Final answer:
In strawberry leaves, water exudation through leaf margins is caused by guttation and transpiration. Guttation occurs at night, while transpiration happens during the day and contributes to nutrient transport and temperature control within the plant, with stomata regulating both processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In strawberry leaves, when water appears to be exuded through leaf margins, it is due to guttation and transpiration. Guttation is the exudation of water droplets on the tips or edges of leaves at night when soil moisture is high, and stomata are closed. Unlike transpiration, it doesn't involve the evaporation of water vapor. However, transpiration plays a more significant role during the day when stomata are open, allowing for the loss of water vapor from the leaves through evaporation. Together, these processes allow the plant to discard excess water absorbed by the roots, with transpiration also playing a critical role in nutrient transport and temperature regulation within the plant.
Transpiration is driven by the evaporation of water at the leaf-atmosphere interface, which creates a negative pressure causing water to move up from the roots through the xylem. The regulation of water loss and gas exchange is managed through the opening and closing of stomata, which respond to various environmental conditions. Leaves are covered by a waxy cuticle that helps prevent the loss of water.