TRANSPIRATION IN PLANTS- A NECESSARY PROBLEM For their growth and development, plants absorb water and minerals from the soil. The roots absorb plenty of water from the soil of which only a part of it is used for various physiological activities. A large amount of water escapes out of the leaves and other exposed parts of the plant in form of water vapor during day time. This is called transpiration. Transpiration is very similar to perspiration in human beings. On a hot sunny day, very often the plants are seen wilting with drooping leaves. This happens when due to vigorous transpiration, water is lost from the leaves. When watered again, the leaves regain their normal shapes. Transpiration is not known to have much positive effect on a plant except that it exerts a pulling force which may help to transport water to the top of tall trees. Thus, it can be easily said transpiration is more harmful than beneficial to the plants but plants can not do away with this process because since the tiny pores in the leaves known as stomata remain open to facilitate exchange of gases for photosynthesis and respiration, water vapor also finds a passage through them. Hence, transpiration is a ‘necessary problem’ for the plant kingdom.