What is the Difference Between Transportation and Transpiration

The main difference between transportation and transpiration is that transportation is the movement of water, minerals, and food throughout the plant body, while transpiration is the movement of water vapor from the leaves to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the plant structures responsible for transportation are the xylem and phloem tissues while the plant structures responsible form transpiration is stomata. 

Transportation and transpiration are two processes that occur in plants. Both processes perform a vital function during the functioning of a plant. 

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Transportation
     – Definition, Process, Importance
2. What is Transpiration
     – Definition, Process, Importance
3. What are the Similarities Between Transportation and Transpiration
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Transportation and Transpiration
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms 

Stomata, Sugars, Transpiration, Transportation of Water, Transportation of Food, Water Vapor

What is Transportation 

Transpiration is the movement of water, minerals, and food throughout the plant body. Generally, the two types of plant tissues involved in transportation are the xylem, which transports water and minerals, and the phloem, which transports food. 

Figure 1: Transportation in Plants

Transportation of Water 

The roots of the plant take up water as well as the soluble nutrients from the soil. After that, the xylem transports them through the stem to the leaves, flowers, and fruits. Usually, the four types of cells found in the xylem are tracheids, vessels, xylem fibers, and xylem parenchyma cells. Among them, tracheids and vessels transport water. However, transportation of water is completely a passive process driven by root pressure and transpirational pull. Here, the entering of water and other soluble nutrients occur through osmosis due to the root pressure. Then, the surface tension pulls water up with the loss of water from the upper parts of the plant through transpiration. Significantly, water is the main constituent of plant cells, and it takes part in photosynthesis as well. 

Transportation of Food 

Phloem tissue of the plant takes part in the transportation of food bidirectionally from the leaves to the storage parts and from the storage parts to the growing parts of the plant. Also, this process is specifically known as translocation. Generally, the four types of cells found in the phloem tissue are parenchyma cells, phloem fibers, sieve elements, and companion cells. Among them, sieve elements transport food, especially sugars and other metabolic products of the plant while companion cells control the function of the sieve elements. In contrast, transportation is an active process, which utilizes ATP. Besides, it occurs through the concentration gradient of sugars. Generally, the products transported by the phloem are important for the growth and other metabolic processes.

What is Transpiration 

Transpiration is the movement of water vapor from leaves to the atmosphere through stomata. It contributes to 10% of atmospheric moisture. Also, it is an essential evaporation process of water through leaves to remove the unused water. Apart from that, transpiration has major importance as the main pulling force of water in the xylem towards the leaves from roots. Also, this pulling force makes the root to absorb more water and minerals from the soil. Besides, transpiration cools down the plant body.

Figure 2: Stoma

Furthermore, stomata are the pores mainly found in the epidermis of leaves. Also, they are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Guard cells control the size of stomata based on the amount of water present in the soil. Also, the rate of transpiration depends on the following factors: 

• The number of leaves in the plant 
• The number of stomata 
• The size of the leaf 
• The presence or absence of a cuticle 
• The amount of light obtained by the plant 
• Temperature and the relative humidity 
• Wind 
• The supply of water 

Similarities Between Transportation and Transpiration 

• Transportation and transpiration are two processes that occur in plants. 
• They take part in the movement of water. 
• Also, both help in the absorption of water from the soil. 

Difference Between Transportation and Transpiration 

Definition 

Transportation refers to the process of transporting water, minerals, and food to all parts of the plant body, while transpiration refers to the exhalation of water vapor through the stomata. Thus, this is the main difference between transportation and transpiration.

Type of Materials  

Transportation moves water, minerals, and food throughout the plant while transpiration moves water vapor. 

Type of Tissues Involved in 

Moreover, both xylem and phloem tissues take part in transportation while stomata take part in transpiration. Hence, this is another difference between transportation and transpiration.

Type of Movement 

Xylem moves water and minerals from the root towards the leaves and phloem moves food from the leaves to throughout the plant body while transpiration moves water vapor from leaves to the atmosphere through stomata. 

Time 

Furthermore, transportation of water occurs throughout the day and transportation of food mainly occurs during the night while transpiration mainly occurs during the day time. 

Importance 

Transportation provides water, minerals, and food for each part of the plant, helping the growth while transpiration cools the plant body and facilitate the upward movement of water through the plant. 

Conclusion 

Transportation is the movement of water, minerals, and food throughout the plant body. Here, xylem transports water and minerals from the root to the leaves. And, phloem transports food from the leaf throughout the plant body. Moreover, transportation plays a key role in the growth and the functioning of the plant. On the other hand, transpiration is the movement of water vapor from the leaves to the atmosphere through the stomata. It cools down the plant body during the day time and facilitates the upward direction of water from the root. Therefore, the main difference between transportation and transpiration is the type of tissues involved in and the importance of the process. 

References:

1. Chandra, R. “Process of Transportation in Plants | Term Paper | Botany | Biology.” Biology Discussion, 16 May 2017, Available Here.
2. “Transpiration – Definition, Process, Types, Structure of Stomata.” Toppr, 23 Oct. 2018, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Xylem and phloem diagram” By Nefronus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia   
2. “Tomato leaf stomate 1-color” By Photohound –  This JPG graphic was created with GIMP. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia