Name one way in plant could reduce transpiration ?

Question

Name one way in plant could reduce transpiration ?

Answer 1

Hi Partoa,

The first answer (stomata are the small structures of a plant, normally in the leaf that allow for the escape of gases and water vapor) explains how an individual plant might physically react to reduce transpiration (short term); however, many plants have evolved (long term) adaptations to reduce transpiration.

Some plants have waxy leaves (and/or a white coating) which act to reflect the sun's light... many succulent plants and Madrone trees have this adaptation.  Some plants' leaves have developed tiny hairs that cover the exposed surface of the leaf (making the leaf look "fuzzy").  This acts to provide shade to the surface of the leaf.  Both of these adaptations reduce the surface temperature of the leaf and, therefore, reduce transpiration.

Other adaptations that some plants have evolved is to orient its leaves perpendicular to the ground so that the edge of the leaf is facing the sun; such as the Manzanita this reduces the amount of sunlight that directly heats up the surface of the leaf.

Another adaptation is to reduce the size of the leaf... such as with cacti.  A cactus plants' leaves are what we now see has thorns or stickers so there is very little surface area to be warmed up by the sun's light, which reduces transpiration.

I hope that this is of some help to you.

Hiking Tony

Answer 2

close its stomata

Answer 3

Reduction of transpiration will also result in slow supply of water. Thus it is necessary to stop the water from evaporating into the atmosphere. This can be done through transforming leaves into hollow thorns as done by the many of the species of cactus.