topic 9 Flashcards
what is transpiration an inevitable consequence of and why?
gas exchange in the leaf; if the stomata allow co2 to be absorbed, they must let water vapour escape
define transpiration
the loss of water vapour from the leaves and stems of plants
give the function of guard cells
- to minimise water loss
- guard cells control the aperture of the stoma
describe xylem vessels
- long continuous tubes
- walls thickened and impregnated with lignin (polymer)
- formed from files of non-living cells, arranged end-to-end
how does lignin help the xylem
lignin strengthens the xylem walls, so that they can withstand very low pressures without collapsing
the pressure inside xylem vessels is usually much ——- than atmospheric pressure but…
lower; the rigid structure prevents the vessels from collapsing
where would the xylem be in a vascular bundle
on the inside, next to the pith
why are the cohesive and adhesive properties of water important in transpiration?
- O atom in one molecule attracts H atom in other (due to polarity)= cohesion
- H2O attracted to hydrophilic part of cell walls of the xylem=adhesion
-> water can be pulled up from the xylem in a continuous stream
what maintains the transpiration stream?
tension in leaf cell walls
what generates tension forces in leaf cell walls?
the adhesive property of water and evaporation
describe how tension acts in transpiration
water evaporates:
- adhesion causes water to be drawn through the cell wall from the xylem
- this reduces xylem pressure, which generates a pulling force
adaptations of xerophytes (6)
- reduced/rolled leaves
- thicker wait cuticle
- stomata in pits with hairs (traps water vapour, making surroundings more humid)
- utilise CAM physiology
- lower growth to ground so less exposed to environmental conditions
- shallow roots
Really tired tudents may use loads of energy sources
CAM physiology
- stomata only open at night
- CO2 taken in at night is stored as magic acid, and this is done via the C4 pathway
what are halophytes
plants that live in saline soils
adaptations of halophytes (7)
- leaves reduced to small scaly structures/spines
- leaves shed when water scarce (stem can photosynthesise)
- water storage structures develop in leaves
- thick cuticle + multiple layer epidermis
- sunken stomata
- long roots
- structures for removing salt buildup
Little little water tickles spraying little sickles
how is water absorbed into the root cells?
by osmosis
why does water move into root cells via osmosis?
solute concentration inside root cells is greater than in the soil
describe how mineral ions move into the root cells
by active transport, using protein pumps in the plasma membranes of root cells.
symplastic pathway
through cytoplasm
apoplastic pathway
through cell wall
draw the xylem
pg 403
describe the structure of the phloem (4)
- porous sieve tube plate
- companion cells (folded); undertake metabolic and genetic functions for the sieve cell; many mitochondria
- sieve tube member cell; specialised cell (no organelles)
- plasmodesmata; gaps in cell wall for apoplast pathway
why are companion cells folded?
to give a large SA for the transport of sucrose
describe movement in the phloem
both ways, contrasts with the xylem
state the function of the phloem
to move around products of photosynthesis from sources to sinks
give 4 examples of sources
photosynthetic tissues;
- mature green leaves
- green stems
storage organs unloading their stores:
- storage tissues in germinating seeds
- tap roots of tubers at the start of the growth season
give 2 examples of sinks
roots growing/absorbing mineral ions
parts of the plant with developing food stores (developing fruits, seeds, leaves, tap roots/tubers)§
why is sucrose transported rather than glucose
- it is a non-reducing sugar so will have no immediate reactions with other molecules; glucose is quite reactive so would be taken up by cells on route
- osmotic effect
- sucrose is more of an efficient energy story (disaccharide more ee than monosaccharide)
describe translocation
- Sucrose can be loaded into the phloem at sources such as leaves via the symplastic or apoplastic pathway.
- In the apoplastic pathway, sucrose is co-transported into companion cells along with hydrogen ions. The concentration of sucrose increases in the companion cells so it diffuses into sieve tubes from the companion cells, through plasmodesmata.
- In the symplastic pathway, sucrose diffuses from cytoplasm to cytoplasm of neighbouring cells.
- The high solute concentration causes water to move, by osmosis, into the sieve tubes from xylem vessels.
- The flow of water into the sieve tubes increases the hydrostatic pressure which causes water to flow to areas of lower pressure, such as sinks. Sinks are areas of the plant which don’t synthesise organic molecules, such as the roots.
- At sinks, sucrose is unloaded from the sieve tubes, which decreases the solute concentration.
- This leads to water moving back into the xylem vessels by osmosis and as a result, the hydrostatic pressure in the sieve tubes decreases.
describe how sucrose is moved into/out of different cells
sucrose is moved from cells to companion cells and sieve tube elements by diffusion along a concentration gradient, but is moved into companion cells and sieve tube elements by an active process
how does phloem loading occur
via the apoplastic pathway
state the evidence that backs up the ideas of translocation
- companion cells have membrane folding for a large SA for transport of sucrose
- also have many mitochondria to release the ATP needed for active transport
- if these mitochondria are poisoned, translocation in the phloem stops
- the pH of the companion cells is higher than the surrounding cells, supporting the idea of a hydrogen pump
- the flow of sugars in the phloem is about 10000 times faster than it would be by diffusion alone, suggesting an active process is driving the mass flow
Why are sieve elements are unable to sustain independent metabolic activity without the support of a companion cell?
This is because the sieve element cells have no nuclei and fewer organelles (to maximise flow rate)