Plant Physiology - Musienko M. M. 2001

Water regime of plants
Water uptake and transport in plants

Any plant Organism contains from 80% to 90% Water. Plant Cells contain significantly more water than animal cells. This is facilitated by the presence of a Cell wall as well as specialized water compartments within The Cell known as vacuoles. The vacuole contains water with dissolved organic and Mineral Substances. The sour or sweet taste of fruits depends on the content of sugars and organic acids in the vacuoles of their cells. Since the greater part of water is held in the vacuoles, by no means all of the water in plant cells resides in the protoplasm. During Plant GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, the protoplasm of their cells gradually loses water, and during Aging, the Swelling capacity of its colloids also decreases. Mature seeds contain an especially negligible amount of water, with its content ranging from 3% to 15%. Dry seeds can remain dormant for years with life seemingly frozen within them, yet as soon as water is provided, active METABOLISM resumes inside them.

Following the transition of plants to land, they developed a series of adaptations that enable them to maintain cellular Hydration. Plants such as Lichens retained The ability to absorb water across their entire surface, and enter a state of anabiosis when water is scarce. Most land plants primarily obtain water from the soil via their ROOT system, although they can also absorb a certain amount of it from the atmosphere.

There are plants for which atmospheric moisture serves as the primary source of supply. These include, first and foremost, epiphytes, which live On the surface of other plants yet are not parasites. They possess aerial roots containing a multilayered tissue of hollow, thin-walled cells. This allows them to absorb both vaporous moisture and precipitation water like a sponge. Many epiphytes feature various adaptations for collecting rainwater. Under certain conditions, the ability to utilize atmospheric moisture is exhibited by the leaves of all plants.



Last update: 07/08/2026

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