Midterm 1 Flashcards
(138 cards)
What is diffusion
spontaneous movement of solutes from regions of higher to lower concentration
What is osmosis
diffusion of water across a selectively permeable barrier
What is free-energy
represents the potential for performing work, force x distance, in J mol-1
What is Chemical potential
a relative quantitative expression of free energy associated with a substance
What is Water potential
the free energy of water per unit volume
the chemical potential of water divided by the volume of 1 mol of water
What are the major factors influencing water potential in plants
concentration, pressure, gravity
Water potential equation
Yw = Ys + YP + Yg
What is reference state
pure water at ambient temperature and standard atmospheric pressure
How do solutes impact water potential
Reduce free energy of water by diluting the water
Lower Yw
How does pressure impact water potential?
Positive hydrostatic pressure raises Yw
Negative hydrostatic pressure lowers Yw
What is positive pressure called?
Turgor
What is negative pressure called
Tension
What is the water potential of flaccid cells
Negative
Why does water move in and out of cells, or from one plant part to another
In response to a water potential gradient
How is the direction of flow determined
By Yw gradient (from regions of higher to lower Yw) with rate proportional to magnitude
What else influences the rate of movement?
hydraulic conductivity
What do aquaporins do?
Provide water-specific channels to facilitate water movement across membranes
How do solutes in, and drying of, soil lower Yw into the negative range
by lowering Ys and Yp, respectively
What happens as soil dries?
water recedes into intersticies between soil particles
What are root hairs?
outgrowths of epidermal cells that increase surface area (represent ~60%)
What happens to water under a curved surface
develops a negative YP
What is curvature of air-water surfaces a balance of?
Minimizing surface area (surface tension) and attraction of water to soil particles
What is Apoplast?
Continuous system of cell walls, intercellular air spaces, and lumens of non-living cells (xylem and fibres)
What is symplast
Entire network of cell cytoplasm interconnected by plasmodesmata