Question

Two well-watered, identical plants were placed in brightly lit rooms at different temperatures - one at 15°C and the other at 38°C. The plant in the warmer room showed wilting by the end of the day.

1. Which plant phenomenon resulted in the wilting of the leaves?
2. Mention the factor of the phenomenon that is being tested.

Answer 1

1. Transpiration, the process by which plants lose water as water vapour from their leaves, is the cause of the wilting of the leaves.
2. The factor being tested here is temperature; higher temperatures increase the rate of transpiration, causing the plant to lose water faster and wilt.