Translocation in Plants PDF

## Use of Glucose in Plants - Growth and development - Storage for future use - Respiration to release energy - Production of fruit and seeds - General maintenance ## Translocation Translocation in plants refers to the movement of soluble products of photosynthesis (glucose) from the leaves to th...

## Use of Glucose in Plants - Growth and development - Storage for future use - Respiration to release energy - Production of fruit and seeds - General maintenance ## Translocation Translocation in plants refers to the movement of soluble products of photosynthesis (glucose) from the leaves to the other parts of the plants. - Food molecules enter the phloem from areas of production to areas of utilization or storage. Phloem tissues have specialized cells such as sieve tubes that transport organic compounds (glucose, proteins, lipids) within plants. - This transport mechanism is vital for distributing nutrients to various parts of the plant. - Translocation is achieved by utilizing energy that provides the osmotic pressure required for the upward and downward movement of food. ## Food Storage Different parts of plants are modified to form food storage organs, where this happens the part of the plant usually becomes large enough to contain the food. | Plant | Storage organ | |---|---| | Carrot, beetroot and radish | Taproot | | Spinach, cabbage | Leaves | | Irish potatoes | Stem tuber | | Sweet potatoes | Root tuber | | Onion, garlic | Fleshy leaves (bulb)| | Tomato | Fruit | | Groundnuts, beans | Seed | | Rice, millet | Grains (Seeds) | | Ginger | Rhizome | | Sugar cane | Stem | ## Respiration This is the process which all living things break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce energy. Since it occurs in the presence of oxygen, it is called an oxidation. **Word equation:** Oxygen + Carbohydrates → Water + Carbon dioxide + energy **Chemical Equation:** 6O₂ + C₆H₁₂O₆ → 6H₂O + 6CO₂ + Energy - Respiration occurs inside the mitochondria of the plant cells. - Oxygen enters the plant by diffusion or was left over from photosynthesis. It travels throughout the plant dissolved in water. - Glucose is produced by photosynthesis and travels to all cells through the phloem. - Oxygen is used to break down glucose into energy and release carbon dioxide and water. The respiration process provides the energy plants need for germination, growth, reproduction and other cellular activities.