CHAPTER 7

NUTRTITION IN PLANTS
Types of nutrition :
1. Autotrophic nutrition :
An organism ( autotroph ) build up the complex organic molecules that required from
simple molecules such as carbon dioxide and water. This process requires energy.
Photoautotroph such a plant, use light energy.
Chemoautotroph use energy from chemical reactions in their bodies.
2. Heterotrophic nutrition :
An organism are unable to manufacture their own food. They obtain organic food
substances by feeding on other organism. Holozoic nutrition is one type of
heterotrophic nutrition.
A.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The simplest energy rich organic molecules are carbohydrates. The simplest
carbohydrates are monosaccharides. If photosynthesis has taken place, then glucose
must first be formed form carbon dioxide.
If glucose is formed more quickly than used up, the excess glucose is changed to
starch for storage
Photosynthesis is the process in which light energy absorbed by chlorophyll is
transformed into chemical energy.
Chemical energy is used to synthesis carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide.
Water and carbon dioxide are the raw materials for Photosynthesis.
Oxygen is released during the process.
Factors affecting photosynthesis :
1. carbon dioxide
2. sunlight
3. temperature
4. water
5. chlorophyll
The light stage and light- independent stage of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis occurs in two stage, namely the light dependent or light stage and the
light independent or dark stage.
1. In the light dependent stage :
a. light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and than converted into chemical energy.
chlorophyll
Light energy
chemical energy
Light energy is also used to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen
atoms. This is called photolysis of water.
2. In the light independent stage :
The hydrogen produced in photolysis is used to reduce carbon dioxide to
carbohydrates such as glucose. The energy required for this process to take
place comes from the light stage. Since the formation of glucose form carbon
dioxide doesnt require light, it is called the dark stage or the light independent
stage .
Enzymes play a part in the dark stage.

 The limiting factors in photosynthesis :

1. light intensity
2. the concentration of carbon dioxide
3. temperature
What happens to glucose
1. Glucose is used immediately by plants cells
a. Glucose is first used by the cells during tissue respiration to provide energy for
cellular activities.
b. Glucose is also used for the formation of cellulose cell walls.
2. Glucose is converted into sucrose or into starch in leaves
a. Excess glucose is converted into sucrose and transported to storage organs, for
example the seeds, stem tubers or root tubers. This sucrose is converted into
starch or other forms of storage compounds, depending on the plant.
b. During the day, the rate of photosynthesis is so great that sugar are formed
faster than they can be removed. Glucose in the leaf is converted into starch for
temporary storage in the leaf.
c. At night, photosynthesis is stops and the starch is reconverted by enzymes in
the leaf into glucose. The starch may also be converted into sucrose and
transported away for storage.
3. Glucose is used to form amino acids and proteins
a. The glucose in the leaf can react with nitrates brought to the leaf to form amino
acids.
b. The amino acids are combined to form proteins, which are converted into new
protoplasm within the cells.
c. Excess amino acids are carried to all parts of the plant, especially the growing
regions of the plant. Here, amino acids are used to build new protoplasm or
stored as proteins.
4. Glucose is used to form fats
a. Fats are also formed from glucose in the leaves. Some of sugars that reach the
storage organs may also be converted into fats for storage.
b. Fats may be used in cellular respiration or for forming new protoplasm, for
example the cell surface membrane.
Photosynthesis is important :
1. Photosynthesis makes chemical energy available to animals.
2. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide and provide oxygen.
3. Energy is stored in coal through photosynthesis.

B.

LEAF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

1. External features of leaf : consists of lamina and petiole
Lamina has a large flat surface compared to its volume.
Petiole holds the lamina away from the stem so that the lamina can obtain
sufficient sunlight and air.
2. Internal structure of the lamina
a. Upper epidermis
b. Mesophyll
palisade mesophyll
spongy mesophyll
c. Lower epidermis
d. Stoma
Carbon dioxide and water enter the leaf :
1. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through the stomata and diffuses into the intercellular
spaces of cells.
2. xylem transports water and mineral salts to the leaf
The phloem transports sugars made in the leaf to all the plant cells