Plant Antitranspirants

Plant Antitranspirants

The term antitranspirant is used to designate any material applied to plants for the purpose of retarding transpiration. An ideal antitranspirant checks the transpiration process without disturbing the process of gaseous exchange. Plant antitranspirants are two types:

1. To act as a physical barrier above the stomata

Colourless plastics, Silicone oil and low viscosity waxes are sprayed on leaves forming a thin film to act as a physical barrier (for transpiration) for water but permeable to CO₂ and O₂. The success rate of a physical barrier is limited.

2. Induction of Stomata closure

Carbon-di-oxide induces stomatal closure and acts as a natural antitranspirant. Further, the advantage of using CO₂ as an antitranspirant is its inhibition of photorespiration. Phenyl Mercuric Acetate (PMA), when applied as a foliar spray to plants, induces partial stomatal closure for two weeks or more without any toxic effect. 

Use of abscisic acid highly induces the closing of stomata. Dodecenyl succinic acid also effects on stomatal closure.

Uses:

•  Antitranspirants reduce the enormous loss of water by transpiration in crop plants.

•  Useful for seedling transplantations in nurseries.