Botany and Plant Functions Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What role do plants play in bio-remediation?

  • They consume minerals from the soil.
  • They generate toxic byproducts.
  • They absorb and mitigate pollutants. (correct)
  • They increase water contamination.

Which benefit attributed to plants can help improve human mental health?

  • Promotion of social isolation.
  • Contribution to ecosystem degradation.
  • Reduction of carbon sinks.
  • Enhancement of food quality. (correct)

How do plants contribute to energy resources?

  • By generating electricity via photosynthesis.
  • Through the production of oil, sugars, and wood. (correct)
  • By providing synthetic fuels.
  • By storing carbon in concrete.

What is one example of how vegetation benefits public health?

<p>By improving air quality through pollution absorption. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect highlights the relevance of studying plants in addressing societal challenges?

<p>Plants support social policy and human health improvements. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for studying plant structure?

<p>To understand function (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures is specifically associated with lipid metabolism?

<p>Glyoxisome (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does NOT describe the relationship between structure and function in plants?

<p>Thick structures prevent soil infiltration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is recognized as the father of botany for developing a taxonomy of plants?

<p>Theophrastus (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do thin elongate structures play in plants?

<p>They help optimize light capture. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of tissue is located just behind the epidermis in a stem?

<p>Vascular tissue (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sclerenchyma is found in mature tissue?

<p>Dead and rigid (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which root system consists of a main taproot with smaller lateral roots?

<p>Taproot system (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of adventitious roots in mangroves?

<p>Providing support and preventing erosion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does photosynthesis occur in plants besides the leaves?

<p>Roots and stems (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the pith within the stem structure?

<p>Storage of nutrients (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of root is specifically designed for climbing support?

<p>Adventitious aerial roots (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic differentiates collenchyma from sclerenchyma?

<p>Collenchyma provides flexibility in young tissue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cork cambium in secondary growth?

<p>It generates cork cells covered by waxy suberin. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the bark of a tree?

<p>Phloem and periderm. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of removing bark from a woody plant?

<p>The plant faces certain death due to lack of phloem transport. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the epidermis during secondary growth?

<p>It ruptures due to increased internal pressure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'girdling' in terms of plant physiology?

<p>Killing woody plants by removing the bark. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key challenges are associated with studying plants?

<p>Climate change (A), Pollution control (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which botanical garden is recognized as the world's oldest academic garden?

<p>Orto Botanico di Padova (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What vitamin is highlighted for its significance in plant studies related to medicine?

<p>Vitamin C (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was De Materia Medica primarily about?

<p>Pharmacological uses of plants (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When did Dioscorides write his influential work on plants?

<p>50-70 AD (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major reason to study plants according to the content?

<p>To enhance food supply (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a challenge related to plants?

<p>Overpopulation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What health issue is associated with Vitamin C deficiency?

<p>Scurvy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of Culpeper's work in the 17th century?

<p>Detailed pharmacological uses of plants (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which four crops are responsible for nearly two-thirds of global agricultural calories?

<p>Maize, rice, wheat, and soybean (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the rate at which crop yields for maize is increasing per year?

<p>1.6% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

By what percentage must global food production increase to meet future demands by 2050?

<p>100% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does biomimicry refer to in the context of studying plants?

<p>Inspiration from nature for innovative solutions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one way that climate change is projected to affect crop yields?

<p>Lead to a decrease in crop yields (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason for studying plants?

<p>Robotic manufacturing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which material is identified as a component of bottles related to plant study?

<p>30% plant polymers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Why study plants?

The study of plants is essential for addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, resource sustainability, food security, biodiversity conservation, and pollution mitigation.

Phytochemicals and medicine

Plants produce a vast array of chemicals, some of which have medicinal properties. One example is vitamin C, also known as ascorbate.

Scurvy

Scurvy is a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. It affects the body's ability to produce collagen, leading to weakness, fatigue, and bleeding gums.

Orto Botanico di Padova

The Orto Botanico di Padova is a botanical garden in Padua, Italy. Established in 1545, it is the world's oldest academic botanical garden.

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Dioscorides

Dioscorides was a Greek physician and pharmacologist in the Roman army. His work "De Materia Medica" documented the medicinal uses of plants and was a key reference text for centuries.

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De Materia Medica

Dioscorides' "De Materia Medica" provided a detailed account of the pharmacological uses of plants, making it a crucial reference work until the late 17th century.

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Plants and global challenges

Plants play a fundamental role in addressing global challenges like climate change, resource sustainability, and food security. Studying them helps us understand their contributions and develop solutions.

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Why are plants relevant?

The study of plants is multifaceted, encompassing fields such as botany, agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. Their importance is evident in their role in providing food, medicine, oxygen, and ecological balance.

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Phytochemicals

The study of how plants can be used to make new medicines. It's about exploring the chemicals found in plants that may have healing properties.

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Food Source

Plants are essential for food. They provide both the quantity (how much) and quality (how nutritious) of the food we eat.

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Material Source

Plants are a source of materials like fibers (for clothing) and polymers (for building materials).

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Bio-remediation

Plants are key to bio-remediation, the process of cleaning up polluted environments. They can absorb harmful substances like pollutants.

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Carbon Sink

Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

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Phytochemistry

The study of plants for their medicinal properties, specifically focusing on compounds known as phytochemicals.

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Nicholas Culpeper

Noted English herbalist who wrote 'The Complete Herbal,' detailing medicinal uses of plants in the 17th century.

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Four Global Crops

A term referring to the global agricultural commodities that contribute the most to human calorie intake, such as maize, rice, wheat, and soybeans.

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Materials from Plants

The ability of plants to provide us with renewable resources like fibers, polymers, and bio-based materials.

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Biomimicry

The practice of learning from and imitating nature's designs and solutions to create innovative technologies and sustainable practices.

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Plant-based Energy

The concept of using plant-based resources for energy production, such as extracting oil from plants or utilizing wood for fuel.

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Food from Plants

The study of plants that are used for food, considering both the quantity and quality of these resources.

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Population Growth and Food Demand

The increasing demand for food production to meet the needs of a growing population.

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Structure-Function Relationship in Plants

The form or arrangement of a plant's parts has a direct relationship with its function, meaning how it operates.

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Examples of Structure-Function

The nucleus in a cell is designed to protect the DNA, the chloroplast is built to perform photosynthesis, and peroxisomes are specialized for oxidative metabolism.

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Why a Leaf Has a Large Surface Area

The larger the surface area, the more light a leaf can capture for photosynthesis.

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Why a Root Is Thin and Elongated

Thin, elongated, and flexible root structures allow them to easily navigate between soil particles, leading to improved water and nutrient absorption.

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Why is Studying Plant Structure Important?

Understanding the structure of a plant is crucial for understanding its function, or how it operates.

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Bark

The outermost layer of a woody plant, consisting of phloem, periderm, and all tissues external to the vascular cambium.

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Periderm

The protective outer layer of a woody plant, composed of the cork cambium and cork cells, formed through secondary growth.

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Cork Cambium

A lateral meristem that develops in woody plants, producing cork cells to protect the stem from external damage and water loss.

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Secondary growth

A process that results in the thickening of stems and roots in woody plants, adding new layers of vascular tissues and cork.

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Girdling (or bark ringing)

The process of removing a ring of bark around a tree trunk, which interrupts phloem transport and ultimately kills the tree.

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Epidermis (stem)

The outermost layer of a stem, providing protection.

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Ground tissue (stem)

The tissue inside the epidermis, containing 'pith' in the center and 'cortex' around vascular bundles.

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Vascular tissue (stem)

The tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant. Located just beneath the epidermis.

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Collenchyma (stem)

A type of ground tissue that provides support in young stems. It's living and flexible.

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Sclerenchyma (stem)

A strong, rigid type of ground tissue found in mature stems. It's dead and provides structural support.

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Taproot

The main root that grows downwards, providing strong anchorage and water/nutrient absorption.

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Fibrous root system

Roots that spread out horizontally near the soil surface, providing stability and water absorption.

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Adventitious roots

Roots that grow from the stem, helping with support and climbing. Example: Ivy.

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Study Notes

Course Information

  • Course title: Physiology of Plants and Animals BL1004
  • Lecturer: Prof. Marcel Jansen
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Staff:
    • Prof Marcel Jansen (Module coordinator, Plant physiology lecturer - 8 lectures)
    • Prof Rob McAllen, Dr Fidelma Butler, Prof Sarah Culloty & Dr Neil Coughlan (Animal physiology lecturers - 9 lectures)
    • Dr Tom Quirke (Coordinator 2 practicals, [email protected])
  • Lectures: Available on Canvas
  • Group 1: Biological and Chemical Sciences
  • Group 2: Food Science and Technology, Nutritional Sciences, Geography and Archaeology, Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
  • Timetables may differ between groups
  • Practical details available from Dr Tom Quirke
  • Required textbook: Campbell & Reece (editions 9, 10, 11, 12...)
  • PPT's on Canvas need to be annotated
  • Practical Plant Physiology = 15%
  • Practical Animal Physiology = 15%
  • Winter MCQ exam = 70%
  • Absence form needs to be completed for missed practicals. Contact [email protected] for queries

Plant Physiology - Key Concepts

  • Plant blindness exists - Luke Skywalker... a look out for plants!
  • Plant biomass (450 Gt Carbon) dominates Earth's total biomass (≈550 Gt), surpassing other organisms.
  • Why study plants?
    • Climate change
    • Sustainability and resources
    • Food supply
    • Biodiversity
    • Pollution
  • Importance of plants in medicine using phytochemicals (e.g., ascorbic acid, scurvy etc)
  • Ancient historical use of plants in medicine from Dioscorides to Culpeper.
  • Modern use of plants for more than just food and medicine.
    • Materials: fibers/polymers (bottles: 30%, clothing)
    • Energy: oil, sugars, wood (wood for building)

Plants - Differences from Animals

  • Plants are immobile (sessile)
  • Plants have much more plasticity than animals (adjusting structure to local environment)
  • Plants are totipotent (unlike animal cells), meaning all cells can develop into a new organism

Other Topics

Plant Structure

  • Molecular structure of DNA, proteins, and lipids.
  • Chemical composition.
  • Folding/conformation.
  • Cellular structure (cytology)
  • Tissue structure (histology)
  • Organization of tissues (forming) plant organs (e.g., root, stem, leaf).
  • Whole plant structure (anatomy) and outward appearance (morphology).
    • Vegetation structure (ecology). -Examples link structure - function.

Plant Tissues

  • Dermal tissue (single layer epidermis)
  • Vascular tissue (xylem, phloem)
  • Ground tissue (Parenchyma, including meristems)
  • Plant cells are totipotent

Plant Organs (three)

  • Roots.
  • Stems.
  • Leaves
  • Flowers (modifications of leaves).

Plant Growth

  • Primary growth (mitosis, enlargement, differentiation)
  • Lateral roots and shoots (pre-formed axillary buds)
  • Secondary growth (vascular cambium, cork cambium).
  • Consequences of secondary growth (bark formation, issues in girdling)
  • Plant lifespan (Annual, biennial, perennial)
  • Examples of long-lived plants (e.g., bristlecone pine trees, Yew trees).

Plant Interactions/ Ecosystems

  • Bio-remediation
  • Nitrogen fixating nodules of roots.
  • Mycorrhiza (fungi-plant networks).

Important Structures

  • Root (hairst, cap, lateral roots, adventitious roots).
  • Stem (apex, nodes, internodes, axillary buds).
  • Leaf (margins, structure, modified leaves).

Additional Useful Information

  • Number of plant species (mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms)
  • Plant structures to support these functions.
  • Relationship between structure and function at different levels of organization.
  • Examples of plant structural plasticity.

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