Importance of mineral ions and water

Question 1

why is water important in plants

Answer 1

transport of minerals
hydrolysis of bonds in chemical reactions e.g. starch broken down into glucose
create turgor pressure for support
act as a solvent
temperature regulation by evaporation
reactant in photosynthesis

Question 2

why are calcium ions needed in plants

Answer 2

to make calcium pectate (calcium + pectin) for making the middle lamella which holds the plant together
has a roll in membrane permeability

Question 3

what can calcium ion deficiency lead to in plants

Answer 3

young leaves turn a yellow colour and go crinkly
growing plants die back
stunted growth

Question 4

what are magnesium ions needed in plants

Answer 4

to make chlorophyll which is needed in photosynthesis
needed for nucleic acid synthesis
needed for the activation of some plant enzymes

Question 5

what can magnesium ion deficiency lead to in plants

Answer 5

less chlorophyll leads to less photosynthesis so less glucose is made
stunted growth
yellowing of leaves

Question 6

why are nitrate ions needed in plants

Answer 6

to make amino acids for the synthesis of proteins (and some enzymes) for growth
also needed for in:
chlorophyll
nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
ATP
growth hormones

Question 7

what can nitrate deficiency lead to in plants

Answer 7

older leaves turn yellow and die
lack of shoots (spindly plants)
stunted growth due to lack of enzymes/proteins