Question

Leaves of a healthy potted plant were coated with Vaseline to block the Stomata. Will this plant remain healthy for long? State three reasons for your answer.

Answer 1

Hint:-The exchange of gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide and oxygen) between the plant and environment is regulated by stomata and also controls water loss by altering the size of the stomatal pore. Stomata are a set of specialised epidermal cells known as guard cells that are credible for governing the size of stomatal opening.

Complete Answer:-The Leaves of a healthy plant coated with Vaseline would not stay healthy because Vaseline coating will block the stomata. In a plant, there will be no intake of carbon dioxide from the surrounding to carry out the process of photosynthesis because the pores of stomata are blocked by the Vaseline.
In the plant, there will be no exchange of oxygen with the surrounding for the process of photosynthesis and or respiration. The process of transpiration will not occur because Vaseline blocks the stomata so resulting in the accumulation of water in the plant or upward movement of water and minerals would be hampered. Hence, it would further affect the process of photosynthesis.
Hence the process of transpiration, photosynthesis and respiration stops and the plant will not remain healthy and would die slowly.

Note:- Photosynthesis is defined as the procedure by which green plants make its food by using water, sunlight and carbon dioxide and convert light energy into chemical energy. Respiration is defined as the process in which plants breakdown the glucose, in the cells, to get energy for growth and development. Transpiration is defined as the loss of water from a plant in the form of water vapour.