Plant Physiology Flashcards
Explain what a de starched leaf is
A leaf that has used up all its starch storage
Due to an inability to photosynthesize and produce glucose to make more starch
Which would have been caused by a factor such as a lack of carbon dioxide or light
Give a criticism of the statement
that chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis using the starch experiment on a variegated leaf
The white part of the leaf may have given a negative test but this doesn’t mean it didn’t photosynthesize, because it may have and the starch made may have been transported elsewhere in the plant
How is starch made in a plant
From glucose, which is a product of photosynthesis
And is when many glucose monomers join to make
Why is starch favoured in a plant over glucose
Insoluble (won’t draw water into the cell through osmosis)
Compact (can fit a lot into the cell)
Broken down easily
Give the formula of glucose and state what is made out of and where those elements come from
C6H12O6
Carbon and oxygen , comes from the carbon dioxide gas in the air
Hydrogen, comes from water
Why can you not test in a school laboratory of water is a a factor for photosynthesis
Because if you deprived a plant of water it would wilt and die.
How have scientists proved that plants need water for photosynthesis
By supplying the plant with labeled atoms such as a heavy isotopes of oxygen
And then observing if that isotope is present in the oxygen gas released from the plant
Give the balanced chemical equation of photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O ——) C6H12O6 + 6O2
Describe the the energy transfer in the process of photosynthesis
Light energy is converted into chemical energy with the chlorophyll
Explain how you could test that plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis
Place pondweed in a test tube of water under bright light
Count the number of bubbles produced in one minute to measure the rate of photosynthesis
Explain how gas exchange occurs in the daylight in a leaf
So high concentration of co2 outside the leaf diffuses into the leaf which has low concentration of CO2
High concentration of oxygen in the leaf diffuses out to lower concentration of oxygen outside
(Bc in daylight leaf favors photosynthesis)
Explain how gas exchange occurs in the night in a leaf
High concentration of CO2 inside diffuses out to lower conc of CO2 outside
High concentration of oxygen outside diffuses in to lower concentration of oxygen inside
What two forms is starch transported in around the leaf and why not starch
Usually in the form of sucrose or amino acids, because they are soluble so can be converted into other compounds eventually but starch is not
At what time of day is more CO2 given off and explain why
And at what time of day is more oxygen given off and explain why
More CO2 given off at night because respiration is higher than photosynthesis
More oxygen given off in the day because more photosynthesis than respiration
Explain how to measure the affect of light intensity on gas exchange of a leaf
-Measure out 10cm^3 of hydrogen carbonate indicator into four test tubes
-Place a leaf inside three of the test tubes:
one leaf covered in aluminum,
One leaf covered in translucent material
One leaf without anything
-and leave the fourth test tube with no leaf in it to act as a control
-place all in bright light for a few hours and place rubber bung on them
-results:
aluminum leaf colour of solution; yellow bc no photosynthesis
translucent leaf colour of solution: orange bc rate of photosynthesis equal to rate of respiration
Leaf without anything colour of solution: purple bc photosynthesis high
Three leaves are left in different test tubes in hydrogen carbonate solution.
One with aluminum on it
One with translucent material
One without any material.
Describe and explain the color changes
aluminum leaf colour of solution; yellow bc no photosynthesis (so co2 levels thus highest, as respiration is higher)
translucent leaf colour of solution: orange bc rate of photosynthesis equal to rate of respiration
Leaf without anything colour of solution: purple bc photosynthesis high (so oxygen given off is higher than co2)
What is a limiting factor
Component of the reaction in shorted supply, which thus prevents the rate of reaction from increasing
Give three examples of limiting factors on the rate of photosynthesis
1)carbon dioxide concentration
2)light intensity
3)temperature
Give six ways in which leaves are adapted for gas exchange:
-thin, for short diffusion distance
-flat: for large surface area to volume ratio for maximum diffusion
-contain many stomata to maintain a high concentration gradient
-contain many internal air spaces for gases to move easily and to create a larger surface are to volume ratio for diffusion
-contain moist air to allow gases to dissolve for them to move easily
- close space between cells and air spaces for efficient gas exchange for photosynthesis and respiration
Function of the waxy cuticle (2)
Prevents water loss by evaporation,
Acts as a barrier to prevent harmful disease carryingmicroorganisms from entering such as bacteria
Function of upper epidermis:
Thin and translucent to allow light to enter into the palisade mesophyl
Function of palisade mesophyl:
Contains many tightly compact column shaped cells
Contain many chloroplasts for maximum photosynthesis
Function of spongy mesophyl
Main surface of gas exchange
And contains many air spaces to increase surface area to volume ratio for maximum diffusion
Function of lower epidermis (3)
Contains guard cells and stomata
Where guard cells control when the stomata opens and closes
Stomata is where gas exchange takes place, and is also where evaporation of water occurs
Function of stomata(2):
Where gas exchange takes place, allowing carbon dioxide to ENTER and oxygen TO LEAVE
Also where evaporation of water occurs
(Always talk abt stomata in terms of photosynthesis, bc at night you’re taught that they close, even tho technically a bit is still open to allow respiration to occur)