Plant structures and their functions

Question 1

Where does Photosynthesis occur?

Answer 1

In the cloroplast

Question 2

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Question 3

What are the reactants of photosynthesis?

Answer 3

Carbon dioxide and water are the reactants of photosynthesis.

Question 4

What is the pigment involved in photosynthesis?

Answer 4

Chlorophyll is the primary pigment involved in photosynthesis. It absorbs light energy, particularly in the blue and red wavelengths, and reflects green light, giving plants their green colour.

Question 5

Why is photosynthesis important?

Answer 5

Photosynthesis is vital for the production of oxygen, which is essential for aerobic respiration in plants and animals. Additionally, it provides glucose, the primary source of chemical energy for living organisms.

Question 6

Root Hair Cells

Answer 6

Specialised cells found in the root epidermis of plants, responsible for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil.

Question 7

Osmosis

Answer 7

The passive movement of water molecules from an area of higher water potential to an area of lower water potential across a partially permeable membrane.

Question 8

Active Transport

Answer 8

The process by which cells use energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration.

Question 9

Root Pressure

Answer 9

The force exerted by water moving into the roots of plants due to osmosis, helping to push water and dissolved minerals up the plant.

Question 10

Transpiration

Answer 10

The process by which water evaporates from the leaves of a plant, creating a negative pressure that pulls water and mineral ions up through the xylem vessels.

Question 11

Xylem Vessels

Answer 11

Specialised plant tissues responsible for transporting water and mineral ions from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Question 11

Phloem Vessels

Answer 11

Specialised plant tissues responsible for transporting sugars, amino acids, and other organic compounds produced by photosynthesis to various parts of the plant.

Question 12

Capillary Action

Answer 12

The movement of water within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.

Question 13

What is transpiration?

Answer 13

Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from the surfaces of plant leaves, mainly through small pores called stomata.

Question 14

What drives transpiration?

Answer 14

Transpiration is driven by factors such as sunlight, temperature, humidity, and wind. It is essentially a passive process driven by the evaporation of water from the leaves.

Question 15

What are the functions of transpiration?

Answer 15

Transpiration helps to cool the plant, transport minerals and nutrients, and maintain turgor pressure in cells. It also aids in the uptake of water and minerals from the soil.

Question 16

Define translocation in plants.

Answer 16

Translocation is the movement of sugars and other organic nutrients through a plant, from sources to sinks.

Question 17

What is the primary mechanism responsible for translocation in plants?

Answer 17

The primary mechanism responsible for translocation in plants is the pressure flow hypothesis, which states that sugars are actively transported into the phloem at source regions, creating a high pressure that drives the flow of sap to sink regions.

Question 18

Name the two main types of vascular tissue involved in translocation.

Answer 18

The two main types of vascular tissue involved in translocation are the xylem and the phloem. Xylem transports water and minerals from roots to shoots, while phloem transports sugars and other organic nutrients throughout the plant.

Question 19

How does transpiration contribute to the process of translocation?

Answer 19

Transpiration creates a negative pressure (tension) in the xylem, which helps to pull water and dissolved minerals upward from the roots to the leaves. This process, known as the cohesion-tension theory, is crucial for the movement of water and nutrients through the plant.