A solute potential is the potential of water to move from a solution that where the concentration of the solutes is higher on the inside to the solution where the concentration of the solutes is higher on the outside.
Solute potential is also known as osmotic potential. It is the applied pressure that is required to hinder the water from flowing inside across a semi permeable membrane.
The reason plants in the desert survive their arid conditions because they tend to retain the concentration of water in them, they have waxy cuticles or tough skin which prevent evaporation of water from the plants, there by creating in a high concentration of solutes in such plants which results in a low solute potential.
