. The main driving force responsible for this transpiration process is water potential. The water potential of atmosphere is less (since the concentration of water vapor in atmosphere is less) and thus water vapor travel down the gradient and move from the leaf airspace to the atmosphere through stomata.

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