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Water and Solute Transport

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Plant Physiology, Development and Metabolism

Abstract

Movement of water and solutes from soil solution to the seed tissue is one of the first processes occurring during seed germination in soil. Mature seeds contain less than 10% water and imbibition leads to hydration of its cells and tissues. With the exception of oxygen and carbon, which are readily available to plants from air, terrestrial plants generally take up water and dissolved nutrient elements from the soil through the root system. Molecular and ionic movements from one site to another are known as transport. Long-distance transport of solutes from one tissue system to another is referred to as translocation. Intracellular and intercellular distribution of water, ions, and organic molecules is crucial for plant growth, cell signaling, nutrition, and cellular homeostasis. To fulfill these essential functions, plants have evolved various transport mechanisms through apoplast and symplast. Membranes act as barriers which separate cells from the environment. The hydrophobic nature of the lipid bilayer of cell membranes ensures that hydrophilic compounds, including most metabolites, are sequestered in one or the other organelles or in the cytosol. Development of endomembrane system in the cells has facilitated homeostatic functions of membranes through compartmentalization of solutes. The major advantage of the compartmentalization of solutes and macromolecules within the membrane-bound organelles is that it concentrates the reactants and catalysts. It also segregates incompatible processes taking place in a cell. Recent advancements in our understanding of the membrane transport process have benefitted significantly from the isolation and characterization of a variety of mutants. Electrophysiological analysis, using techniques like patch clamp, has provided useful information on the modulation of the activity of a number of membrane transport proteins. In this chapter, we will discuss the physical and chemical principles which govern movement of water and ions into and across the plant cells. Attention is further being paid to understand the molecular mechanisms of various transport processes taking place across cells, which are mediated by the large variety of transport proteins, and also about the intracellular distribution of proteins required for maintaining the required ionic balance.

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Suggested Further Readings

  • Patrik JW, Tyerman SD, van Bel AJE (2015) Long distance transport. In: Buchanan BB, Gruissem W, Jones RL (eds) Biochemistry and molecular biology of plants. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, pp 658–701

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiz L, Zeiger E, Møller IM, Murphy A (2015) Plant physiology and development, 6th edn. Sinauer Associates Inc, Sunderland, pp 143–168

    Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Satish C Bhatla

Authors
  1. Satish C Bhatla
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Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    The energy source utilized for antiport:

    1. (a)

      ATP hydrolysis.

    2. (b)

      The movement of one of the transported substances up its concentration gradient.

    3. (c)

      The movement of one of the transported substances down its concentration gradient.

    4. (d)

      It requires no energy.

  2. 2.

    Which of the following is true for H+-ATPase?

    1. (i)

      It uses energy of hydrolysis of ATP.

    2. (ii)

      It maintains a high H+ concentration inside the cell.

    3. (iii)

      It is also responsible for the maintenance of cytosolic pH in the range of 7.3–7.5.

    4. (iv)

      It results in the generation of proton motive force (pmf).

      1. (a)

        Only i and ii

      2. (b)

        Only i and iii

      3. (c)

        Only i, iii, and iv

      4. (d)

        All of the above

  3. 3.

    Long-distance transport of solutes from one tissue system to another is known as:

    1. (a)

      Transport

    2. (b)

      Translocation

    3. (c)

      Transduction

    4. (d)

      None of the above

  4. 4.

    Which of the following mechanisms of transport involves the movement of water through the cytoplasm of cells?

    1. (a)

      Apoplastic transport

    2. (b)

      Symplastic transport

    3. (c)

      Transcellular transport

    4. (d)

      Both (b) and (c)

  5. 5.

    Which of the following is true for the movement of water and nutrients through “free space”?

    1. (i)

      It can occur only up to the endodermis.

    2. (ii)

      It is restricted by the presence of suberized Casparian strip.

    3. (iii)

      It involves the movement across the plasma membrane.

      1. (a)

        Only i

      2. (b)

        Only ii

      3. (c)

        Only i and ii

      4. (d)

        All of the above

  6. 6.

    Which of the following is not a property of SOS1—a sodium ion transporter?

    1. (a)

      It is a Na+/H+ antiporter.

    2. (b)

      It helps in lowering of the internal Na+ concentration of the cell.

    3. (c)

      It is present on the plasma membrane.

    4. (d)

      It is involved in the cotransport of H+ and Na+ outside the cell.

  7. 7.

    Rectification is:

    1. (a)

      The ability of a channel to transport ions only in one direction

    2. (b)

      The ability of an ATPase pump to hydrolyze ATP

    3. (c)

      The ability of a channel to transport ions in both direction

    4. (d)

      The property of a channel to cotransport two species of molecules or ions

  8. 8.

    The transport of sugars and amino acids is facilitated by:

    1. (a)

      Diffusion

    2. (b)

      Osmosis

    3. (c)

      Symport with Na+ or H+

    4. (d)

      Antiport with Na+ and H+

  9. 9.

    The cylindrical strand of endoplasmic reticulum running through the cytoplasmic connections is known as:

    1. (a)

      Plasmodesmata

    2. (b)

      Desmotubule

    3. (c)

      Plasmalemma

    4. (d)

      None of the above

  10. 10.

    Which of the following is not true for electrogenic pumps?

    1. (i)

      They create a charge gradient.

    2. (ii)

      Their activity results in generation of proton motive force (pmf).

    3. (iii)

      They cause hyperpolarization of the membrane.

      1. (a)

        Only i and ii.

      2. (b)

        Only i and iii.

      3. (c)

        All of the above.

      4. (d)

        None of the above.

    Answers

    1. c

    2. c

    3. b

    4. d

    5. c

    6. d

    7. a

    8. c

    9. b

    10. c

    		    

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Cite this chapter

Bhatla, S.C. (2018). Water and Solute Transport. In: Plant Physiology, Development and Metabolism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2023-1_3

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