Question

A plant wilts and becomes floppy if it loses water faster than the roots can absorb water. Explain why a plant is more likely to wilt when the weather is hot and windy, rather than cool and still. :)​

Answer 1

Explanation: When the weather is hot and windy plants generally wilt because of the higher rate of transpiration.

Transpiration refers to the mechanism by which water evaporates from a plant's leaves.

The air surrounding the plant generally becomes hot and windy resulting in a faster rate of water loss through the leaves whereas the root struggles to absorb enough water from the soil to balance the water loss through leaves.

As a result, the plant suffers from water deficiency which causes withering and floppiness.

In contrast the rate of transpiration is reduced in cool and quiet weather, lowering the likelihood of water loss exceeding the roots ability to absorb water.