Water Relations and Gas Exchange in Plants

Description

Overview of the mechanism by which plants transport water and exchange gases. Study of the effects of environmental conditions on gas exchange and on water transports in plants, as well as corrective measures for optimal growth and for healthy plants.

Objectives

• Understand gas exchange processes
  • Describe evapotranspiration
  • Describe basic anatomical structures involved in gas exchange regulation
  • Predict the effect of environmental conditions on gas exchange
  • Predict the effect of CO₂ enrichment
  • Describe how temperature, humidity, CO₂ level, watering, air movement affect gas exchange
  • Describe the effects of abnormal gas exchanges in plants on plant growth
  • Describe corrective measures for gas exchange problems in plants
• Understand water movement mechanisms in plants
  • Describe how water move in plant
  • Explain root pressure and water pull
  • Describe how temperature, humidity, CO₂ level, watering, air movement affect water movement in plants
  • Describe the effects of abnormal water relations in plants on plant growth
  • Describe corrective measures for water movement problems in plants

Content Overview

• Evapotranspiration and effects of environmental conditions
• Root pressure and water pull
• Water movement mechanism
• Effects of lack or surplus of water in the growing media
• Effects of low or high relative humidity
• Effects of low or high temperature
• Effects of low or high concentration of CO₂ or O₂
• Root respiration and asphyxia
• Stomata regulation and boundary layer
• Effects of low or high salinity
• Overview of vascular system