Final answer:
Plant water uptake occurs when the plant water potential is more negative than the soil water potential, allowing for water movement towards the plant due to the water potential gradient. The false statement is regarding stomata behavior under drought conditions; they close to conserve water, not open wider.
The given statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plant water uptake indeed occurs if the plant water potential is more negative than the water potential of the surrounding soil. This can be explained by understanding that water potential is a measure of the potential energy of water and that water moves from areas of higher water potential (less negative) to areas of lower water potential (more negative). Therefore, the statement that plant water uptake only occurs if the plant water potential is less negative than the water potential of the surrounding soil is false. The correct statement is that plant water uptake occurs because the overall water potential of the plant is more negative than the water potential of the soil.
To clarify which statement provided is false, it is the one stating that under drought conditions, the stomata open its pores wider to perform a better rate of transpiration. In reality, under such conditions, the stomata close to conserve water, and leaves may also be shed if the drought continues. Correct water movement in plants involves negative water potential drawing water into root hairs, cohesion and adhesion drawing water up the xylem, and transpiration drawing water out of the leaves. This process illustrates how water potential gradients drive the movement of water through plants.