Chapter #6 - Plant Nutrition Flashcards
What is the defenition of photosynthesis?
The process by which plants synthesise carbohydrate from raw materials using energy from light.
What is the word and symbol equation for photosynthesis?
What is the role of clorophyll in photosynthesis?
To capture energy from sunlight and transfer it to water molecules and crabon dioxide molecules.
What is the role of energy (that has been photosynthesised) in a plant
Energy makes substances react, producing glucose.
What happens to the oxygen produced with photosynthesis?
It is released into the atmosphere (or water if the plant is aquatic) and other animals use it for repiration and to breathe.
How do plants use glucose?
- To provide energy for active transport ( to move ions and mineral ions through root hair cells).
- To create amino acids which can be used to create proteins. proteins contain C, H, O and N
- To make sucrose for transport (glucose links together => transports to other parts of plant => breaks back down to be used)
- Storing as starch to use later
- Makimg cellulose to build cell walls when new cells are made (linked glucose makes cellulose).
- To make nectar to attract pollinators. Pollinators help plants reproduce.
- To make other substances like clorophyll which contains nitrogen and magnesium which are taken from the roots through active trasfer.
What is the way to think of leaves?
Leaves: Factories for making carbohydrates
Where does photosynthesis happen?
In the palsisade mesophyll, in the chloroplasts.
Where is the general area photosynthesis happens?
The leaves
How is a leaf attached to the stem
Broad flat part of the leaf is joined by the leaf stalk which is attached to the stem.
What is inside the of the leaf stalk?
Collections of parallel tubes called vascular bundles which carry substances to and from leaf. Some transport water, others transport different nutrients.
How is clorophyll arranged?
Clorophyll is spread out along the cell membranes so that more sunlight can reach it.
What is the general shape of leaves?
Leaves are thin with a large surface area to help collect sunlight.
What happens when you increase the surface area of a leaf?
in terms of CO2
The larger the surface area, the higer the rate that CO2 can diffuse into the leaf.
What does the thiness of a leaf help it with?
Helps the sunlight pass right through it and helps CO2 diffuse quickly through cells.
How is water brought to the leaf?
It is brought through tubes called xylem vessels. These are part of the vacular bundles and veins that you can see in leaves.
What is the method for testing a leaf for starch?
- Boil water in a beaker using a hot plate. When water is boiling turn off hot plate.
- Put some alcohol (ethanol) into a test tube and stand in boiling water
- Place a variegated (green and white) ficus pumlia leaf and drop it in the boiling water for 30 seconds (this breaks down the cell membrane.
- Remove the softened leaf from water and place in etanol.
- Levae the leaf for 5 min, until all chlorophyll has come out (chlorophyll is soluble in ethanol so it will go out of leaf).
- carfully remove brittle leaf from ethanol and dip in water until it is soft.
- Spread leaf out on a petri dish
- Add eight drops of iodine to cover the leaf and identify areas that contain starch.
What is the overall conclusion of testing for starch.
That leaves contain starch in the drak green part of them which is where most of the chloroplasts are which means chloroplasts contain starch preserves.
Draw a diagram of a chloroplast.
How do chloroplasts get best quality sunlight
By moving around the palisade mesophyll.
Why are the membranes with chloropyll in stacks?
To increase surface area and have more of them.
Where do leaves typically have more chlorplats?
On the side of leaves (not in the middel).
Where is starch typically stored?
In the chloroplasts of a leaf.
When are the starch reserves in leaves used?
When the plant is not getting enough energy.
What are the factors which affect photosynthesis?
- The supply of raw materials (CO2 & H2O).
- The quantity of sunlight (which proviesd energy for reaction.
- The temp. (affects activity of enzymes)
- The quantity of chlorophyll and therefor chloroplats in the leaves.
What is the defenition of destarching?
leaving a plant in the dark for long enough to use up its starch stores.