Plants utilize several methods to eliminate waste products, including transpiration, shedding of old parts, and secretion of resins and gums. Transpiration, where excess water evaporates from leaves, is a primary way to get rid of water-soluble wastes. Additionally, plants shed old leaves, bark, and fruits, which contain stored waste materials. Finally, some plants secrete resins and gums, which are also waste products, through wounds and other surface openings.
Here’s a more detailed look at each method:
Transpiration:
Plants lose excess water through tiny pores called stomata on their leaves. This process, known as transpiration, helps regulate water balance and also excretes some water-soluble waste products.
Shedding of Old Parts:
As plant parts age, they can accumulate waste products. These parts, like leaves and bark, are shed, carrying the waste with them.
Secretion of Resins and Gums:
Certain plants secrete resins and gums, which can be a way to eliminate certain waste products. These substances can also help protect the plant from injury or infection.

Plants implement the following methods to eliminate waste:
– Gaseous Exchange: Carbon dioxide (due to respiration) and oxygen (due to photosynthesis) exit through stomata and lenticels.
– Exudation: Excess moisture is eliminated by the plant via guttation or transpiration.
– Storage: Some of the waste materials are stored in leaves, bark, and even vacuoles and discharged whenever such parts are shed.
– Conversion: Elimination of toxic materials like ammonia or its derivatives by forming non-toxic compounds such as alkaloids or resins one of the physiological adaptations of plants that help them in their survival under various ecological conditions.