Absorption, Transport and Water Loss in Plants

Diffusion is the movement of molecules

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from higher to lower concentration without a membrane. Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeabl

Water potential (ψ) is the tendency

Water potential (ψ) is the tendency of water to move from one area to another. Pure water has ψ = 0; adding solutes makes it negative. Imbibition is t

Water moves through two pathways

Water moves through two pathways: Apoplast (through cell walls) and Symplast (through cytoplasm via plasmodesmata). The Casparian strip in endodermis

Proposed by Dixon

Proposed by Dixon, this theory explains how water rises in tall plants. Transpiration creates tension, and cohesive and adhesive forces keep the water

Transpiration is water loss as vapor

Transpiration is water loss as vapor through stomata. Stomata open and close based on guard cell turgidity, regulated by K+ ion movement and hormones