9. Plant Biology Flashcards
Define photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.
What does photosynthesis require?
- Carbon dioxide and Water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen
- Oxygen for respiration
What are stoma?
Stomata are tiny pores on leaves, usually on the underside.
What is the function of guard cells?
Two guard cells surround the stoma and they control where it is open or closed and control gas exchange
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the take up of water by roots and carried through the plant to leaves for release of water vapor.
How does transpiration occur?
- stomata opens up
- gas exchange occurs; oxygen desorbed carbon dio absorbed
- Due to a concentration gradient between the leaf and the atmosphere, some water diffuses out
This causes transpiration.
Why is transpiration essential for plants?
- provide raw materials for photosynthesis
- cool the leaves
- transport the minerals to leaves for use in synthesis of important molecules
What happens if the plant does not replace the water lost during transpiration?
The plant will wilt and will not be able to photosynthesize efficiently
What is the transpiration pull? And what happens during transpiration pull?
Transpiration pull: loss of water vapor through the stomata helps to pull the water from roots all the way up to leaves
Due to the cohesive property of water, the water is pulled upwards. Water absorbed through routes via osmosis
Higher concentration of solutes than outside
Water moves along concentration gradient
Explain the structure and function of xylem tubes.
Xylem transports water from the roots to all other parts of the plant.
- The xylem tubes are long continuous tubes that run from the roots through the stems of plants.
- Walls: thickened with lignin ( a woody tissue)
What are lignins?
It is a woody tissue that prevents the walls of the xylem from collapsing under pressure and adds strength to the woody material of older plants.
What are primary xylem vessels?
Primary xylem vessles are the first xylem that forms from the root or shoot tip and their walls contain very little lignin in the form of annular and spiral thickening
Why are lignin bound to break?
Due to the atmospheric pressure being higher than the pressure within.
What happens once the xylem is matured?
- They lose their cytoplasmic content
- Converted to hollow tubes that transport water within the plant
- Flow of water is driven by passive forces
Explain the process of transpiration.
- The adhesive properties of water, together with evaporation, creates tension forces in leaf cell walls that generate the transpiration pull
This causes the upward movement of water inside the xylem vessels to the leaves to replenish the water lost through transpiration.
What are the two forces?
Cohesion: water molecules are polar and stick to each other which helps water move up long distances
Adhesion: interaction between water and the wall of the xylem vessel
These forces creates a continuous stream of water through the plant
How is lignin used for structural under tension?
The long continuous tubes are lignified
The lignin makes the walls of xylem which prevents the tubes from collapsing
Explain how active uptake of mineral ions in the roots causes absorption of water by osmosis
Water and minerals are taken up by roots, tiny extensions on specialised root cells called root hairs take up water through osmosis. This creates a concentration gradient inside the roots and causes water to diffuse into the roots through osmosis. The concentrations are created through active transport.
What are the two ways of water movement to the xylem?
Through the apoplast: water moves through the cell walls of the epidermal cells of the root.
Through the symplast: water moves through the cytoplasm of epidermal cells of the root
What is the casparian strip?
It is a band of suberin, a waxy substance that is impermeable to water.
Where is the casparian strip found?
Found in the cell walls of the endodermis of plant roots.
How does water flow from the endodermis and onwards?
Water flows through the symplast pathways to reach the xylem vessels.
How are minerals transported in plants?
- by active transport
- Protein pumps in the plasma membrane of the root hair cells actively pump minerals into the cytoplasm
- Minerals are transported while dissolve in water to the xylem vessels
Define Xerophytes and Halophytes.
Xerophytes: plants that are adapted to thrive under dry conditions eg. cacti
Halophytes: plants that are adapted to living near the sea and have evolved mechanisms to cope with high levels of salt
What are adaptations of xerophytes?
- reduced leaf size
- succulents store more water
- stomata mostly on stem
- stomata open up at night
- leaf coated with waxy cuticles
- leaves rolled up to increase humidity around stomata
- extensive shallow network of roots to absorb more water
What are the adaptations of Halophytes?
- reduced leaf sizes
- Water storage structures develop in the leaves
- Thick cuticle and thick epidermis
- Stomata sunk into pits
- Some plants have -structures to remove salt build-up
- Root cells pump excess sodium and chloride ions out into the surrounding soil or water
What is the crassulacean acid metabolism?
To help with helping the plant not run out of carbon dioxide overnight when the stomata opens
Night: Carbon dioxide is absorbed and converted into malic acid
Day: Carbon dioxide is released and used for carbon fixation in the light-independent reactions.
How can rate of transpiration be determined?
By measuring the amount of water lost from a plant per unit time.
What are the 4 internal factors that affect the rate of transpiration?
- Root to shoot ratio
- Surface area of leaves
- Number of stomata
- Structure of leaf
What are the 4 external factors that affect the rate of transpiration?
Light Wind Temperature Humidity Water supply