Plants Flashcards
Germination
Seed growing in the right conditions
Plants need
Vitamins + minerals to grow strong + healthy
Calcium
Needed to build cell walls
Magnesium
Chlorophyll formation
Nitrogen
Amino acids + protein formation
No nitrogen
Yellow/green leaves + weak stem
No potassium
Poor flower + fruit growth
No magnesium
Leaves turn yellow from bottom upwards
No phosphorus
Poor root growth
Chlorophyll
What makes leaves green and needed to absorb light for photosynthesis
Root hair cells
Have long thin hair coming from them giving them large surface area for absorbing water + nutrients from soil
Photosynthesis
How plants make own food. Light energy absorbed by chlorophyll converts carbon dioxide + water into glucose + oxygen.
Photosynthesis equation
Carbon dioxide + water —-> glucose + oxygen
Epidermis
Protects leaf. Stops bacteria + viruses entering the leaf
Palisade
Most photosynthesis occurs here. Cells packed with chloroplasts
Spongy mesophyll
Some photosynthesis occurs here. Less chloroplasts. Allows easy movement of gases
Vein
Carries water in the xylem + food in the phloem
Guard cells
Increase + decrease in size to control size of stomata
Stomata
Small pores that allow gases in + out + how water is lost. More stomata on the lower surface
Respiration equation
Glucose + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + energy + water
Night time
No light for photosynthesis only respiration
Midday
Hi sunlight intensity so high photosynthesis rate. Respiration constant all day and night
Dawn/Dusk
Low sunlight intensity so low photosynthesis rate. Respiration is the same
Hydrogen carbonate indicator
Normally red. Turns yellow in presence of high carbon dioxide + purple when the carbon dioxide levels are low.
