Plant Nutrition and Mineral Requirements

Tiny openings on leaves that allow for gas exchange.

Specialized cells that surround stomata and control their opening and closing.

The process where gases move into and out of the plant.

The middle layer of a leaf where photosynthesis occurs.

A bundle of vascular tissue in a leaf, carrying water and nutrients.

The tissue that carries water upwards.

The tissue that carries sugars downwards.

A thin, waxy layer on woody stems for protection.

Tiny openings on the surface of stems and roots, allowing gas exchange, especially when the stomata are closed.

The process by which plants take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide during the night or when light intensity is low.

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

The process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

The amount of light that maximizes the rate of photosynthesis before other factors like carbon dioxide concentration or temperature become limiting

Plants are able to produce their own food, which consists of carbohydrates. They achieve this through a process called photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide (from the air), water (from the soil), and light energy to create carbohydrates. Oxygen is released as a byproduct.

Plants need a variety of minerals, absorbed in the form of ions, for healthy growth and development.

Major elements are those needed in large quantities for plant growth. Trace elements are required in very small amounts.

Nitrogen, absorbed as nitrate or ammonium ions, is a key component of proteins. Proteins are essential for plant growth and development.

Phosphorus, absorbed as phosphate ions, is crucial for the synthesis of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), contain genetic information and are vital for plant growth.

Potassium, absorbed as potassium ions, plays a vital role in transporting substances and facilitating photosynthesis. It also participates in enzymatic reactions.

Deficiency in potassium leads to stunted growth and wilting leaves with dark edges. This is because potassium is essential for plant functions.

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for plant growth. It is absorbed by plants in the form of magnesium ions. Magnesium is required in the synthesis of chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy during photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll molecules, meaning without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot be made.

A lack of magnesium in plants can lead to poor growth and yellowing of leaves, a condition called chlorosis. This is because without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot be synthesized, affecting photosynthesis.

The epidermis is a layer of cells that covers both the upper and lower surfaces of a leaf. It protects the inner layers of cells and prevents water loss.

The cuticle is a thin, waxy layer found on the epidermis of leaves. It helps reduce water loss by transpiration, the process of water evaporating from the leaf.

The palisade mesophyll is a layer of tightly packed, cylindrical cells found below the upper epidermis of a leaf. These cells have many chloroplasts and are the primary site of photosynthesis.

The spongy mesophyll is a layer of loosely packed, irregular-shaped cells found below the palisade mesophyll. These cells have fewer chloroplasts than palisade cells and have air spaces between them. They help in gas exchange.

Stomata are tiny pores found on the epidermis of leaves. They allow gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen to enter and exit the leaf, facilitating photosynthesis and respiration.