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E.1. Imbibition
When living or dead cells of a plant, in their dry or semi-dry state, absorb water by surface attraction, the process is known as IMBIBITION. E.g. when dry grams / dry chana / green dry moong soaked in water for whole night Imbibition takes place and it swells.
E.2. Diffusion
All substances are made up of minute particles called molecules. In Solid, molecules are packed closely with no intra-molecular space, so difficult to move freely. But in Liquid, molecules are loosely packed with more intra-molecular space so it can move freely with kinetic energy. While in Gas, molecules are very loosely packed with very large intra-molecular space so it can move very freely with its own kinetic energy.
Diffusion
The direction of movement of these particles is from the region of their higher concentration to the region of their lower concentration to equalize the concentration of two regions. This process is called DIFFUSION. Diffusion is movement of molecules, or ions of a gas, liquid or solid from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration.
Diffusion in Liquids
Diffusion in Liquids
E.3. Osmosis
The movement of Solvent molecules from a region of high conc. to a region of a low conc. through a semi-permeable membrane.
Osmosis: moving of solvent (water) molecules from higher conc. to lower conc.
MEMBRANES
1). Permeable membrane: If a membrane allows the passage of both solvent and solute molecules, it is called permeable e.g. Cell wall 2). Semi-permeable membrane: If a membrane allows the passage of solvent molecules, it is called semi-permeable. (differentially permeable membrane) e.g. Plasma membrane 3). Impermeable membrane: If a membrane does not allow the passage of any substance through it is called impermeable e.g. Rubber sheet.
E.3.1.Demonstration of OSMOSIS
2). Hypotonic Solution: [hypo = less]. When the concentration of a solution is less than that of the cell sap, it is known as hypotonic. If a cell is immersed in hypotonic solution, water will diffuse into the cell and it will increase in size. (Endosmosis occurs)
3). Isotonic Solution: [iso = the same]. A solution with concentration equal to that of the cell sap, known as isotonic. If a cell is placed in isotonic solution there would be no diffusion of water. As a result there is no change in the volume and weight of the cell.(No Osmosis)
Tonicity
Tonicity
E.3.3.1. Endosmosis
Endosmosis: When a cell is placed in a HYPOtonic solution, water will enter into the cell from the outer (hypotonic) solution. It is because the cell sap is more concentrated (possess less water molecules) than the outer solution. This process of osmosis is called ENDOSMOSIS. It will result in increase in the volume of the cell.
Endosmosis
ENDOSMOSIS
E.3.3.2. Exosmosis
Exosmosis: When a cell is immersed in HYPER-tonic solution, water will diffuse out of the cell because the concentration of water molecules in the cell is more than in the outer solution. This process is described as EXOSMOSIS.
EXOSMOSIS
EXOSMOSIS
FACTS
If a fresh water plant is transferred to marine water, it dies due to Exosmosis. If a marine plant is transferred to fresh water, it bursts due to Endosmosis. It becomes difficult to close wooden doors in rainy season because they swell by imbibing moisture.
Diffusion
1). No involvement of any membrane 2). Diffusion takes place is solids, liquids and in gases. 3). It is a slow process.
Osmosis
1). It takes place through Semi-permeable membrane 2). Osmosis takes place in liquids (solvent) only. 3). It is rapid in gases.
E.7. Flaccidity
When a living cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, fluid (water) is drawn out of the cell sap by Exosmosis. The turgidity is lost & the cell becomes soft & limp. Such a cell is said to have become FLACCID. As the cells becomes flaccid the organs like leaves, twigs etc, especially in herbaceous plants droops down. This process is called WILTING.
E. 10. Plasmolysis
In hypertonic solution water comes out of the cell, due to Exosmosis. As a result of continued Exosmosis the protoplasm shrinks and pulls away from the cell wall. wall. This process is called PLAMOLYSIS and the cell is called plasmolysed. In a plasmolysed plant cell, the space between the contracted protoplasm and the cell wall remains filled with external solution.
The initial stage of plasmolysis is called INCIPIENT plasmolysis. If the cell in such condition is immersed in water or in a hypotonic solution, the cell regains its turgidity as endosmosis takes place. But if the incipient plasmolysis continues then permanent plasmolysis takes place and hence such cell cannot regains its turgidity even after it is transferred to hypotonic solution. It eventually dies.
E.10. Deplasmolysis
If a plasmolysed cell is kept in water, or a hypotonic solution, water molecules diffuse into the cell by endosmosis, and the cell gradually regains its normal turgid condition. It is called DEPLASMOLYSIS.
OSMOSIS
1). It is a physical process
2). In this process, water molecules move through semipermeable membrane from region of higher diffusion pressure to lower diffusion pressure. i.e. towards concentrated solution.
PLASMOLYSIS
1). It is a vital process, concerned with living cells.
2). In this process, water diffuses out of the cell as a result of Exosmosis. This causes protoplasm to contract away from the cell wall.
F. Absorption of water
F. Absorption of Water
Regions of root
Facts
Some plants absorbs water through leaves e.g. leaves of redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) absorbs water from fog. Some epiphytes (orchids) absorb moisture from the atmosphere by their specially modified hanging roots (aerial roots).
Normally, cell sap is more concentrated i.e. hypertonic than soil solution (soil water or capillary water). As a result water from the soil enters the cell by the process of Endosmosis through permeable cell wall and semi-permeable plasma membrane and make the cell sap dilute. Cells of Cortex are in contact with the Epidermal cells. Cortical cells are hypertonic than epidermal cells which have now became hypotonic.
So the water from the epidermal cell enters the cortical cells by the process of Osmosis. Hence the water entering the cortical cells decreases the their Osmotic pressure and increases the Turgor pressure. As a result the water soon comes out of the cortical cells and enters the Endodermis then peri-cycle cells and finally to Xylem vessels and tissues. In this way water is absorbed and translocated up to xylem of the root by osmosis.
G. Absorption of Minerals
Mineral salts are found either as soluble fraction of soil solution or as adsorbed ion on the surface of colloidal particles. Mineral absorption is an independent process. These are not absorbed with water. Most of the minerals of soil occur in ionic forms, they are absorbed by 2 methods. 1). Passive Absorption 2). Active Absorption