Plant Biology: Algae and Non-Vascular Plants

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is the most abundant organic molecule on Earth?

Peptidoglycan

Starch

Chitin

Cellulose (correct)

What is the primary function of starch in plants?

Energy storage (correct)

Photosynthesis

Water transport

Structural support

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of non-vascular plants?

Simple diffusion of fluids

Lack of veins

Possess vascular tissue (correct)

Grow close to the ground

What is the dominant generation in vascular plants?

Sporophyte Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following plant groups produces seeds but not spores?

Conifers Signup and view all the answers

How do gymnosperms typically disperse their pollen?

By wind Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the cotyledons in a seed?

To store food for the developing seedling Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of dicot plants?

Taproot system Signup and view all the answers

Which type of vascular tissue transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant?

Xylem Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the vascular cambium in plants?

To produce new xylem and phloem Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the cork cambium in plants?

To protect the plant from injury Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of parenchyma cells?

Common site of photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

Which type of vascular tissue cell is responsible for transporting sugars produced during photosynthesis throughout the plant?

Sieve cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of companion cells in the phloem?

To keep sieve cells alive Signup and view all the answers

Transpiration is the process of water evaporating from the leaves of a plant.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the root cap?

To protect the apical meristem Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of lateral meristems in plants?

Vascular cambium and cork cambium Signup and view all the answers

Apical meristems are located at the tips of roots and shoots.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the ground tissue in plants?

Ground tissue provides structural support, stores food, and carries out photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of secondary growth in plants?

Elongation of stems and roots Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plant Characteristics

Living things are compared based on their similarities.
Everything originated from green algae.
Plants' closest relative is green algae.

Similarities Between Green Algae and Plants

Cell Walls:
- Fungi cell walls are made of chitin.
- Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan.
- Cellulose is the most abundant organic molecule on Earth.
- Chitin is the second most abundant organic molecule on Earth.
Energy Storage:
- Starch is a glucose-based energy storage compound, similar to cellulose.
Photosynthesis:
- Plants use chlorophyll a & b for photosynthesis.
Genetic Similarities:
- Genetic similarities exist between plants and algae.

Non-Vascular Plants

Lack veins (vascular tissue).
Cannot grow large.
Simple diffusion moves fluids.
Grow close to the ground.
Lack of stems and leaves.
Cannot survive in dry conditions.
Major generation is the gametophyte.
- Mosses:
  - Grow in wet areas.
  - Gametophyte is larger than the sporophyte.
  - Photosynthetic.
  - Sporophyte is smaller, non-photosynthetic.
- Liverworts:
  - Flat body plants.
  - Lie along the mud.
  - Gametophyte is larger than the sporophyte.
  - Photosynthetic.
  - Sporophyte is smaller, non-photosynthetic.

Vascular Plants

Have vascular tissue.
Major generation: Sporophyte (large).
Minor generation: Gametophyte (small).
Has stems and leaves.
Primitive Vascular Plants:
- Selaginella
- Ferns
- Horsetails
- Do not produce seeds, only spores.
Seed Plants (Gymnosperms):
- Conifers (pine trees):
  - Produce male pollen cones and female seed cones.
  - Wind disperses pollen.
  - Seeds develop when pollen lands on cones.
  - Seeds drop when mature.
- Cycads:
  - Plants are either male or female.
  - Females produce seeds.
  - Males produce pollen.
  - Sperm swim to ovules for fertilization and growth.
- Ginkgo:
  - Sperm cells swim for fertilization and growth.

Organs (Flowering Plants - Angiosperms)

Lack organ systems, but have organs.
Roots:
- Primary/Taproot (first root)
- Secondary/Branch root
- Cotyledon (seed leaf): food for seedling before photosynthesis
Stem:
- Support and transport.
- Made of nodes and internodes.
Leaves:
- All reproductive parts considered “leaves”
- Has vascular tissue.
- Blade (flat, photosynthetic).
- Petiole (attaches the blade to the stem).
- Axillary Buds: produce new stems and leaves.
Dicot Leaf characteristics: -2 seed leaves. -Leaf Veins: branched or net-like pattern. -Flower parts: multiples of four or five. -Vascular bundles arranged in a stem ring. -Taproot system (one main root with smaller roots).
Monocot Leaf characteristics: -1 seed leaf. -Leaf Veins: parallel pattern. -Flower parts: multiples of three. -Vascular bundles scattered throughout the stem. -Fibrous root system (many small roots spreading out).

Plant Tissues

Dermal Tissue:
- Outer layer of any plant organ.
- Epidermis: thin layer of live cells around the organ.
Vascular Tissue:
- Carries water and minerals (xylem) and sugars (phloem).
  - Dicots: Ring of vascular bundles.
  - Monocots: Scattered vascular bundles.
Xylem: (Inside) water and mineral transport (root to shoot).
Phloem: (Outside) sugar transport (source to sink).
Ground Tissue:
- Outermost layer of ground tissue: Cortex.
Parenchyma: Ground tissue cells.

Plant Cells (Vascular Tissue)

Xylem cells: Dead at maturity. Found in all vascular plants.
- Tracheids: Basic water-transport cells.
- Vessels: More efficient water-transport cells.
Phloem cells: Alive at maturity.
- Sieve cells: The "transport tubes" of phloem.
- Companion cells: Support sieve cells.

Plant Processes and Functions

Guard Cells: Regulate stomata opening/closing (water levels).
Root Hairs: Increase surface area for water absorption.
Cork: Provides structure, strength, and support (Programmed cell death).
Wood: Transfers xylem and phloem.
Wood Rays: Allow lateral movement of water/sap.
Meristems (Stem Cells): Cells with rapid growth potential.
- Apical Meristems: Located at the tips of roots and shoots, involved in primary growth.
- Lateral Meristems: Responsible for secondary growth.
Secondary Growth: Growth in girth of woody plants through the vascular cambium to form secondary xylem and phloem.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the fascinating characteristics of plants and their closest relatives, green algae. This quiz delves into similarities in cell walls, energy storage, and photosynthesis, as well as the defining features of non-vascular plants. Test your knowledge on how these organisms interrelate and function in their environments.