Transpiration rate
The rate of transpiration is directly related to the gradient of water vapour concentration in the intercellular spaces of the leaf and the ambient air. Rapid changes in the transpiration rate from a leaf or leafy shoot as a result of excision of the leaf or shoot have been observed in many plants including banana plants [8]. Rufelt (1963) stated that the increased water supply to the leaf is presumably responsible for increased stomatal opening and increased transpiration in banana, which is called “Rufelt’s hypothesis”. [5] reported that increased stomatal opening as a result of excision of young barley leaves considers this as supporting evidence for Rufelt’s hypothesis. High rate of transpiration was recorded even when the stomata were apparently partially closed in banana [164]. A positive correlation between relative water content and gas exchange activities was reported by [56] and the reduction of RWC strongly reduced photosynthesis and transpiration