Nutrition in Plants Flashcards
Oxygen + Glucose
Carbon dioxide + Water in the presence of light
Factors limiting rate of photosynthesis
Light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration (normally) and temperature (enzymes can denature)
Cuticle
Reduces water loss by evaporation and acts as a barrier to the entry of disease-causing microorganisms
Upper epidermis
Relatively transparent to allow light to pass through
Palisade mesophyll
Long, narrow cells containing hundreds of chloroplasts, close to the source of light and main site of photosynthesis
Spongy mesophyll
Still photosynthesises though with fewer chloroplasts, they form the main gas exchange surface
Air space
Allows gases to diffuse in and out
Use of nitrate
Making amino acids, proteins, chlorophyll, DNA and other compounds
Nitrate deficiency symptoms
Limited growth of plant; Older leaves turn yellow
Use of phosphate
- Making DNA and other compounds
- Part of cell membranes
Phosphate deficiency symptoms
Poor root growth; Younger leaves turn purple
Use of potassium
Needed for enzymes for respiration and photosynthesis to work
Potassium deficiency symptoms
Leaves turn yellow with dead spots
Use of magnesium
Part of chlorophyll molecule
Magnesium deficiency symptoms
Leaves turn yellow
Describe an experiment to measure the effects of limiting factors upon photosynthesis
- Remove leaf
- Dewax in boiling water for 30s
- Remove colour in boiling ethanol (turn off Bunsen burner)
- Wash with cold water
- Test by adding iodine solution
- Vary limiting factor (use bell jar containing soda lime to remove carbon dioxide) and repeat