Question

Explain the significance of transpiration.

Answer 1

Hint: Transpiration is the biological process, where the water from the plants is evaporated from the aerial parts, as the plants do not have any excretory system to eliminate the things, but transpiration is the process of elimination of water.

Complete answer:
Generally, most of the water absorbed by the plants is not utilized, where they lost outside in the form of transpiration.

Types of transpiration
> Stomata transpiration: Stomata is the structures present in the leaf surface, where the majority of transpiration, occurring in plants are through stomata only.
> Lenticular transpiration: Lenticels are the structures found in the stems of some plants and some barks of the plants, where water is eliminated from lenticular opening, but this is not present in all plants, so it is rare.
> Cuticular transpiration: In this type, 5 to 10% of water is evaporated from the cuticle, which is the outer wax layer of the plant.

Significance of transpiration:
- Transpiration is generally helpful for the conduction of water and nutrients in the plants.
- Transpiration helps to maintain the water balance, as there is absorption and elimination.
- Transpiration helps the cells to maintain osmosis, so the cells are rigid.
- Due to transpiration, a suction force is produced, which helps in the conduction of water without any break.
- Transpiration maintains the turgidity of the cells, and is helpful in cell division.
- The cooling effect of the trees is mainly due to water evaporation or transpiration.
- The optimum Transpiration always helps in the proper growth of the plant.

Note: Ascent of sap which occurred during the conduction of water is created by transpiration, where it consists of cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension. Transpiration is very crucial for plants, if transpiration does not occur, the plants may burst, and the 10 % of soil moisture around plants is due to transpiration. And transpiration plays a major role in the water cycle.