Plant –

water
relationship
Submitted to- Prof. Saman
Submitted by – Seema
Roll no. 12683
 Role of water
• All the physiological processes of plant are directly or indirectly influenced by
water status of plant. Water is an important constituent of plant forming more
than 80% in herbaceous plants and over 50% in woody plants.
• Water maintains turgidity of cells which is essential for stomatal opening,
expansion f cells and for many other physiological processes.
• Water is a reactant in many plant processes especially in photosynthesis and
hydrolytic reaction.
• It is essential for growth and development of plants from germination to
maturity.

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 Plant structure
Root system of plant provides anchorage to the plant.
Absorption of water and nutrients is the main function of roots.
Young roots of plants are the most important for water absorption.

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• A young active root has upper epidermis, thick layer of cortex and finally
the centrally located vascular system.
• The epidermis consisting of closely packed, elongated cells constitutes
the external layer through which water and nutrients enter the root.
• The xylem vessels convey the water and nutrients absorbed by the roots
to the stem.

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 • The root tip has the root cap which protects the growing
meristematic tissues.
• Behind the root cap, is the zone of root cell elongation where
faster water uptake takes place.
• Water is absorbed by epidermal cells, root hairs and pass
through cortex and enter xylem vessels.
• Water is up in the xylem vessels of stem and supply water to
leaves and other plant parts.
• Water saturates all the cells of leaf and escapes through
stomata and cuticle which is known as transpiration.

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 Plant water status
• It is often essential to measure water status of plants which is expressed both
as water content and energy status of water.
• Mere percentage of water on fresh weight or dry weight basis is not a good
indicator of plant water status.
• Actual water content of leaves in relation to its anount of water at saturation
has to be considered.

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 • Energy status of water in plants indicates the ease with which water is available to
plant cells.
• Higher the water potential of plant, easier the availaibility of water to plant cells.
• Water Potential in a plant tissue is always less than zero, hence negative number.It
ranges from -0.2 to –0.8 Mpa
• Water potential is measured with Thermocouple Psychrometer.
• The indirect methods of estimating plant water status are by measuring leaf
temperature, Canopy temperature etc.

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 Leaf temperature
When leaves intersect solar radiation, part of it is
absorbed and rest is either transmitted or reflected
back into the atmosphere.

Due to absorption of solar radiation, leaf temperature

rises which is reduced by cooling effect of
transculation
Temperature of leaves of stressed plants is high due
to reduced transpiration while temperature of leaves
of well- watered is low, as transpiration is normal.

It can be measured with thermocouples.

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 Plant characteristics

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 Root characteristics
• Root system of plants vary greatly as to type extent and degree of branching.
• The environmental factors influencing root growth are water supply, aeration,
soil temperature nad the chemical composition of soil solution.
• The size of soil reservoir from which plants can draw moisture is determined
mostly by the rooting characteristics of the plant.
• When soil and climatic conditions are favourable, crop develop well branched
root system.

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 There are 2 types of root systems.
1.Tap root system- It consist of central
main root and its branches.

2. Advencious root system- It consisit of

several roots of almost similar in
diameter arising from nodes of the plants

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 Absorption of water
Rate of water absorption is controlled by the rate of transpiration but is regulated by the size
and distribution of roots.

Soil water content and soil water potential are important determinants of water uptake.

When water potential in leaves, root and soil become equal, water absorption becomes
negligible.

Water absorption below a soil temperature of 10 degree Celsius is reduced sharply and
increases up to 25 degree Celsius and flows down later.

Root system is the most important plant facto influencing uptake of water.

Effectiveness of roots in absorption of water depends on the extent of the root system and on
the efficiency of individual root.
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 Moisture extraction
pattern
Concentration of absorbing
root is greatest in the upper
part of root zone, near the
base of plant.

Extraction of water is most

rapid in the zone of greatest
root concentration.

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 Water deficits
Moisture stress means the action of excess or deficit of water on plant.
However, moisture stress is generally used to imply water deficit.
Occur in plant whenever transpiration exceeds uptake. It may be due to higher transpiration, less
absorption or both.

It occur for prolonged period.

When soil moisture reaches around -1.2 Mpa , several crops show wilting symptoms most
of the day but do not die. It is known as permanent wilting point.

It affects all the ascepts of plant growth.

Final yield of the crop is the integrated result of the effects of stress on water relations of plant,
photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development.

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Water deficit caue several changes in the plant.
It alters the water status by its influence on absorption, translocation
and transpiration.
Water deficit also cause increase in leaf and canopy temperature.
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Nutrirition.
Growth and development
Yield
 Excess water
• It occurs due to heavy and continuous rain, lack of drainage or due to faulty
irrigation practices.
• It causes several changes in the soil and plant, resulting in reduced growth and
in some cases death of plants.
• Susceptible crops for water logging are tobacco , tomato, chillies etc.
• Most important resistant crop for water logging is rice.
• Climate change is the important factor influencing the extent of damage due
to excess moisture.
• Water logging causes injury to the plant due to low oxygen supply to the root
system and accumulation of toxic substances in soil and plant.

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