[Campbell Biology P.843] According to Figure 36.11 and the accompanying text, what is the di... | Practice Question

According to Figure 36.11 and the accompanying text, what is the direct consequence of the evaporation of the water film at the air-water interface within the mesophyll cell walls, as depicted in step 3?

  • A: Water vapor diffuses from the moist air spaces to the drier air outside via stomata.
  • B: Water from the xylem is pulled into surrounding cells and air spaces.
  • C: The air-water interface retreats farther into the cell wall and becomes more curved, increasing surface tension and the rate of transpiration.
  • D: The water vapor lost by transpiration is replaced by evaporation from the water film that coats mesophyll cells.

Explanation

Step 3 in Figure 36.11 explicitly states: 'The evaporation of the water film causes the air-water interface to retreat farther into the cell wall and to become more curved. This curvature increases the surface tension and the rate of transpiration.'