Transpiration Pull
Transpiration Pull - Related Videos
03:58
Transpiration - Concepts
0 Views •
2019
Background All living organisms must carry out a set of basic functions in order to maintain themselves. One of these processes involves the transportation of materials throughout the organism. Therefore, organisms need to exchange materials with the environment, which can be seen on the small scale of cells transporting protein and other materials among one another or on a larger scale such as the water cycle, where water is continuously moving on, above, and below the surface of Earth. In...
06:55
Transpiration - Student Protocol
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2019
Comparing Transpiration Rates of Leaves ExpandTo begin the experiment to measure the transpiration rates of leaves from different plant species, you will first create a tool called a potometer, using a piece of plastic tubing and 5 mL calibrated pipette. To assemble the device, simply attach the rubber tubing to the tip of the pipette. Then, submerge the device into a bucket of water and move the pipette around under the water to fully fill the tube, taking care not to create bubbles. Next, cap...
01:10
Transpiration - Instructor Prep
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2019
Comparing Transpiration Rates of Leaves ExpandBefore beginning the experiments, gather leaves from four plant species that represent different ecological strategies, so that you have enough for one set of leaves per student. NOTE: If leaf-bearing plants are not available locally, an alternative is to grow the plant species of interest in the laboratory, or to purchase plants from a gardening store. Next, cut lengths of rubber tubing to make roughly 50 cm sections and place one piece alongside a...
07:51
Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins
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Cited by 19 •
2012
Calmodulin (CaM) pull-down assay is an effective way to investigate the interaction of CaM with various proteins. This method uses CaM-sepharose beads for efficient and specific analysis of CaM-binding proteins. This provides an important tool to explore CaM signaling in cellular function.
02:19
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
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2026
During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.Each stoma is flanked by two specialized guard cells that create an opening when these cells take up water. The transport of ions regulates the...
FAQs
Negative pressure is the immediate physical consequence of evaporation at the leaf. As water changes to vapor and exits through stomata, tension develops in the remaining liquid. Cohesion transmits that tension through the water column, while adhesion helps maintain contact with xylem walls. Together, these properties allow evaporation at the leaves to influence water movement from below.
Cohesion keeps adjacent water molecules connected, so tension generated near evaporating leaf surfaces can be transmitted along the xylem rather than remaining local. Adhesion adds a second stabilizing interaction by helping water remain associated with xylem walls. The combination supports a continuous pathway linking root-derived water with shoot tissues and helps explain long-distance transport.
Unlike a mechanical pump, Transpiration Pull does not depend on a device that actively pushes water through the plant. Its driving event occurs at the leaf, where evaporation creates tension; cohesion and adhesion transmit the resulting force through xylem. This distinction connects water transport directly to leaf gas exchange and explains the movement of water in tall plants.
Environmental conditions influence transpiration pull by affecting the balance between water evaporation from leaves and stomatal release of water vapor. A change in that balance changes the tension generated in leaf tissues and therefore can alter the force transmitted through xylem. This relationship makes the mechanism useful for interpreting how conditions influence plant hydration, growth, and productivity.
In drought research, the cohesion-tension mechanism provides a way to connect reduced water availability with the plant’s ability to maintain hydration and transport minerals. In irrigation studies, it helps frame how supplied water may support the root-to-shoot pathway. Researchers can therefore examine water management in relation to leaf evaporation and xylem transport, not simply water supply alone.
Water movement through xylem has significance beyond hydration because it supports mineral transport from roots toward shoots. The mechanism therefore links a physical process in the xylem with broader biological outcomes, including tissue hydration and growth. In applied biology, this connection helps explain why studies of transpiration pull are relevant to plant productivity as well as basic plant physiology.