DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS

SBF3023 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

GROUP B
LAB REPORT EXPERIMENT 3: PLANT-WATER
RELATIONS AND SOIL-WATER RELATIONS

NAME MATRIC NO.

RONALD DECK YAMI D20171078135
NUR AINA AISYAH BINTI MAT RADZI D20171078140
SITI HUSNA BINTI ZOLKEPLI D20171078120

Lecturer’s Name: ASSOCIATE PROF.DR HASIMAH BINTI ALIMON

 START

A leafy shoot that has

been cut was inserted
through the hole of the U-
tube under the water. The
U-tube was filled with
water.

A leafy shoot was then

fitted to the hole of the
U-tube using parafilm so
that it can holds the leafy
shoot just as shown in
the picture.

The lamp was set up to

observe the rate of
transpiration on the light
intensity. Starting from
no light until 40cm and
the data were recorded.

No for no light,
80cm, 60cm, No
40cm and 20cm.
Yes, if it was <
40cm
 Yes

Water loss was determined by using the

cylindrical volume formula:
Water loss (ml/cm3) = ᴨr2h
r = 0.25cm
h = height of water loss during transpiration

The rate of transpiration of each distance

were recorded by using the formula:
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
Rate of transpiration = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛

The graph water loss vs distance and rate of

transpiration vs light intensity were
sketched

The leaf surface area for

all leaves were
calculated by using
ImageJ

END
RESULTS
Factor effecting water loss: Light Intensity
Reading of Potometer Average
Distance between the source of light and (cm) Value
the potometer (cm)
(cm)
1 2 3
1 No directed light 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.5
2 20 2.10 2.20 2.40 2.20
3 40 1.50 1.60 1.70 1.60
4 60 1.30 1.40 1.30 1.30
5 80 0.70 0.90 0.80 0.8

CALCULATION
The volume of water loss is calculated by the equation of Πr2 h (ml/cm2), as the water take a
form of cylindrical
The rate of transpiration is calculated by

Transpiration = Water loss (ml/m3)

Time taken for the air bubble to move (min)

The diameter of the test tube is 0.5 cm, r= 0.25 cm

Water loss (ml/cm3) Rate of transpiration
1 (22/7) x (0.252) x (0.50) 0.09/ 3
= 0.09 = 0.03
2 (22/7) x (0.252) x (2.20) 0.43/ 3
= 0.43 = 0.14
3 (22/7) x (0.252) x (1.60) 0.32/ 3
= 0.32 = 0.11
4 (22/7) x (0.252) x (1.30) 0.26/ 3
= 0.26 = 0.09
5 (22/7) x (0.252) x (0.80) 0.16/ 3
= 0.16 = 0.05
 Rate of transpiration vs Light intensity
0.16

Rate of transpiration (ml/min)

0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
1 2 3 4 5
Light intensity

Water loss vs Distance between the source of light and

the potometer
0.5
0.45
Water loss (ml/cm3)

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 20 40 60 80
Distance between the source of light and the potometer (cm)

Graph 1: The more lights intensity as less distance between potometer and the light
source. The x-axis represents the distance in descending order.
Total surface area of the leaves
(4.854 + 3.668 + 2.744 + 2.780 + 2.284 + 1.637 + 1.429 + 1.149 + 0.638 + 0.076 + 0.090)
cm2 = 19.712 cm2
DISCUSSION
1. Describe the shape of your graph and note any anomalies or inconsistencies.

The graph shows that the rate of transpiration is directly proportional to the light
intensity. As the light intensity gets higher, the water loss recorded also increase. The
second graph which shows the water loss vs distance of the potometer from light source
showing that the water loss is inversely proportional towards the distance of the
potometer from the light source. The increase the distance of the potometer from the
light source, the increase the water loss. There is slightly different between the distance
from 0cm to 20cm. It is actually referring to “no light” at 0cm. Although the graph
seems inconsistence but, it is normal and make sense for the transpiration
theory/process.

2. Explain in biological terms what your graph shows.

If the light intensity is increase, the plant’s stomates open. Stomates are pores in the
leaf’s epidermis that is used for gas changing and transpiration. They open, more water
vapour comes out. More light, more transpiration. More light also means more
photosynthesis, which also uses water, but less than 1% of a plant’s water is used in
this process.

3. The apparatus measures the uptake of water. What could happen to the water once it
enters the plant shoot?

A potometer can be used to measure the rate of transpiration that is proportional to

water uptake. Transpiration cannot be measured directly as some of the water will be
used in photosynthesis. The water will move down the concentration gradient since the
concentration of glucose in the plant increase as the plant undergoes photosynthesis
under high light intensity. Thus, the water in the potometer will decrease in time in
order for the plant to achieve equilibrium water potential.

4. Suggest some ways you could improve this procedure.

This experiment can be improved significantly. Multiple systematic errors occurred

throughout. For example, the intensity light is not precise because there is another light
in the laboratory so the light from the lamp is affected. In addition, for the “no light”
part, the rate of transpiration should be the lowest. But, because there is a light in
laboratory, the plant still undergoes the process of transpiration.
CONCLUSION
The rate of transpiration can be affected by: light intensity, air movement, temperature
and humidity. Increased light intensity will increase the rate of photosynthesis so more water
is drawn into the leaves where photosynthesis primarily takes place and therefore the rate of
transpiration is greater. However, for future research, we recommend tying a small around all
the exposed leaves in order to obtain the exact time and amount of how much water was
transpired.

REFERENCES
Taiz, L., & Zeiger, E. (1991). Plant physiology. Redwood City, Calif.:
Benjamin/Cummings.
Globig, S., & Stewart, P. (2011). Reproductive physiology in plants. Oakville, Ont.:
Apple Academic Press.
Reece, J. B. (2014). Campbell biology (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
BBC. (2014). Transport in plants. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/greenworld/plantt
ransportrev2.shtml