CH 6 : PLANT NUTRITION

Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose for energy. This process is vital for plant growth and the food chain.

Green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy, primarily in the red and blue wavelengths, for use in photosynthesis.

A complex carbohydrate produced by plants during photosynthesis. This sugar molecule is a major source of energy for plants and other organisms.

A process by which plants convert glucose into a complex carbohydrate for storage in their leaves, roots, and stems. It's like a reserve of energy for later use.

A strong and fibrous carbohydrate produced by plants, forming the rigid walls of plant cells, giving them structure and support. It's like plant's bones.

The process by which cells break down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP. This energy powers vital cell processes like growth and movement. It's like burning fuel for a car.

A sugar that is easily transported through the phloem, a plant's vascular tissue, to deliver energy to all parts of the plant. It's like a delivery truck.

A sugary liquid produced by plants to attract insects for pollination. This helps in plant reproduction. It's like a sweet bribe to help the plant reproduce.

A waxy layer covering the leaf surface.

Prevents water loss from the leaf.

The top layer of cells on a leaf.

A layer of tightly packed cells containing chloroplasts.

Organelles within plant cells that contain chlorophyll.

A gas essential for plant growth and respiration.

Layer of cells in a leaf with many chloroplasts for increased photosynthesis. It's like the solar panel of the leaf.

Loosely packed cells in a leaf with large air spaces for gas exchange, allowing for breathing. It's like the lungs of the leaf.

A plant's vascular tissue that transports water and minerals from roots to leaves. It's like the plumbing system of the plant.

A plant's vascular tissue that transports sugars and nutrients from leaves to other plant parts. It's like the delivery system of the plant.

Tiny openings on the underside of leaves that allow gas exchange (CO2 in, O2 out) and water transpiration. It's like the nose of the leaf.

The relationship between photosynthesis and respiration varies depending on the light intensity. In bright light, photosynthesis predominates. In dim light or darkness, respiration dominates. It's like a balancing act.

The point at which the rate of photosynthesis equals the rate of respiration in a plant, resulting in no net gas exchange.

Factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis, such as light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.

Nitrate ions (NO3-) are essential for plant growth as they are used to make amino acids, proteins, and chlorophyll.

Magnesium ions (Mg+2) are crucial for the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy in photosynthesis.

A process that makes nitrogen available to plants, often through the action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in root nodules of leguminous plants.

A process where plants absorb minerals from the soil via active transport, moving the dissolved ions against the concentration gradient.

Adding artificial fertilizers, using animal manure, and cultivating leguminous plants to promote nitrogen fixation are methods for increasing soil fertility.

Deficiencies in nitrate ions can result in decreased growth rate, smaller stems and roots, and reduced chlorophyll production, leading to stunted growth.

A lack of magnesium in the soil causes plants to develop yellow leaves, which leads to a decline in photosynthesis and ultimately, the plant's death.

Eutrophication occurs when excessive fertilizers enter waterways, stimulating excessive algae growth. This algae blocks sunlight, hindering photosynthesis and suffocating aquatic life.

The process of removing stored starch from a plant by keeping it in a dark environment for 48 hours.

Boiling water is used to denature enzymes and increase cell permeability during the destarching process.

Boiling alcohol is used to dissolve chlorophyll in destarching, allowing clear observation of starch presence.

Iodine solution is used to test for the presence of starch. A blue-black color indicates starch, while a yellow-brown color means starch is absent.

Hot water is used to soften the leaf after boiling alcohol, which can make it brittle.

Destarching is a common procedure used to understand how plants use and store food.

A process that occurs in plants where light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. It's how plants make their own food.

A green pigment found in plants that absorbs light energy for use in photosynthesis. It makes the leaves look green.

The experiment using a variegated leaf (with both green and non-green parts) proves that chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis. The green parts containing chlorophyll turn blue-black after starch test, indicating the presence of starch, while the non-green parts remain yellow-brown, showing no starch.

The experiment where a leaf is partially covered with aluminum foil demonstrates that light is essential for photosynthesis. The uncovered part exposed to light turns blue-black after starch test, while the covered part remains yellow-brown.

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants through tiny pores called stomata and is essential for photosynthesis. Without carbon dioxide, plants cannot produce glucose.

The experiment with plants placed in flasks containing either soda lime (absorbing carbon dioxide) or distilled water proves that carbon dioxide is crucial for photosynthesis. The leaf exposed to distilled water shows starch, indicating photosynthesis occurred, while the leaf in the soda lime flask does not show starch, highlighting the importance of carbon dioxide.

Photosynthesis is a complex process that involves several factors, including chlorophyll, light, and carbon dioxide. Each of these factors plays a vital role in the process of converting light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis is a crucial process for life on Earth. Plants produce glucose during photosynthesis, which is a primary energy source for all living organisms. Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis, which is essential for respiration in most organisms.