Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Transpiration in plants is primarily driven by the combination of environmental factors, and wind and heat play significant roles in this process. When heat increases, it raises the temperature of the leaf surface, leading to a higher rate of water evaporation from the stomata. Wind further enhances this effect by removing the moist air surrounding the leaf, allowing more water vapor to escape. This creates a gradient that pulls more water from the plant’s roots through the xylem, motivating the continuous flow of water and nutrients from the soil.

While roots are essential for water uptake, they do not directly drive the transpiration process itself. Light energy is important for photosynthesis and may indirectly influence transpiration by prompting stomatal opening to allow gas exchange, but it is not the primary driving factor. Photosynthesis provides organic compounds for energy but does not directly drive the loss of water vapor. Thus, the correct answer reflects the conditions that most directly influence the rate and efficiency of transpiration in plants.