Transpiration and Water Movement
Water travels from soil to leaf through two main pathways: the apoplastic pathway (through cell walls) handles 90% of water movement, whilst the symplastic pathway goes through living cell contents via plasmodesmata.
The Casparian strip forces all water into the symplastic route at the endodermis. Minerals get actively pumped into the xylem, decreasing water potential and drawing water in by osmosis - this creates the pressure that pushes water upwards.
Stomata are controlled by guard cells that detect blue light. When potassium ions move in, water potential drops, water enters the guard cells, and stomata open for gas exchange. It's a brilliant automatic system!
Exam Focus: Learn the four factors affecting transpiration rate - temperature, humidity, wind speed, and water availability. Each one affects the concentration gradient or kinetic energy of water molecules.
Several factors control transpiration rate: higher temperature gives water molecules more kinetic energy, lower humidity creates steeper concentration gradients, wind removes moisture from leaf surfaces, and adequate water availability keeps stomata open. When water becomes scarce, stomata close to prevent further loss.