Scribd
Upload
121 views6 pages

Plant Biology - IB Biology SL Grade 11

Stomata are pores in plant leaves that allow for gas exchange, opening to intake carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and releasing oxygen. They also regulate water loss through transpiration. Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata. Transpiration, the loss of water vapor through stomata, is influenced by temperature and humidity levels, being higher at warmer temperatures and lower humidity. Stomatal density, the number of stomata per unit area of leaf, can vary between plant species and environments.

Uploaded by

athar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
121 views6 pages

Plant Biology - IB Biology SL Grade 11

Stomata are pores in plant leaves that allow for gas exchange, opening to intake carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and releasing oxygen. They also regulate water loss through transpiration. Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata. Transpiration, the loss of water vapor through stomata, is influenced by temperature and humidity levels, being higher at warmer temperatures and lower humidity. Stomatal density, the number of stomata per unit area of leaf, can vary between plant species and environments.

Uploaded by

athar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Introduction

Low, Higher, Epidermus - \

Spongy Heofille Air

Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis. For this they need a supply of carbon
dioxide. Oxygen also needs to be removed. Both of these gases are transported
through gas diffusion into and out of the plant.
The challenge for plants is not to loose too much water during this process.

Water, oxygen and carbon dioxide enter and leave the plant leaves through the
stomata. These are pores in the lower surface of the leaf.

A waxy cuticle surrounds the rest of the leaf surfaces.

Tissue Distribution in Leaf

Stomata:
● Connects air outside the leaf to the air spaces in the leaf, particularly in the
spongy mesophyll
● Carbon dioxide and oxygen diffuse through these spaces and into the cells via
the cell walls.
● Cell walls are constantly moist to increase rate of diffusion
● Some of this water can be lost through evaporation out of the stomata

Waxy cuticle:
● The outer surface covered by wax, produced by epidermis cells. It is waterproof
● Varies in thickness. Thicker in plants adapted to dry habitats
● Low permeability
●
Stromata, how it works

Stomata are the pore. They are controlled by guard cells.


Guard cells open or close the pore depending on how turgid they are.

If they are turgid, the pore is open and if they are flaccid, the pore is closed.

Stomata close during the night as there is no photosynthesis taking place and if they need to
reduce water loss.
Transpiration, affected by, as a gas exchange

Water evaporates from moist surfaces unless the surrounding air is saturated, which means
that the concentration of of water vapour inside the leaf and outside of it is the same.

Transpiration is loss of water vapour from the leaf through the stomata. It can be minimised by
stomatal opening and closing.

It is effected by:
● Temperature (+ correlation): at higher temperatures, there is more energy available for
evaporation. Warmer air can also hold more water that cooler air before becoming
saturated.
● Humidity (- correlation): the higher the humidity of air, the smaller the concentration
gradient of water vapour between inside and outside of the leaf, so the lower the rate
of diffusion out of the leaf

Stomatal Density

Stomatal density is the number of stomata per unit of area of a leaf surface.

Stomatal density (mm-2) = mean number of stomata / area of field of view (mm2)
Reliability of quantitative data is increased by repeating measurements.

In this case, repeated counts of the number of stomata illustrates the variability of biological
material and the need for replicate trails.

Transpiration Stream - Cohesion Tension Theory


Tissue Function in stems

Xylem Transport water up the plant, from roots to leaves


Phloem Transport sugar down the plant, from leaves to roots

Cambium Stem cells, produces more xylem and phloem

Epidermis Waterproofing and protection

Cortex Support and photosynthesis

Pith Bulking and support

You might also like