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THE INTERNAL ADAPTATION OF A LEAF

y The upper epidermis secretes the waxy cuticle. The cells in the upper epidermis contain no chloroplasts allowing light to reach the mesophyll layers. y The palisade mesophyll layer (palisade tissue)consists closely packed, long cylindrical palisade cells arranged at right angle to the epidermis to allow maximum light absorption. These cells contain a large number of chloroplast containing chlorophyll to absorb maximum sunlight. So these are the main photosynthesizing cells. y Spongy mesophyll layer (spongy tissue) contain loosely packed cells with fewer chloroplasts. There are many inter cellular air spaces in this layer which provide an easy passage for gases to diffuse through the stomata. y The plant has a well developedvascular system composed of xylem and phloem. Xylem carry water and mineral salts to the photosynthesising cells and phloem transport food made by photosynthesis away from the leaves in the form of sucrose. y Lower epidermis forms the lower protective boundary to the leaf. The cells do not contain chloroplastexcept for the guard cells. The stomata (singular: stoma) are openings surrounded by the guard cells. Stomata allow gaseous exchange to take place. The size of the stoma is controlled by the turgidity of the guard cells.

The waxy cuticle helps to protect the leaf. This layer is water proof, so it prevents excessive water loss. It is transparent to allow light to penetrate the inner photosynthetic layers.

Biology (Notes): Plant Nutrition / Grade: 8 : 2011

P OTOSY T ESIS The process by which green pl n s m ke l rge org nic molecules (glucose)
# $ # # % #

Word equation for photo P t i f t t l i t .O t li i CO2

nthesis t t i li t t t mi t t f t t l .D i l i . gen t ll t t i

rom sm ll inorg nic molecules,

# #

c rbon dioxide
#

nd w er using light
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energy which is bsorbed by chlorophyll. The byproduct o photosynthesis is oxygen. ow gr n pl n ob in r w m hrough h i.O l ti f i ll f t f t m i ffi i f t l t ll i t. it l i t t ll ll m m ri l for pho o omata t 0.04% f t it. T l t ll l fi t ll . It ll i t t l i i CO it t t m . It i t l l l iff t
2.
#

Light energ nh i Carbondio ide + water Chloroph ll 1.Carbodio id diffu Pl l t m fm i t t ll t ti t m l t i CO 2 f m t t Balan ed hemi al equation for photosynthesis T m i t t f i i film 6 CO2 +6H2O Chlorophyll t t T t t itt m . Light energy C6H12O6 + 6O2 fm l l i l i t ti l q ti ti t t glu ose + o

i l . CO 2 iff

2.Water i ab orbed b the root hair ell . W t t T t i t i t ll m l li t

 

i t iti ft i l l t. T .


f m t l f i it l f ll m l l CO 2 l t m ll t i i m i li l m f tt l.

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3. Chloroph ll ab orb light energ l it t t t t l it t i t t i ll it mi

  

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I VESTIG TIO S O PHOTOSY THESIS ll biologi al experiments should ha e a ontrol I tf t im t i t .I t t t i , t t ti l t i im i t S t m t l i f f m t t m fi t t t i l t i ti lt f t tl t f t im t l i it t

. . 2.W

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Factor Li t

Present /absent

m tim . T i i t im m im l t t . . 1. t t lf t l l li t ti t : li : li i t t . A t l f t t lt iff i if t f t

ontrol. T li . B t t t t . At t t t f t t t t, CO2, t

ontrol plant is given everything it l m t .B i . t i . t f m , t t t

needs, in luding the substan e being tested for .

CO2 C l W t Experimental setup. ll

Factor

Present /absent

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im im t l:

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CO2 C l ll

Black paper
Control setup

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Experimental Errors T A Experimental setup Light is missing ontrol set up all the factors provided. ft , lt im l t t l t l i t m l tim if t . i l .

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Test for star h

steps Step

Step

Step 3

Step

Step 5

Test or starch method Reason/result Heat some water to Use for step boiling point in a beaker and then turn out the Bunsen flame Use a forceps to dip a To kill the leaf in the hot water for cytoplasm, 3 seconds denatures the enzymes and makes the leaf more permeable to iodine solution. Push the leaf to the To dissolve out bottom of a test-tube (remove) and cover it with chlorophyll. The alcohol (ethanol). green colour of Place the test-tube in a the leaf will be hot water bath. lost and it becomes brittle (harder). This makes colour changes with iodine easier to see. Remove the leaf and To remove wash in hot water ethanol and soften it. Spread the leaf on a To test for starch. white tile and drop If starch is iodine solution on to it . present the brown colour of iodine changes to blue black. if absent will stain brown.

Diagram

De-starching a plant The plant is pla ed in a dar

P Q

upboard or bo for at least 24 - 48hours to

R

destar hed it.

What happens when a plant is de-starched?

The stored starch will be converted to sucrose in the chloroplast and transported by phloem to respiring tissues where they will be broken down to release energy.
S S

How do we now photos nthesis has ta en pla e?

T

The most straight forward way of showing whether or not phot synthesis has o occurred is to test for the presence of starch because the glucose produced during photosynthesis is converted to the less reactive starch and stored in plant parts.

Biology (Notes): Plant Nutrition / Grade: 8 : 2011

Experiments on photosynthesis Experiment 1: To find out whether carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis.

Experiment 2: to find out whether light is needed for photosynthesis.

y y y

T C l

y y y

T E l t T i i

t it i l t ti i i tt

tt . l

l it

t. mi t l . . lim /N O /

t tt l t. t f t l f it m Al mi i m f il t li t tti t t l f. t l ti li t f f .

t i

t ill

t CO 2.

tt

l *t i

ff i

. t t l t l m i t i l l

Result: t l .

A
y y
L T t l t i ff m A m i i f m l li t f Bf t i i l f . l . i t .

Control (B)

Explanations : t f il t t t t i , l

i A f li t l ll. S t l t ti

t t li t l /Al mi i m ti t t l f , t l t i B t li t l t , CO 2 i B t t i .

esult : * A t l f *B t l f t Explanations : t t t i , l Conclusions: l

l t t , li t

Experiment no: 3 to find out whether chlorophyll is required for photosynthesis.

i A t l ll. S t l i i i

t t CO2, t l i B t CO2 l i B t t i . t t i .

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t l ti

i it li tf

t. V i t i .

m l

m ll

T l i. . t

f it i

lf t i i l

t l ll.

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Result: only the green part of the leaf turned blue/black in colour, while the white area remains in reddish brown in colour. Explanation: the green area contains the green pigment, chlorophyll which traps light energy re uired for photosynthesis. In the white area there is no chlorophyll, so light was not absorbed, ie.no photosynthesis. So no starch will be build up in the white areas.

Fa tors affe ting the rate of photos nthesis.

Rate of photosynthesis (reaction) is how many molecules of product are formed in a given period of time. The process of photosynthesis depends upon: . the light intensity

Experiment no: 4to ind out whether oxygen is released during photosynthesis.
y y

. the carbon dioxide concentration and 3. a temperature suitable for enzyme activity.

Set up the apparatus as shown on right. issolve a little sodium hydrogen carbonate in the water(this is to provide O for the pond weed to photosynthesis) Place the apparat us in light.
y

If any of these factors is in short supply, the rate of photosynthesis will be less than its possible rate. The factor in the shortest supply would determine the rate of reaction. The factor (light, carbon dioxide, water and temperature) which in shortest supply, which limits the rate of photosynthesis even when all the other factors are optimum, is called the limiting fa tor. 1. The e ect o light intensity on the rate o photosynthesis In the dark plants cannot photosynthesis at all. In dim light it can photosynthesis slowly. As light intensity increases the rate of

Observation: bubbles of gases will be rising up and the level of water in the test tube falls. hen the gas is tested by inserting a burning splint into the collected gases, the burning splint re -glows. Explanation: the pond weed photosynt hesises using O , light, water and chlorophyll, releasing oxygen gas (oxygen is the only gas that can re-glow a burning splint).

photosynthesis will increase until the plant is photosynthesizing as fast as it can. At this point further increase in light intensity can no longer increase the rate of photosynthesis. This point is the light saturation point . After reaching this point however much the light intensity is increased, the rate of photosynthesis will not increase because now O is in short supply

and become the limiting factor. Before reaching the light saturati on point, light is the limiting factor.

Biology (Notes): Plant Nutrition / Grade: 8 : 2011

At i

i m

li

t i t t f lt

it i l t

f m

t l

l ll m l l .

2. The effect of CO 2 concentration on the rate of photosynthesis T t m ti CO 2 i t. i t i t l ti t t i i t f t it limiti t t l m t f t i t . B t t t limiti t CO t i f

2

i t CO 2 i t t ti t i i

i t i

CO 2 li

B
t t f t i

C
Li t i t t ti f

t t .

A
Li
l l

ti t
m

it photosynthesis changes with the

Gr ph 1.shows how r te o increase in light intensity.

A to B As li increase. So li B to C-At
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sit

ses t e
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Graph

.shows how rate o

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photosynthesis changes with the

t is t e limiting factor ere.

increase in CO concentration. is

igher light intensity there is no increase in the rate of

2

hotosynthesis. The rate is constant. So the graph levels off. Here CO

3. The effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis T ti t l i tim m m ll mi . T t l f i .W til it 40 C t m

0

the limiting factor as increase in CO 2 concentration can increase rate of photosynthesis .

ti t m t m

f t t t t t

i ff t t f

m t t

t ll t t i t t f

i i

optimum temperature . B f . t t i l

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Graph 3.shows how rate of photosynthesis changes with the increase in temperature.

Experiment 5 to show the effects of varying light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.

Set the light source at a particular distance and record the distance between the light source and the test tu be. Count the number of bubbles produced from the water weed each minute. Change the light intensity to a uniform distance and record the distance. After waiting 5 minutes the new rate was counted . This is to give time to settle to the new conditions. Count the number of bubbles released with the lamp at different distances away from the test tube and record it . Result: Di t t N m f l mi li t t tt f m t mi t 12 0 18 21 24 17 0 8 Description: as the distance between light and test tube increases the number of bubbles released decreases. Explanation: when the light source is kept further away, the water weed get less light. As a result of this the rate of photosynthesis decreases as light becomes a limiting factor. Therefore less oxygen is been released.

NOTE: the light intensity can also be increased by using higher power lamp or using more lamps.
Ways in which the experiment could be made more accurate and reliable. tt im t t t m lt. y y m i t i t tt m t l i t t i t t y t t ti t m f l m l m f . t y C m i it f l i f tim .

y y y

Setup the apparatus as shown in the diagram above. The heat screen prevents reaching of heat emitted by the light source to the pond weeds and prevents the denaturation of the enzymes. Add 0.25g of hydrogen carbonate into the water and dissolve it. This will provide carbon dioxide to the pond weed.

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NOTES:  The bubbles counting technique is not a very accurate method. This is because sometime we might miss the bubbles as they are released too fast and also the size of the bubbles may vary in size.  So it would be more accurate if we measure the volume of gas collected. Such an apparatus to measure the volume is shown below.

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t t m

t i t f t ti f t imil i /m li

 T i f iff t m m t  t t t.
Result: m A t l l

. t im i i i t i m . li t i t it

t .Y t . t t t m t

l t t m t

t i

i t

i t

i t f

t t

m t

f i .

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t i .A m t f t li t, f m it i .

it i t

i i l

m m ll t

il m

l t

Experiment 6 : to show the effects of varying carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis.

Experiment 7 : to show the effects of varying temperature on the rate of photosynthesis. t :t tt , l m , l t f t mf m t l t, A l , t t ,t m m t . Method: y Imm i l y L l y C i y t

t t t t t t m

t f t t

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ti ft ti

t t

tt t .

fill

it

it

m f mi t . tt t t 40 0C

t t t 10 0C i i t li t t it. l l t t t m t lt. tim i t t m t i m t

ft

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Result: When the temperature is warmer more bubbles were released over the same period of time. Explanation: Photosynthesis is an enzyme controlled reaction, where the enzymes work best at its optimum temperature. When th e , it provides the optimum temperature temperature was around for the enzymes, this making the reaction go faster, releasing more oxygen bubbles.

The graph below shows the production of oxygen and carbon dioxide by a green plant over a -hour period.

THE FATE OF GLUCOSE FORMED IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

Photosynthesis and respiration.

y y y

Respiration is the process where foods (glucose) are broken to release energy. O + H +energy 6H O6 + O Glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy

From the graph it can be seen that carbon dioxide is always produced by the plant. This is because plants always respire releasing carbon dioxide gas.

When do the process take place

Gas taken in Gas given out.

Photosynthesis Only takes place during day light (presence of light, water, O , and chlorophyll). arbon dioxide Oxygen

Respiration All the time

y

It can also be seen that the amount of carbon dioxide production remains almost stable throughout the -hour period, because

Oxygen arbon dioxide

plant always respire.

Biology (Notes): Plant Nutrition / Grade: 8 : 2011

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On the other hand, oxygen is not always produce d by the plant, because oxygen is produce only when photosyn thesis takes place, when it get all the conditions necessary for photosynthesis (light, O , chlorophyll, water).

As the plant photosynthesises, there is a point where the amount of oxygen produced by photosynthesis is same as the rate of carbon dioxide p roduction.

IMPORTNANCE OF MAGNESIUM AND NITRATE IONS ON PLANT GRO TH Magnesium: Magnesium is absorbed in the form of magnesium ions from soil water. Magnesium is an important constituent of chlorophyll in that it forms part of the chlorophyll molecule. A deficiency in magnesium in plants prevents the synthesis of chlorophy ll resulting in pale yellow leaves and a reduction in photosynthesis. This leads to poor growth of the plant. Nitrogen: Plants obtain nitrogen in the form of nitrate ions from the soil water. The nitrate ions contain nitrogen which combines with the gluc ose produced in photosynthesis to form proteins that is re uired for healthy growth and repair of worn out tissues of the plant. A lack of nitrogen in plants result in extremely stunted growth (short stem, fewer roots), small and few leaves.

in other words there is a point where the rate of photosynthesis is same as the rate of respiration.

y y

This point is referred to as the compensation point. This happens when the light intensity is low in early morning and late evening.

Importance o photosynthesis.

Almost all forms of life rely on the chemical energy found in carbohydrates, the product of photosynthesis.

Plants may convert this carbohydrate into protein or fat before it is passed on.

The oxygen produced by photosynthesis is essential for the respiration of most life forms. Photosynthesis also uses up the carbon dioxide released by respiration, carbohydrates. converting it into

Biology (Notes): Plant Nutrition / Grade: 8 : 2011

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