Plant Systems + Plant Structures

Question 1

What is the root system and what are its functions?

Answer 1

Typically below ground
Cover a large area

Functions:
1. Anchor
- How strong a plant can last in environmental conditions
- Wind, precipitation, etc.
2. Absorb water and nutrients
- Absorb through osmosis
- Allows for photosynthesis
3. Storage
- Plants store nutrients in the root to grow food
- Eg. root based vegetables such as potatoes, beets, carrots, etc.
- Usually storage of food

Question 2

What is the shoot system?

Answer 2

Typically above the ground
Consists of the leaf, flower, and stem

Question 3

What are the leaf’s functions

Answer 3

Leaf
- Main structure for photosynthesis
- Green leaves have chlorophyll (inside the chloroplast) where photosynthesis occurs
- Production of glucose
- Leaf allows for gas exchange
- Carbon dioxide + water + sunlight -> O2 + glucose

Question 4

What is the flower

Answer 4

Specialised structures developed for sexual reproduction
Plants can be male, female, or both
Some plants can undergo reproduction with themself
Pollen is the male sexual cell in the plant reproduction system
Female reproductive structures produce eggs
Eggs grow into seeds when in contact with pollen
They both reproduce fruits
A fruit is a fertilised egg and pollen grain
Birds, bees, animals and winds transport the pollen to other flowers
Make sure the parent trees are not competing for resources around them

Question 5

What is the stem?

Answer 5

Functions as structural support for the plant
Contains vascular tissues used for transportation
- Xylem
- Phloem

Question 6

What are the types of plant tissues

Answer 6

Dermal Tissue
- Protection
- Preventing water loss
Vascular tissue
- Transportation
Ground tissue
- Photosynthesis
- Storage

Question 7

What is the xylem?

Answer 7

Main function: transport of water and minerals
Only goes upwards -> goes from the roots to the shoots

Question 8

What is the phloem?

Answer 8

Transports nutrients (glucose)
Transports upwards and downwards

Question 9

What is the stoma/stomata

Answer 9

Openings/pores
Located on the underside of the leaves
Purpose is to allow gas exchange
CO2 enters the stoma, O2 exits

Question 10

What are guard cells

Answer 10

When gas exchange occurs, water is bound to leave the plant through the openings
Guard cells control the loss of water by the opening and closing of the stoma
Guard cells control the opening and closing

Lots of water in the plant -> compress/inflate/open the opening

Less water in the plant-> deflate/close the opening

Question 11

What is cellular respiration for plants

Answer 11

CO2 + H2O + energy -> glucose + O2