Question

How plant respiration is different from animal respiration.
Describe the process of respiration in (a) root (b) stem (c) leaves with suitable diagram.

Answer 1

Respiration in plants	Respiration in animals
1. plants only respire	Animals breath air for cellular respiration.
2. Plant obtain oxygen directly from the air through stomata.	Animals inhale oxygen from nose or gills into respiratory organs.
3. Carbon dioxide released during respiration is utilized by plants for photosynthesis.	Carbon dioxide released during respiration is not utilized by animals.

a) Respiration in roots: Oxygen present in the airspace of the soil get diffused into the root hairs.

Respiration in stems: In higher plants, stem possesses small opening called as lenticles through which oxygen get diffused. In the case of plants with green stems, they possess stomata through which oxygen get diffused.

Respiration in leaves: Leaves possess small opening called as stomata through which exchange of gases takes place. The opening and closing of stomata help in the exchange of gases between leaves and atmosphere and it is controlled by the guard cells.