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Which component of water potential can a plant cell control metabolically?
ASolute potential
BGravity potential
CMatric potential
DVapour potential
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Solute potential
1. Total water potential is the sum of solute, pressure, gravity and matric potentials.
2. Plant cells can metabolically manipulate solute potential by adding or removing solute molecules.
3. Through that control they also steer total water potential and therefore water movement.
4. Gravity potential cannot be manipulated by the plant at all.
5. Matric potential also cannot be manipulated and is typically ignored in well watered roots, stems and leaves.
6. Pressure potential is controlled only indirectly, through changes in solute potential and through stomatal opening.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 30 "Plant Form and Physiology", section 30.5 Transport of Water and Solutes in Plants_
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