In cell A, the water potential is -1.2 MPa and osmotic
potential is -1.6 MPa. In cell B, the water potential is
-1.5 MPa and osmotic potential is -1.4 MPa. Calculate
the turgor potential in each cell and give the direction
of movement of water?
Answers
Answer:
Learning Objectives
Describe the water and solute potential in plants
Key Points
Plants use water potential to transport water to the leaves so that photosynthesis can take place.
Water potential is a measure of the potential energy in water as well as the difference between the potential in a given water sample and pure water.
Water potential is represented by the equation Ψsystem = Ψtotal = Ψs + Ψp + Ψg + Ψm.
Water always moves from the system with a higher water potential to the system with a lower water potential.
Solute potential (Ψs) decreases with increasing solute concentration; a decrease in Ψs causes a decrease in the total water potential.
The internal water potential of a plant cell is more negative than pure water; this causes water to move from the soil into plant roots via osmosis..
Key Terms
solute potential: (osmotic potential) pressure which needs to be applied to a solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a semipermeable membrane
transpiration: the loss of water by evaporation in terrestrial plants, especially through the stomata; accompanied by a corresponding uptake from the roots
water potential: the potential energy of water per unit volume; designated by ψ
Water Potential
Plants are phenomenal hydraulic engineers. Using only the basic laws of physics and the simple manipulation of potential energy, plants can move water to the top of a 116-meter-tall tree. Plants can also use hydraulics to generate enough force to split rocks and buckle sidewalks. Water potential is critical for moving water to leaves so that photosynthesis can take place.
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Figure 30.6A.1 : Water potential in plants: With heights nearing 116 meters, (a) coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees in the world. Plant roots can easily generate enough force to (b) buckle and break concrete sidewalks.
Water potential is a measure of the potential energy in water, or the difference in potential energy between a given water sample and pure water (at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature). Water potential is denoted by the Greek letter ψ (psi) and is expressed in units of pressure (pressure is a form of energy) called megapascals (MPa). The potential of pure water (Ψwpure H2O) is designated a value of zero (even though pure water contains plenty of potential energy, that energy is ignored). Water potential values for the water in a plant root, stem, or leaf are, therefore, expressed in relation to Ψwpure H2O.
The water potential in plant solutions is influenced by solute concentration, pressure, gravity, and factors called matrix effects. Water potential can be broken down into its individual components using the following equation:
Ψsystem = Ψtotal = Ψs + Ψp + Ψg + Ψm
where
Ψs = solute potential
Ψp, = pressure potential
Ψg, = gravity potential
Ψm = matric potential
“System” can refer to the water potential of the soil water (Ψsoil), root water (Ψroot), stem water (Ψstem), leaf water (Ψleaf), or the water in the atmosphere (Ψatmosphere), whichever aqueous system is under consideration. As the individual components change, they raise or lower the total water potential of a system. When this happens, water moves to equilibrate, moving from the system or compartment with a higher water potential to the system or compartment with a lower water potential. This brings the difference in water potential between the two systems (Δ) back to zero (Δ = 0). Therefore, for water to move through the plant from the soil to the air (a process called transpiration), the conditions must exist as such:
Ψsoil > Ψroot > Ψstem > Ψleaf > Ψatmosphere.
Water only moves in response to Δ, not in response to the individual components. However, because the individual components influence the total Ψsystem, a plant can control water movement by manipulating the individual components (especially Ψs).
Solute Potential
Solute potential (Ψs), also called osmotic potential, is negative in a plant cell and zero in distilled water. Typical values for cell cytoplasm are –0.5 to –1.0 MPa. Solutes reduce water potential (resulting in a negative Ψw) by consuming some of the potential energy available in the water. Solute molecules can dissolve in water because water molecules can bind to them via hydrogen bonds; a hydrophobic molecule like oil, which cannot bind to water, cannot go into solution. The energy in the hydrogen bonds between solute molecules and water is no longer available to do