what is the role of stomata in plant cells?
Answers
Plants may have a simple structure externally, consisting mainly of the stem, leaves, flowers and the roots. However, internally there is a whole world of complex mechanisms working together to carry out the different physiological activities. The main force driving plant growth is water. It is the main component of the plant, constituting up to 95% of its structure in some species. How can water be responsible for plant growth?
Simply put, it is the medium in which all the complex chemical reactions occur, also being in charge of nutrient absorption and translocation. Water enters the plant mainly through the roots and is then transported to the different organs, distributing nutrients and hormones throughout the plant. Since we have established the importance of water for plant growth, it is important to state the importance of stomata, the pores that drive plant growth. So, what are stomata?
Simply put, they are openings in the surface of plants, found mainly on the leaves, but also on stems and other organs. They are pores surrounded by specialized parenchymatic cells, called guard cells. Stomata have two main functions, namely they allow for gas exchange acting as an entryway for carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing the Oxygen (O2) that we breath. The other main function is regulating water movement through transpiration. Stomata vary in shape and size, being able to change to adapt to the different environmental factors, thus ensuring optimum conditions for photosynthesis.