Gaseous Exchange In Plants


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Gaseous Exchange In Plants

For the process of respiration,plant takes O_2 and releases CO_2. Plants have stomata and lenticels for gaseous exchange instead of specialised organs that are present in animals for  exchange of gases.

Following are the reasons which show, how plants can get along without respiratory organs :-

(i) Every part of the plant has the ability to take care of own needs of gas exchange and also very little transport of gases occur from one part of the plant to another.

(ii) It is only during the process of photosynthesis that large volumes of gases are exchanged and each leaf of  the plant has ability to take care of its own needs during these periods. Thus, when cells photosynthesize, availability of O_2 is not a problem in these cells due to a continuous release of O_2 that takes place within the cell.

(iii) Gases may easily diffuse in large, bulky plants as  distance for diffusion is not so great because living cells in a plant are located quite close to the surface of the plant.

In case of stems, which are thick and woody in nature.. The organisation of living cells is in the form of thin layers, which are found inside and beneath the bark. Like leaves which have stomata for gaseous exchange, these stems also have openings called lenticels. Internal cells are dead and provide only mechanical support to the plant.

This depicts that most cells of plant have atleast a part of their surface in contact with the air. The loose packing of parenchyma cells in leaves, stems and roots and provides an interconnected network of air spaces which help in facilitating this process.

                                   

Gaseous Exchange In Plants

For the process of respiration,plant takes O_2 and releases CO_2. Plants have stomata and lenticels for gaseous exchange instead of specialised organs that are present in animals for  exchange of gases.

Following are the reasons which show, how plants can get along without respiratory organs :-

(i) Every part of the plant has the ability to take care of own needs of gas exchange and also very little transport of gases occur from one part of the plant to another.

(ii) It is only during the process of photosynthesis that large volumes of gases are exchanged and each leaf of  the plant has ability to take care of its own needs during these periods. Thus, when cells photosynthesize, availability of O_2 is not a problem in these cells due to a continuous release of O_2 that takes place within the cell.

(iii) Gases may easily diffuse in large, bulky plants as  distance for diffusion is not so great because living cells in a plant are located quite close to the surface of the plant.

In case of stems, which are thick and woody in nature.. The organisation of living cells is in the form of thin layers, which are found inside and beneath the bark. Like leaves which have stomata for gaseous exchange, these stems also have openings called lenticels. Internal cells are dead and provide only mechanical support to the plant.

This depicts that most cells of plant have atleast a part of their surface in contact with the air. The loose packing of parenchyma cells in leaves, stems and roots and provides an interconnected network of air spaces which help in facilitating this process.

                                   

 
 


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