Transport of Minerals and Materials In and Out of the

Plant
John Benedict R. Palo, Kyra Christine A. Rios, Rochelle Anne R. Tan, Nathea Agatha C. Valdez
Submitted to: Maam Elena Ragragio
Submitted: Spetember 20, 2012

ABSTRACT
This exercise is a compilation of different experiments that individually focus on diffusion, osmosis, imbibition,
guttation and transpiration in plants. The acquired results supported majority of the groups initial hypotheses. Diffusion
rate is affected by temperature and density; high temperature and low density cause faster rate of diffusion. Salt causes a
turgid plant cell to shrink through the process of osmosis. Integrity of cell membranes is affected by temperature and
acidity of solvent/s. High acid content and high temperature in solvent weakens/diminishes the integrity of the cell
membrane. The process of germination is affected by imbibition. Water movement is affected by the presence of the
plants xylem. The cuticle and stomatal apparatus of the plant aid in transpiration and guttation provides an alternate
process to resolve root pressure.

Transportation of Water and Minerals In and Out of the Plant

1. Introduction
What factors affect the rate of diffusion? The initial
hypothesis was that high temperature and low density of
solvent cause faster rate of diffusion of the plant
pigments. The hypothesis was tested through
experimenting on atsuete seeds as they were submerged
in different solvents.
Osmosis is the tendency of the solvents molecules
to move through a semi-permeable membrane, from a
less concentrated to a high concentrated solution. With
this definition, the hypothesis formulated was that a
turgid cell would decrease in size if it is exposed to a
highly concentrated environment.
Cell membranes are mostly composed of lipids,
leading to a hypothesis of having the cell membrane
become weak if exposed to high temperature and acidic
environment. Cold temperature would cause the oils in
the cell membranes to somewhat solidify, intensifying its
rigidity.
Imbibition is the plants absorption of water through
hydrophilic colloids. The hypothesis was that plant
imbibition would be much less when exposed to such
solvents like kerosene rather than water.
Transpiration is the loss of water vapor in the parts
of a plant. The hypothesis tests whether a certain leaf of
a plant transpires through the cuticle or the stomatal
apparatus.

sections were mounted on glass slides wet and cover

slips were put. The cells were examined under the
microscope using LPO. This was then sketched. Without
having to move the slide, the water was drawn off with a
piece of paper towel and replaced with a 5% salt
solution. The cells were again viewed under the LPO and
sketched.

2.3 Factors Affecting the Integrity of Cell

Membranes
A sharp blade was used to obtain 7 sections of sugar
beet peelings. Take note there were evident intact cells in
each section made. Three sections were transferred to
test tubes A, B and C. 10ml of distilled water was added
to test tubes A-C. Tube A was then placed under room
temperature, tube B inside a refrigerator and tube C in a
water bat with a 60 degree Celsius temperature. They
were occasionally stirred within 30 minutes. After the
30-minute observation and stirring, the peelings were
removed and mounted wet. The 3 sections were
examined under the microscope, comparing the color
intensity of each. The remaining four sections were
mounted in different slides, labeled D, E, F and G. A
drop of 50% chloroform was added to tube D, a drop of
50% acetone to tube E, a drop of 0.1M NaOH to tube F,
and 0.1M of HCl to tube G. The sections were examined
immediately after 15 and 30 minutes. Observations were
then recorded.

2. Methodology

2.4 Imbibition

2.1. Diffusion of Selected Plant Pigments

2 pieces of wood and rubber were prepared and

weighed for use in the experiment. 2 sets of 10g of corn
seeds were also weighed and prepared. The said
materials were separated and put into 2 separate beakers.
The first beaker was labeled Beaker 1 and contained 1
piece of wood, rubber and 10g of seeds immersed in
water. The other beaker was labeled Beaker 2 and
contained 1 piece of wood, rubber and 10g of seeds
immersed in kerosene. After 90 minutes, a spatula was
used to take out the materials in both beakers and blot
dried. The final weights of all the materials were
recorded.

Four test tubes were filled with one gram of atsuete

seeds each. Test tubes were numbered 1-4. Test tube 1
had a gram of atsuete seeds submerged in 10ml of
distilled water. Test tube 2 had a gram of atsuete seeds
submerged in 10ml of distilled water and was later boiled
in water bath for 5 minutes. Test tube 3 had a gram of
atsuete seeds submerged in 10ml of vegetable oil. Test
tube 4 had a gram of atsuete seeds submerged in 10ml of
vegetable oil which was already heated for 5 minutes
earlier. Take note that the vegetable oil for test tube 4
was heated for 5 minutes before the atsuete seeds were
put. After 30 minutes, the tubes were shook sideways and
color intensities between the four set-ups were
compared.

2.2. Osmosis
Sections of the lower epidermis of the Bangkabangkaan were stripped off. Take note that the lower
epidermis is the side which is violet in color. The

2.5 Movement of Water through the Stem

Pechay leaves were first secured for use in the
experiment. Then 1cm from the base of the petiole was
cut off. After that, the leaves were immersed in a bottle
containing 10ml of 0.01% eosin dye solution.
Immediately after 10-15 minutes, a leaf was taken and
split longitudinally at the stalk. Measurements were

Transportation of Water and Minerals In and Out of the Plant

taken of the length covered b the dye. Another leaf was

taken and a cross-section was cut from it. The tissues
stained were observed under the LPO of a compound
microscope. A sketch of the cross-section was made
showing the stained parts and labeling the identifiable
features.

2.6 Comparison of Cuticular and Stomatal

Transpiration by Four Leaves Method
4 identical leaves were secured and labeled A, B, C,
and D. Leaf A was the control leaf. Leaf B was greased
with vasellin in the upper surface, Leaf C was greased on
the lower surface, and Leaf D was greased on both
surfaces. Then, the leaves were hanged on a thread with
both surfaces exposed to the air. After 3 days, the results
were recorded.

3. Results

Specimen
Test Tube D
Test Tube E
Test Tube F
Test Tube G

Test Tube 3
Test Tube 4

Description
Atsuete+10ml
distilled water
Atsuete+10mp
distilled water
placed in boiling
water bath
Atsuete+10ml
vegetable oil
Atsuete+10ml
heated vegetable
oil

Original Weight
0.5g
0.4g
Color Intensity
10g
+
0.3g
0.4g
+++
10g

++
++++

The wet mounted set-up had turgid epidermal cells.

After replacing water with 5% salt solution, the cells
plasmolysed and shrunk.

3.3. Factors Affecting the Integrity of Cell

Membranes

+
++++
+++

Description
Under room
temperature
Inside
refrigerator

Materials
1 piece of wood
1piece of rubber
10g of corn seeds
1 piece of wood
1piece of rubber
10g of corn seeds

Beaker 1
Beaker 2

Results show that in the longitudinal splitting of the

stalk, the dye reached the end of the stalk after a 15minute time span. Also, in the cross-section, the stains
represent the path the water travelled. The stained parts
represent the xylem which is the pathway of water
through the stem.

3.6 Comparison of Cuticular and Stomatal

Transpiration by Four Leaves Method
The leaves that were greased with vasellin wilted much
slower comparable to the control experiment. Leaf A
wilted easily, while the others so little to no change
depending in the surfaces greased.

Table 2. Sugar beet peeling sections inside test

tubes with 10 ml distilled water

+++

Color Intensity
++

3.5 Movement of Water through the Stem

3.2. Osmosis

Color Intensity
++

Description
With a drop of
50% chloroform
With a dropt of
50% acetone
With a drop of
0.1M NaOH
With a drop of
0.1M HCl

3.4 Imbibition

Table 1.

Test Tube 2

Test Tube C

Table 3. Sugar beet peeling sections mounted to

slides with different solvents

3.1. Diffusion of Selected Plant Pigments

Specimen
Test Tube 1

In a water bath
with 60oC
temperature

Specimen
Test Tube A
Test Tube B

4. Discussion

Transportation of Water and Minerals In and Out of the Plant

4.1. Diffusion of Selected Plant Pigments

High temperature and low density cause faster
diffusion rate. Oil is less dense compared to water. These
concepts resulted to the pigments of atsuete seeds in tube
1 to diffuse the slowest, then tube 3, tube 2 and tube 4
diffusing the fastest. The color intensity translates the
diffusion rate; the darker the color, the faster the
diffusion rate. Heated set-ups had faster diffusion rates
and set-ups containing vegetable oil solvent diffused
faster than those with distilled water.

4.2. Osmosis
The first set-up (wet mount) was turgid because of
water abundance in and out of the cells. After replacing
water with 5% salt solution, the cell membranes shrunk
because the water molecules inside the cell move to a
higher concentrated solution (outside the cell).
Plasmolysis occurred through osmosis.

4.3. Factors Affecting the integrity of Cell

Membranes
The sugar beet peelings have oil as one of its main
components, since cell membranes are composed mainly
of lipids and oils. When oil is heated, it decreases in
volume; but when oil is cooled it solidifies (but not
entirely) into a waxy, butter-like object. This explains
why the cooled set-up had the darkest color intensity, and
the heated becoming the lightest.
Sugar beet peelings in the other half were affected
by pH levels and organic solvents. The set-up having the
lightest color intensity was the one with a drop of 50%
acetone. Acid concentration might attribute to
deterioration of plastids and loss of pigments leading to
light color intensity. Among the four solvents namely,
chloroform, acetone, NaOH and HCl, the 50% acetone
has the highest acid concentration. Next was the solvent
with 50% chloroform. NaOH had the lowest acid
concentration allowing the peelings to preserve its color
intensity.

4.4. Imbibition
The process of absorption of water by a seed that
results in swelling at the beginning of germination is
imbibition. The objects grew in weight because they

cannot be dissolved in water, instead, they aided in the

uptake of water. The materials immersed in kerosene had
the same effect because they could not be dissolved.
In seeds, the dry seeds uptake water because they
cannot be dissolved. This happens just before
germination to aid osmosis in growing plant cells.

4.5. Movement of Water through the Stem

The xylem vessels present in the steam of the plant
serve as the pathway of water towards the leaves and
other parts of the plant. From the roots which absorb
water, the water passes through the stem by means of the
xylem, which is shown in the experiment. This happens
in a small amount of time because the plant constantly
needs water to aid in its processes.

4.6. Comparison of Cuticular and Stomatal

Transpiration by Four Leaves Method
The experiment clearly showed how much
transpiration affects the plant. As one can see, the leaves
that werent greased in the lower surface wilted and died
easily because the water escaped by means of the
stomatal apparatus. The ones with the vasellin on the
upper surface wilted quite slower because the water that
was about to transpire was trapped in the leaf.

REFERENCES
1

Committee on Biology 21, Biology 21 General Botany

Laboratory Manual Vol. 2008-2009, Exercise 11:
Transport of Water and Minerals In and Out of the Plant

James D. Mauseth, Botany: An Introduction to Plant

Biology, Jones and Bartlett, Fourth Edition, pp. 267-269