Transportation of Water and Mineral Salts

Factors that help water & salt movement in plants

Transpirational pull, capillary action & root pressure.

Transpirational pull

Produced when water that is evaporated from the stoma, pulls water from the leaves.

Capillary action

Produced from adhesion force and cohesion force of water molecules which moves water against gravity.

Root pressure

Moves water from the soil into the xylem vessel of the root via osmosis

Guttation

Secretion of water droplets through a special structure at the end of the leaf veins without involving the stomata caused by high root pressure.

Similarities of guttation & transpiration

Both processes occur through the leaf & cause permanent water loss from the plants.

Guttation happens at night and early morning

When the air humidity is high and the temperature is low.

Form of water released by guttation

Water droplets.

Water released by guttation process

Water that is rich in minerals.

Effects towards plants that do not undergo guttation

Cannot maintain effective root pressure, plant waste cannot be eliminated & may damage leaf veins.