They are used on Christmas trees, on cut flowers, on newly transplanted shrubs, and in other applications to preserve and protect plants from drying out too quickly.
They have also been used to protect leaves from salt burn and fungal diseases [citation needed].
Due to presence of carbon dioxide, a rapid acidification of cytoplasm takes place leading to stomatal closure.
Metabolic inhibitors reduce the stomatal opening and increase the leaf resistance to water vapour diffusion without affecting carbon dioxide uptake.
Film-forming antitranspirants form a colorless film on the leaf surface that allows diffusion of gases but not of water vapour.