Plant nutrition

Question 1

Structure of the leaf

Answer 1

Structure of the leaf

Question 2

What is the wax cuticle?

Answer 2

Protective layer on top of the leaf that prevents water from evaporating.

Question 3

Describe the upper epidermis in the structure of a leaf?

Answer 3

It’s thin and transparent to allow light to enter the palisade mesophyll layer underneath it.

Question 4

What is the palisade mesophyll?

Answer 4

A column shaped cell tightly packed with chloroplast to absorb more light, maximising photosynthesis.

Question 5

Describe the spongy mesophyll.

Answer 5

Contains internal air spaces that increase the surface area to volume ratio for diffusion of gases (mainly carbon dioxide).

Question 6

Describe the lower epidermis.

Answer 6

Contains guard cells and stomata.

Question 7

Describe the guard cell.

Answer 7

Absorbs and loses water to open and close the stomata to allow carbon dioxide to diffuse in, oxygen to diffuse out.

Question 8

Describe the stomata.

Answer 8

Where gas exchange takes place; opens doing the day, closes during the night. Evaporation of water also takes place from here. In most plants, found in much greater concentration on the underside of the leaf to reduce water loss.

Question 9

Describe the vascular bundle.

Answer 9

Contains the xylem and phloem to transport substances to and from the leaf.

Question 10

Describe the xylem vessel.

Answer 10

Transports water into the leaf for mesophyll cells to use in photosynthesis and for transpiration from stomata.

Question 11

Describe phloem

Answer 11

Transports sucrose and amino acids around the plant.

Question 12

What are the two mineral ions and their functions and deficiencies?

Answer 12

-Magnesium and nitrate

-Magnesium
Function: needed to make chlorophyll
Deficiency: Causes yellowing between the veins of leaves (chlorosis)

-Nitrate
Function: source of nitrogen needed to make amino acids (to build proteins)
Deficiency: Causes stunted growth and yellowing of leaves

Question 13

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 13

Process where some organisms are able to make complex carbohydrates using the energy from light

Question 14

What is the word and chemical equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 14

Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + Oxygen
(in the presence of sunlight)

     6Co2 + 6H2o → C6 H12 O6 +6O2     (in the presense of light and chlorophyll)