question_answer 78)

Plants show temporary and permanent wilting. Differentiate between the two. Do any of them indicate the water status of the soil?

Answer:

                  Wilting refers to the loss of turgidity of leaves and other soft aerial parts of a plant causing dropping, folding and rolling of non-woody plants. It occurs when rate of loss of water ishigher than the rate of absorption.

Temporary Wilting	Permanent Wilting
Temporary drooping of young leaves and shoots due to loss ofturgidity especially during noon. Occurs when rate of transpiration is more than water absorption due to shrinkage of roots. Wilting recovers as soon as water is replenished in the soil around root hairs. Plant regains its normal growth.	State of permanent lossofturgidity in leaves and other parts of plant. Rate of transpiration is more than rate of absorption but difference is below critical level. Wilting is not recovered as cells do not regain theinturgidity even in presence of plentiful water and atmosphere. Plant eventually dies.