plant gas exchange and transport Flashcards
what do plants only do in the dark?
respire (no photosynthesis)
what are the internal structures in a leaf (in order from outside to furthest inside)?
waxy cuticle
upper epidermis
palisade mesophyll layer
spongy mesophyll layer
xylem and phloem
bundle sheath cells
lower epidermis
guard cell
stoma
what kind of gas exchange do plants use?
diffusion
thin, flat, large surface area
large air spaces for circulation of gases
stomatal pores can open
how do gases diffuse into leaf?
gases diffuse through stoma down conc gradient
gases diffuse through intracellular spaces between mesophyll cells
gases dissolve in film of water covering cells and in cellulose cell walls
gases then diffuses into cells
what gases come in and out in daylight?
CO2 in
O2 out
what gases come in and out in darkness?
O2 in
CO2 out
what are the leaf adaptions for light harvesting?
large SA to capture as much light as possible
leaves can move to position themselves into more light
cuticle and epidermis are transparent so light can get to mesophyll cells
leaves are thin so light can get to lower layers
what is the waxy cuticle?
secreted by epidermal cells
waterproof
reduces warer loss through epidermis
what are features of the palisade mesophyll layer?
elongated
densely packed with chloroplasts
chloroplasts can move in cells to collect more light and get away from strong light to avoid damage
small air spaces between cells
what are features of epidermal cells?
transparent
no chloroplasts
what does the stomata do?
reduces gas exchange and water loss when closed
what are guard cells?
cells in epidermis which can shape to form stoma for gas exchange
what is guard cell tugor?
guard cell changes shape to open/close stomata
when water flows in guard cell, cells becomes turgid and curve away from each other (inner wall is thicker and less elastic than outer wall)
how do guard cells work (in DARKNESS)?
K+ ions diffuse out of guard cells down conc gradient
malate is converted to starch
both of the above raise the water potential inside the cells
water flows out of cells down water potential gradient
tugor of guard cells changes shape
stoma closes
how do guard cells work (in LIGHT)?
K+ ions move into guard cells by active transport
starch is converted to malate
water flows into cells down water potential gradient
tugor increases
guard cell changes shape
stoma opens
where do guard cells get their energy from for its processes?
chloroplasts inside the cell that provide ATP for active transport
what are xerophytes?
plants adapted to survive in very dry conditions
how are xerophytes adapted to their conditions?
close stomata during day and open at night to reduce water loss
leaves are needles/spines to reduce SA for water loss
curled leaves, sunken stomata, hairy leaves all create damp areas to decrease water potential gradient
shallow roots covering large SA
thick cuticle
low stomata density
what does the xylem do?
transports water and mineral salts
what does the phloem do?
transports sugars and amino acids
what are the 2 main types of water conducting tissues?
tracheids
vessels
what are water conducting tissues?
continuous tubes
lack cytoplasm
column of water travels up in one direction
why are dead cells used in xylem?
lignin in their cellulose cell walls makes them impermeable
lignin is deposited as rings/spirals which provides mechanical strength (prevents collapse of xylem)
what are features of vessels?
main conducting tube
wide cells with reduced or absent end
what are features of tracheids?
slightly narrower than vessels
perforated end walls
water flow is more obstructed than in vessels
provide more support than vessel cells