Conducting a series of experiments over years, scientists have gained a deeper understanding of plant physiology and their water requirements. When plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, they tend to lose a large amount of water. This water is crucial for them as it makes up their dry plant matter besides providing hydration to it. In the new study, scientists have discovered a long-hidden secret that might now help in making plants survive even using less water.

Plants need around 300 grams of water just to produce one gram of dry mass. This is because plants source water from the soil through the roots, which then end up evaporating in the atmosphere from the leaves. [1]

Figure 1. Stomata Doesn’t Control Loss of Water from Plant Leaves

Figure 1 shows the leaves have tiny valves called stomata that open to let in carbon dioxide essential for plant growth and photosynthesis. When these pores open, the moist inner tissue of the leaf is exposed to dryness air outside. This suggests that water vapor can diffuse out whenever the stomata are open.

Researchers have long believed that stomata control how much water escapes from leaves. This comes from the belief that the air inside the leaves is saturated while the air outside is relatively drier. But now, after conducting experiments for the past 15 years, researchers have found evidence against this hypothesis. [2]

They have famous that when the humidity stage dropped exterior the leaf, the relative humidity within the air area inside additionally witnessed a decline, which was generally as little as 80 %. However, it was additionally noticed that regardless of the drop in humidity stage contained in the leaves, the photosynthesis didn’t cease or slowed down. [3]

This indicated that the rate of water loss from the plants was not affected by the increase in the evaporative demand of the outside air. Hence, if the plants were controlling the water loss through stomata, one would have witnessed the photosynthesis getting stopped or slowing down. The study suggests that plants can control water loss from their leaves while absorbing carbon dioxide and keeping the stomata open. The findings, published in Nature Plants, pointed towards a possibility that the plants may be using special water-gating proteins called aquaporins to control the movement of water in them. [4]

References:

1. https://news.zordo.in/research-suggests-stomata-doesn-t-control-loss-of-water-from-plant-leaves-326788.html
2. https://news7h.com/study-suggests-stomata-dont-control-water-loss-from-plant-leaves/
3. https://180gadgets.com/research-suggests-stomata-doesnt-control-loss-of-water-from-plant-leaves/
4. https://gadgets360.com/science/news/plant-leaves-water-loss-stomata-physiology-study-3251284

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Stomata Doesn’t Control Loss of Water from Plant Leaves, AnaTechMaz, pp.90