Plants and nutrition Flashcards
Name the macronutrients
Sulphur, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, potassium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen
Name the micronutrients
Molybdenum, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, boron, chlorine
Why do plants need nitrogen and what happens if it is deficient?
To be able to synthesise amino acids otherwise they get chlorosis which turns the plant yellow
Why do plants need phosphorus and what happens if it is deficient?
To be able to synthesise DNA and ATP. When deficient the plant turns purple.
Why do plants need potassium?
To be able to regulate their water relations and as a counter ion for organic anions
Why do plants need calcium and what happens if it is deficient?
To stabilise cellulose cell walls which support the plant. When deficient the leaves curl up and droop
What are micro nutrients used for?
Electron transport chain and enzyme co-factors
What are macro nutrients used for?
Structural molecules
What is in a plant cell?
Chloroplast, mitochondria, cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear envelope, cell wall, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, plasmodesmata, golgi apparatus, peroxisome, plasma membrane
What does the plasmodesmata do?
Links the plant cells together and give a ‘supracellular’ structure
How large is the gap between cell walls?
5nm which is much bigger than nutrient ions
What does the plasmamembrane do?
Ions must cross it to get to the vascular tissue and be transported to the rest of the plant
What is the benefit of plants that hyperaccumulate metals?
Potential to decontaminate soils and could be used for bio-mining
