How does trees on the fertile plain obtain their nutrients ?

Or the cacti in the desserts ?

Or the algae in the sea ?

Review Question
Which mode of nutrition do the green plants carry out?
A. Autotrophic nutrition

B.

Heterotrophic nutrition

Sorry! Youre wrong!

Heterotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms have to depend on other organisms or dead organic matters as their food sources. Green plants, however, can make organic food by themselves using simple inorganic substances.

Very Good!
Autotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms can make organic food by themselves using simple inorganic substances. The process by which the green plants obtain nutrients is called :

Photosynthesis

Macronutrients & Micronutrients

Macronutrients are essential nutrients carbohydrates, proteins, and fatsthat the body needs for energy and proper growth, metabolism, and function. They are called macro because we need these nutrients in large quantities compared to the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), which are needed in smaller quantities.

 Macronutrients: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Pottasium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur Micronutrients: Boron, Molybdenum, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Ferum PLEASE REFER TO YOUR REFERENCE BOOK FOR THE FUNCTIONS AND EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY FOR THESE ELEMENTS!!

Nature of photosynthesis
Takes place in Chloroplast Necessary factors :
Carbon dioxide Water

Sunlight
Chlorophyll

Route of Carbon Dioxide for Photosynthesis

xylem

cuticle

Palisade mesophyll

Chloroplast

Spongy Mesophyll Cell

Air Space

Stoma
phloem Guard cell

CO2

Chloroplast
Palisade Mesophyll Cell Air Space

Stoma

CO2

Light reaction

Light energy is trapped by chlorophyll in chloroplast

Light energy absorbed by chlorophyll splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen Oxygen is released as a gas through stoma to outside Hydrogen is fed into dark reaction

% of light absorbed by chlorophyll

blue green red

Oxygen is produce as the by-product of photosynthesis.

Dark reaction
No light is required; can take place either in light or darkness

Hydrogen produced in light reaction combines with CO2 to form carbohydrates

Water is formed as a by-product

Summary of Photosynthesis
6 CO2 + 6 H20
Light Water
H

C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Carbon Dioxide Dark Reaction Glucose (C6H12O6)

Light Reaction
Oxygen

Fate of carbohydrate
products in the plant

carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

release energy by respiration

carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

convert into starch for storage because glucose is not a very good storage molecule

carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

change into sucrose and is transported to other parts through phloem

carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

fatty acids

glycerol

combine to form fats and oils to form cell membranes and as a food store

carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

mineral salts from soil (e.g. NO3-, SO42-)

amino acids

join together to become protein molecules

Experiments on photosynthesis

 Reason:

Destarching

To avoid any existing starch in the leaves interfering with the result, and to show that any starch found after the experiment is produced during the period of investigation Method:
By placing the plant in dark for at least 48 hours

To test a leaf for the presence of Starch

boiling water

boiling alcohol

hot water iodine

turn off Bunsen burner

turn off Bunsen burner

white tile

Why is the leaf first boiled in water ? Ans: Because the process can soften the leaf, break down the cuticle and kill the leaf.

boiling water

boiling alcohol

hot water iodine

turn off Bunsen burner

turn off Bunsen burner

white tile

Why is the leaf then boiled in alcohol ? Ans: To decolourize the leaf (to remove chlorophyll).

boiling water

boiling alcohol

hot water iodine

turn off Bunsen burner

turn off Bunsen burner

white tile

Why is it important to turn off the Bunsen burner when you are heating the alcohol ? Ans: Because alcohol catches fire easily.

boiling water

boiling alcohol

hot water iodine

turn off Bunsen burner

turn off Bunsen burner

white tile

Why is the leaf put in hot water after being boiled in alcohol ? Ans: Since the leaf becomes brittle after boiling in alcohol, so dipping it into hot water enables it to be softened.

boiling water

boiling alcohol

hot water iodine

turn off Bunsen burner

turn off Bunsen burner

white tile

What colour change can be observed if starch is present ?

Ans: The leaf becomes blue-black when iodine solution is added to it.

To show that Chlorophyll is necessary for Photosynthesis

purple part

green part

Which part of the leaf turns blue-black when treated with iodine solution ? Ans: Only the green part.

purple part

green part

Is chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis ?

Ans: Yes.

purple part

green part

What is the control in this experiment ?

Ans: The green part of the leaf acts as the control.

To show that Carbon Dioxide is necessary for Photosynthesis

sunlight A B

water

potassium hydroxide solution

Why is potassium hydroxide solution put in one of the flasks ? Ans: To absorb all the carbon dioxide in flask B.

sunlight A B

water

potassium hydroxide solution

What happens to each leaf after testing the presence of starch at the end of the experiment ? Ans: The leaf in flask A changes to blue-black while the leaf in flask B stains brown.

sunlight A B

water

potassium hydroxide solution

What do your results suggest about the relationship between carbon dioxide and photosynthesis ? Ans: Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis.

Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

 Light intensity Rate of Photosynthesis

 Carbon dioxide concentration Rate of Photosynthesis

 Temperature Rate of Photosynthesis Temperature > 40 Rate & Stop soon

If no water, stomata close no gaseous exchange photosynthesis decreases

Why is Photosynthesis important ?

Green plants: the only organisms capable of trapping light to manufacture food from simple inorganic substances

Why is Photosynthesis important ?

Green plants(producers) starts the food chain & provide food for other organisms

Why is Photosynthesis important ?

Atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed & oxygen is released into the atmosphere which maintains the composition of the atmosphere constant

Parts of plant where photosynthesis takes place

Mainly in the leaf because
it contains a lot of chloroplasts it is well adapted for performing photosynthesis

Internal Structure of Leaf

cuticle upper epidermis palisade mesophyll chloroplasts

spongy mesophyll
intercellular space (air space) guard cell lower epidermis stoma

cuticle

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

upper epidermis
protect internal tissues from mechanical damage and bacterial & fungal invasion

Cuticle
a waxy layer prevent water loss from the leaf surface protect the leaf

mesophyll

palisade mesophyll (layer) columnar cells contains many closely packed chloroplasts together absorb light more efficiently

irregular cells loosely packed together to leave numerous large air some (fewer spaces than palisade allow rapid mesophyll) diffusion of gases chloroplasts for throughout the leaf photosynthesis

spongy mesophyll (layer)

same as upper epidermis except the cuticle is thinner lower epidermis

opening which allows gases to pass through it to go into or out of the leaf stoma (stomata)

guard cells control the size of stoma

Stoma
Guard cells

thinner outer wall thicker inner wall stoma

vascular bundle (vein)

Internal Structure of Leaf

xylem phloem

xylem
to transport water and mineral salts towards the leaf
for mechanical support

phloem
to transport organic substances (food/sugar/ glucose/ sucrose) away from the leaf

Adaptation of leaf to photosynthesis

The leaf is thin

decrease diffusion distance for gases & light

The leaf is broad & flattened

increase surface area to absorb more sunlight

Cuticle exists in upper epidermis and is transparent Allows most light to pass into photosynthetic mesophyll tissues

Palisade mesophyll cells are closely packed and contain many chloroplasts To carry out photosynthesis more efficiently

Spongy mesophyll cells are loosely packed with numerous large air spaces To allow rapid diffusion of gases throughout the leaf

Numerous stomata on lower epidermis To allow rapid gaseous exchange with the atmosphere

Extensive vein system Allow sufficient water to reach the cells in the leaf To carry food away to other parts of the plant

Mineral requirements in plants

In order to synthesize amino acids, nitrate ions which must be taken into the plant from the soil through the root Other minerals are also necessary to maintain the life of the plant (N, Mg, P, K, S, etc)

The importance of nitrogen

For synthesis of proteins, chlorophyll, etc Taken in form of nitrate ions Deficiency symptoms: Little growth ( - no protein made) Yellowing of leaves ( - no chlorophyll made)

The importance of magnesium

Essential component of chlorophyll Deficiency symptoms: Yellowing of leaves (no chlorophyll made) Poor growth (no food manufactured because of lack of chlorophyll)

Use of fertilizers in agriculture

Continuous harvesting crops removes valuable mineral salts from soil Fertilizers are added to replace such loss Two kinds of fertilizers: Natural fertilizers Chemical fertilizers

Natural fertilizers
From manure Organic compounds in it are decomposed by the bacteria in soil to form mineral salts

Chemical fertilizers
Mainly nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds manufactured artificially

Comparison between natural and chemical fertilizers

Natural fertilizers
Contain humus which can improve soil texture Less soluble in water so less likely to be washed away

Chemical fertilizers
No humus so cannot improve soil texture Very soluble in water so more likely to be washed away

Comparison between natural and chemical fertilizers

Natural fertilizers
Much cheaper
Less soluble in water so more difficult to be absorbed

Chemical fertilizers
Very expensive
Very soluble in water so easier to be absorbed

Time is needed for the decomposition to complete before nutrients are available to plants

More readily to be used by the plants

~ END ~