growth in plants

Question 1

what are the stages of growth in plants in order?

Answer 1

mitosis/cell division, elongation and differentiation

Question 2

what is elongation?

Answer 2

elongation is what allows the plant cells to become longer as they grow

Question 3

what is differentiation?

Answer 3

the process where cells become specialised to perform specific functions in an organism

Question 4

what happens with plant cells during mitosis?

Answer 4

plant cells divide in two by constructing a new cell wall (cell plate) between daughter nuclei after mitosis

Question 5

what are some examples of specialised plant cells?

Answer 5

xylem cells, root hair cells, phloem, mesophyll, stoma

Question 6

what are root hair cells and their adaptations?

Answer 6

root hair cells absorb water and nutrients
-a long thin ‘hair’ extends from each cell into the soil increasing the root’s surface area and absorption rate
-lots of mitochondria release energy from glucose during respiration to provide the energy needed for active transport

Question 7

what are xylem cells and their adaptations?

Answer 7

xylem cells transport water and minerals up the stem to leaves and flowers
-lose their end walls so the xylem forms a continuous hollow tube
-lignin gives plants strength

Question 8

what are phloem cells and their adaptations?

Answer 8

phloem transports sugars, amino acids and other substances both up and down the stem to leaves, flowers and roots
-sieve tubes are specialised for transport and have no nuclei

Question 9

describe the growth in plants

Answer 9

plant cells divide by mitosis, just behind the tips of shoots and roots. After this, the cell grows by enlarging. Young cells have small vacuoles which take in water by osmosis and enlarge causing cells to elongate. These cells can differentiate into specialised cell types. Most plants cells can continue to grow and differentiate throughout life