Wilting refers to the loss of rigidity of non-woody parts of
plants. This occurs when the
turgor pressure in non-
lignified plant
cells falls towards
zero, as a result of diminished
water in the
cells. The rate of loss of water from the plant is greater than the absorption of water in the plant. The process of wilting modifies the
leaf angle distribution of the plant (or
canopy) towards more erectophile conditions.