3.3 transport in plants Flashcards
how is sucrose removed at the sink?
Sucrose is constantly being used by surrounding cells, decreasing sucrose condentration. So sucrose diffuses out of the sieve tubes into surrounding cells via the plasmodesmata. The water potential of the phloem increases so water moves out of the phloem into surround cells, so hydrostatic pressure decreases
what is translocation?
the mass flow of assimilates down the hydrostatic pressure gradient from source to sink
what are co-transporter proteins?
a type of transport protein that can move 2 moleucles across a membrane by facilitated diffusion
explain the role of meristem tissue in the stem
meristem is a source of undifferentiated cells that are used for the growth and repair of damaged tissues
describe how oncotic pressure is established
Plasma proteins are too large to leave the capillary creating a lower water potential in the capillary than is the tissue fluid. The water moves by osmosis, down the water potential gradient, into the capillary, causing pressure.
what is a potometer?
a peice of apparatus used to estimate the rate of transpiration of a plant sample
how does light intensity affect the rate of transpiration?
more stomata are open so there is more gas exchange for photosynthesis, increasing the rate or transpiration
how does humidity affect the rate of transpiration?
a higher relative humidity in the air decreases the rate of transpiration in the air as there is a shallow water vapour potential gradient
how does air movement affect the rate of transpiration?
high wind speed maintains a steep water potential gradient, as the recently diffused water vapour is quickly carried away
how does water availability affect the rate of transpiration?
if there is little water in the soil the plant cant replace the water lost in transpiration so the stomata close and the leaves wilt
how can temperature affect the rate of transpiration?
a higher temperature will increase the rate of transpiration.
what are xerophytes?
plants that are well adapted to living in dry or arid conditions
what are hydrophytes?
plants that are well adapted to living in wet or humid conditions
why is the loss of water by transpiration unavoidable?
the stomata open for gas exchange in photosynthesis, this means the water vapour can escape when the stomata are open
what is marram grass?
a xerophyte found on sand dunes
how does a thick waxy cuticle help xerophytes?
acts as a barrier, reducing the amount of water that can evaporate from the leaf
how does rolling the leaf longitudinally help xerophytes?
air is trapped inside the leaf, making it humid, reducing the water loss from the leaf
how do spines help xerophytes?
they reduce the total surface area of leaf, reducing water loss
how do stomata in pits help xerophytes?
this reduces air movement and loss of water vapour
how do long widespread roots help xerophytes?
they can reach any rain that does fall
how do large air spaces help hydrophytes?
keeps the leaf afloat so they can absorb sunlight and are in the air
how do stomata on the upper epidermis help hydrophytes?
the stomata are more exposed to the air, allowing more gas exchange, and water loss through the stomata
how does large air spaces in the leaf stem help hydrophytes?
helps with buoyancy , and allows oxygen to quickly diffuse from the leaf to the roots for aerobic respiration
what are some adaptations of marram grass?
- thick waxy cuticle
- hairs on lower surface
- rolled leaf
- stomata in pits
how can most plants reduce the loss of water by transpiration?
- stomata are closed at night
- waxy cuticle
- lose leaves in winter
- less stomata
- stomata on the underside of the lead
what is the symplast pathway?
the movement of water through the cell cytoplasms via the plasmodesmata
what is the apoplast pathway?
the movement of water and mineral ions by mass flow, through the spaces in the cellulose cell walls
what is the vacuolar pathway?
the movement of water through the cytoplasm AND vacuoles
what is osmosis?
the movement of water from an area of less negative water potential to an area of more negative water potential
describe the movement of water from the epidermis to the xylem
Water and mineral ions travelling along the apoplast pathway are blocked by the apoplast pathway. Transporter proteins actively pump mineral ions into the medulla, decreasing water potential. Water moves by osmosis down the water potential gradient into the medulla
what is transpiration pull?
the movement of water up the xylem to replace water lost in the leaves
how do mineral ions and water move up the xylem?
Mineral ions and water in the medulla cause root pressure to increase in the xylem. Higher up the stem, the water and mineral ions leave the xylem and travel to other parts of the plant. The water then moves by mass flow up the xylem.
how does water move from the soil to the root hair cells?
mineral ions enter the root hair cell by active transport which lowers the water potential gradient in the root hair cell. The water moves into the root hair cell by osmosis along the water potential gradient.
what is the casparian strip?
a layer of cells in the root cortex that contains a substance called suberin which makes them impereamble and waterproof