B8.3 How plants use glucose Flashcards
What is the main way plants use glucose for?
Respiration
How to plants use glucose to strengthen their cell walls?
By producing complex carbohydrates such as cellulose
What is starch?
Glucose that has been stored for photosynthesis
What is the problem if glucose were stored in the plant?
It is soluble in water and could affect the way water moves into and out of the cells by osmosis
Why is starch stored in the plant instead of glucose?
Because it is insoluble in water - has no effect on the water balance of the plant - so plants can store large amount of starch in their cells
Why is starch stored when light levels are low?
Provides as an energy store for the plant
How can you test for starch?
Using iodine solution test turns blue black
Why cannot the iodine go through the leaf normally?
Because of the waxy cuticle barrier and the chlorophyll masking any colours
What are amino acids used for?
They are made because of plants using glucose to make them and they combine with nitrate ions and other minerals to produce proteins used to make enzymes
What are lipids used for in the plant?
Used as an energy stored
Used in the cell walls to make them stronger
As an energy store in their sieeds
