Many living beings require oxygen to complete vital processes, as this element plays a fundamental role in obtaining and processing energy. It is possible to obtain oxygen through respiration, but while the goal is similar, the processes are completely different depending on the species. In the case of mammals, we associate breathing with lungs, nose and mouth, but plants have radically different specialized structures that allow them to get what they need from the environment.
It's fascinating to understand how plants work, what their needs and processes are. How they use water, the sun, how they feed, reproduce and breathe. Having a plant is like welcoming an alien into your home, whom you must meet and learn how they live. Whether you have bought an air-purifying plant or a plant that attracts good luck, if you have ever wondered how plants breathe, if they don't have lungs or a nose, today at Be Green we explain the process in detail.
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Plant respiration vs photosynthesis There are those who confuse the processes of
respiration and photosynthesis
, but they are 2 different things. Plants breathe for energy that allows them to fulfill other life cycles. Oxygen absorption allows them to use carbohydrate stores for energy, then expel carbon dioxide and water vapor at the end of the process. From this perspective, respiration is considered to be the opposite process of photosynthesis, since in this process carbon dioxide is absorbed and oxygen is expelled.
It is important to mention that although plant respiration is a separate process from photosynthesis, they are intimately related; when breathing the plant evaporates water, it becomes dehydrated. If it doesn't get enough water from its substrate, the plant goes into water-saving mode and closes the stomata to prevent the water from evaporating so quickly. This hinders photosynthesis, which is the plant's way of synthesizing its food. Hence the importance of watering your plant correctly, without waterlogging the roots but in a way that it gets the water it needs to ensure its health.
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Where do plants breathe?
Plants breathe through their leaves. No, there are no tiny noses scattered on the leaves of your dwarf olive tree, but structures called stomata. Stomata look more like the pores of the skin than the nostrils, but they fulfill the function of making gas exchange. Similar structures called lenticels are found on the trunks and stems of plants, but the stomata are the most active in the process of respiration.
Lenticels allow oxygen to pass through and let water vapor out, but they do not allow carbon dioxide to enter, so it does not participate in photosynthesis. On the other hand, stomata are multifunctional structures: they absorb and expel gases, so they are a fundamental part of 3 processes: photosynthesis, transpiration and cellular respiration.
When do plants breathe?
Stomata are structures with a fairly heavy workload, so they must organize their time and functions. Since photosynthesis always requires sunlight, it makes sense for the respiration process to occur at night. This division of labor is quite efficient, because with respiration they obtain the energy they will need the next day to photosynthesize. This is not to say that plants only breathe at night, but that it is a much more intense process at night. During the day the plant can breathe, not only through its leaves but also through its roots, although this results in less oxygen than from the leaves.
You might be wondering how roots breathe if they're covered in dirt, right? Well, it's very simple: they get oxygen from the water and the substrate, which acts as a vehicle for this gas. Hence the importance of maintaining an aerated substrate, suitable for the needs of the plant, with correct drainage and allowing a decent level of oxygen.
The process of respiration and photosynthesis in plants is really fascinating, especially if you take into account that much of our food comes from plants that are capable of developing flowers, leaves and fruits from these processes. Indeed, it is possible to stimulate the growth and flowering of plants by manipulating the amount of light they receive, changing the concentration of certain nutrients in the substrate.