Plant Nutrition

Question 1

• plants are very well adapted to transport nutrients. The vascular tissue transports nutrients around the plant
• the xylem and phloem are the vascular tissue inside plants. They are found in vascular bundles

Answer 1

ROOTS:
•xylem is central and star shaped
•phloem between groups of xylem

STEMS:
•vascular bundles are in a ring around the edge. Xylem towards centre, phloem towards outside

LEAVES:
•the vascular tissue is in the midrib and a networks of veins

Question 2

MOVEMENT OF WATER:
•2 main pathways that plants use to transport nutrients

1) apoplast pathway- water moves in the cell walls(fastest route)
2) symplast pathway- water moves through the cytoplasm and plasmodesmata

Answer 2

NUTRIENTS:
•2 types- micro and macro nutrients

macronutrients- needed for electron transport chain and enzyme co-factors

micronutrients- used in small quantities

Question 3

NITROGEN:
•need N to synthesis amino acids
•without N= chlorosis, plant turns yellow

PHOSPHOROUS:
•need P to synthesise DNA and ATP
•without P= plants turn purple

Answer 3

POTASSIUM:
•plants need K to regulate their water relations
•what animals use Na for, plants use K for

CALCIUM:
•plants use Ca2+ to stabilise cellulose cell walls
•without Ca2+= leaves curl and droop