Question

Which of the following describes the effect of water scarcity on plants?
A. The green character of the plant shall be lost
B. This may mean the end of all life
C. A world without plants shall mean no food, no oxygen, not enough rain and innumerable other problems.
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Water scarcity generally refers to the situation in which the potable water becomes less in regions. Some of the major causes can be climate change, natural calamities such as droughts and floods, increased human consumption, etc.

Complete answer:
Transpiration refers to the biological process by which water is lost in the form of water vapour from the aerial parts of the plants. Like all living organisms, plants also require an excretory system to discharge excess water from their body. Hence, this process of elimination of excess water from the plant body is known as transpiration. Moreover, there are many environmental factors that affect the rate of transpiration in plants. Some of the factors are listed below:
a) Light
b) Temperature
c) Humidity
d) Atmospheric pressure
e) Wind speed or velocity
However, the effect of water scarcity on plants is very adverse. As we know that water is the most important element needed by the plants to naturally germinate and grow. Plants start to undergo evolutionary changes in order to survive consistent water shortages. But in extreme cases, plants are unable to survive and they eventually die. One of the main effects is the reduction in photosynthesis. In this case, the plant will slow down their entire production mechanism and rearrange the photosynthesis apparatus leading to stomatal closure and further, the reduced amount of chlorophyll negatively impacts plant life. A world without plants means no food, no oxygen, not enough rain and several other problems as well.
Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note: Stomata are minute pores that are present on the lower side of the leaves that help in the exchange of water vapour and gases. Moreover, when the stomatal pores open, the rate of transpiration increases and when the pores are closed then the loss of water is reduced.