LS.

1 NUTRITION IN PLANTS
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:
Q1. What is nutrition?
A1. The process of taking in food by an organism and using it for growth and daily
activities is called nutrition.
Q2. Explain the types of nutrition.
A2. Based on the methods of obtaining food, organisms are divided into two groups
autotrophs and heterotrophs, and the mode of nutrition shown by them are called
autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition respectively.
Q3. Differentiate Autotrophs and Heterotrophs.
A3.
Autotrophs
Organisms which can make food
themselves from simple substances like
carbon dioxide and water
Eg. Green plants

Heterotrophs
Organisms that cannot make food
themselves and Depend on plants or
other animals for food are called
heterotrophs.
Eg Non-green plants, animals

Q4. What is photosynthesis?

A4. The process by which the plants make food from simple substances like carbon
dioxide and water with the help of solar energy absorbed by the green pigment
chlorophyll is called photosynthesis.
Sunlight

Carbon dioxide + Water --------------------------> Glucose + Oxygen+water

Chlorophyll

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

The glucose formed is converted into starch and stored in the different parts
of the plant body. Some amount of glucose gets converted into fats, proteins
etc.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air through tiny openings on the leaf
surface called stomata (singular-stoma).
Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil and transport it to the leaves.
Chlorophyll is the green pigment present in the leaves which absorbs
sunlight.
(Diagram)

Q5. Explain the structure and function of stomata.

(Diagram)
A5. Stomata are the minute openings present on the lower side of leaves. Each stoma
is bounded by two bean shaped cells called the guard cells. These guard cells control
the opening and closure of the stomata.
Stomata play an important role in transpiration and also in the exchange of gases
during photosynthesis and respiration.
Q6. What are algae?
A6. Simple green plants that grow on the surface of a pond or lake, which can be seen
as slimy green patches are called algae (singular-alga).
Q7. Explain the heterotrophic mode of nutrition in plants.

(pictures)

A7. Non-green plants depend on other organisms for food and these heterotrophic
plants are divided as:
1. Parasitic plantsThese plants grow on other plants and live on the food prepared by the
host plant. The plant from which the parasite takes food is called the host plant
and the parasite absorbs the prepared food with the help of special roots.
2. Saprophytic plantsNon-green plants which obtain their food from dead and decaying matter
are called saprophytes. Eg. Fungi (singularFungus) like mushroom and
bread mould. They secrete digestive juices on the dead and decaying
matter which convert them into liquid matter. These digested products are
later absorbed by the saprophytes.
Q8.What are the types of parasitic plants?
A8 .Parasitic plants are of two types:
a) Total or complete parasite- eg: Cuscuta These plants are not green coloured
as they do not have chlorophyll. They have specialized roots which penetrates
the host plant and absorbs the food prepared by it.
b) Partial parasites: eg: Mistle toe These plants have chlorophyll and they can
carry out photosynthesis but they absorb water and nutrients from the host
plant.
Q8. Insectivorous plants show dual mode of nutrition. Justify the statement.
(pictures)
A8. Insectivorous plants are autotrophs as they have chlorophyll and can carry out
photosynthesis to make food. But they generally grow in places where the soil lacks
nitrogen. So, to meet the nitrogen requirements they trap the insects in their
specially modified leaves. These insects will be killed and nitrogen will be absorbed.
Thus the insectivorous plants also carry out heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

Q9. Why is Sun energy considered as the ultimate source of energy for the living
world?
A9. Plants capture sunlight by a unique process called photosynthesis and use this
energy to make food which will be stored in their body. When a herbivore feeds on
plants, this food is transferred to along with the sun energy stored in them. Later,
when a carnivore feeds on a herbivore, this energy stored by the herbivore is passed
on to them and this transfer goes on from one level to other. Thus sun energy
becomes the ultimate source of energy for living world.
Q10. What are symbiotic plants?
A10. The living together of two different plants as if they are part of the same plant
sharing shelter and food is called symbiosis. Such plants are called symbiotic plants.
Eg. Lichensthese are plants in which an alga and a fungus live together. The fungus
provides shelter, water and minerals to the alga and in return the alga makes food by
the process of photosynthesis.