Difference Between Transpiration And Guttation

Ans: Guttation is the process in which water is secreted in the form of water droplets from Xylem sap on the edges of small herbaceous plants such as grasses, or plants that are non-woody in nature. It usually occurs in the combination when root pressure is high and low evaporation rate. Guttation occurs at night when the soil is moist, and it becomes easier for the plants to absorb water. Because of more water content, the pressure in the roots causes the excess water to pinch out of the plant and it moves to the tip of the non-woody leaves, during this process it picks up enzymes, minerals, and other chemicals, and it is called xylem sap. 

Ans: Transpiration is a biological process in which excess water is removed from the aerial parts of the plants in the form of water vapours is called transpiration. The excess water is removed through minute pores called stomata. All living organisms like humans, plants also have an excretory system which helps plants to excrete excess water, this process of removing excess water from the plants is known as transpiration. In the process of transpiration, the water is generally removed from the aerial parts of the plant. Transpiration also changes the osmotic pressure of the plants, cools the plant, and it also enables mass flow of nutrients and water from roots to shoot.

Ans: Transpiration mainly occurs during the day and has a cooling effect, while guttation occurs mainly at night and has no cooling effect. Perspiration occurs through the stomata, cuticles, and lenticels, while guttation is facilitated by "hydathodes". The state in which water is lost in transpiration is vapor, while in guttation the loss of water is in the form of water droplets (liquids). Transpiration is good for plants as it helps them to regulate their body temperature; Guttation is a less favourable process for plants and sometimes harmful due to the accumulation of salts on the tips of the leaves after the evaporation of the discharged water. Transpiration is not sustained by humidity, while guttation is dependent on humidity. Water lost in the process of transpiration is in the form of vapour and is therefore pure, while water lost through guttation is made of many organic and inorganic compounds.

Ans: The process of transpiration is important to the plants because it cools the surface of the leaves, keeps the cell turgid, and helps in the movement of minerals from the soil to the different parts of plants. It is an important process for the survival, productivity, growth and development of the plants. In agriculture, transpiration rate determines yields. 

Ans: Hydathodes play an important role in the process of guttation, they are special structures that discharge water from the interior of the leaf to the surface. Hydathodes are the organ of the plants, the organs which are responsible for the process of guttation in vascular plants that is the release of water droplets at the leaf surface. It connects the plant vasculature to the external environment. 

Ans: Following are the important difference between the process of Transpiration and Guttation:-

Ans: Disadvantages of Transpiration are:-

• It results in unwanted water loss in plants. 
• Excessive transpiration in plants results in wilting of plants which is injurious to plants.
• It raises the level of acidity, alkalinity and aridity in soil.

Ans. Factors affecting the rate of diffusion are:

• Density – Rate of diffusion of a substance is inversely proportional to the square root of its relative density (Graham’s Law).
• Permeability of medium – Rate of diffusion decreases with density of the medium.
• Temperature – A rise in temperature increases the rate of diffusion with Q10 = 1.2 -1.3. Because of it sugar crystals do not dissolve easily in ice cold water while they do so easily in warm water.
• Diffusion pressure gradient – Rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the difference of diffusion pressure at the two ends of a system and inversely proportional to the distance between the two.

Ans: Water molecules possess kinetic energy. In liquid and gaseous form they are in random motion that is both rapid and constant. The greater the concentration of water in a system, the greater is its kinetic energy or ‘water potential’. Hence, it is obvious that pure water will have the greatest water potential. Water potential is denoted by the Greek symbol Psi or ψ and is expressed in pressure units such as pascals (Pa). By convention, the water potential of pure water at standard temperatures, which is not under any pressure, is taken to be zero. If some solute is dissolved in pure water, the solution has less free water and the concentration of water decreases, reducing its water potential. Hence, all solutions have a lower water potential than pure water.

Ans. As various ions from the soil are actively transported into the vascular tissues of the roots, water flows (its potential gradient) and increases the pressure inside the xylem. This positive pressure is called root pressure and can be responsible for pushing up water to small heights in the stem. Root pressure only provides a modest push in the overall process of water transport. They obviously do not play a major role in water movement in tall trees. The greatest contribution of root pressure may be to re-establish the continuous chains of water molecules in the xylem which often break under the enormous tensions created by transpiration.