7.

6 Respiration in plants
The intake of oxygen by plants for respiration
No Marking scheme Marks
(a)
Like animals, plants also respire aerobically to obtain energy for metabolism . They
derive most their energy from cellular respiration .during cellular respiration, the
plants cells take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide

Based on the above statement, describe the intake of oxygen by the plants for
respiration 1
S1-The intake occurs by diffusion mainly through stomata and lenticels 1
S2-Stomata can be found in epidermis of leaves. the stem of herbaceous plants 1
S3-Lenticels can be found on the stems and root of plants
1
Explanation 1
P1-When stomata open, they connect the air space (within the leave) to atmosphere 1
P2-Oxygen form the atmosphere diffuses into the air spaces 1
P3-then dissolves in the film of water around the mesophyll cells 1
P4-So the concentration of oxygen in the cells becomes lower than in the air spaces 7
P5-Thus, oxygen diffuse continuously form air space to the cell 1
P6-During daytime, carbon dioxide that is produced during respiration is used in
photosynthesis
P7-The excess carbon dioxide diffuses into the air spaces and then through stomata into
atmosphere

(b) Diagram 6.1 shows the surface view of lower epidermis in a leaf of a plant.
Diagram 6.2 shows part of cross section of a woody stem.
Pore M
Broken epidermis
Epidermal cell

Cork tissue Pore M

Guard cell

Explain the gas uptake for respiration through pores M and N in the plant
Through M:
F- (In day time) stoma / M (in the epidermis of the leaf) open
P1-Oxygen from the atmosphere diffuses (through stoma) into intercellular air spaces 1
of spongy mesophyll (and palisade mesophyll) 1
P2- follow the concentration gradient
Through N: 1
P3- At the lenticels (N) oxygen from atmosphere diffuses into the air spaces between 4
cork cells which are loosely arranged
P4- then diffuses into the cells at the stem /and old roots 1
1
Respiration and photosynthesis in plants

No Marking scheme Marks

(a) Diagram 6.4 shows the changes in the volume of carbon dioxide absorbed or released
by a plant in different light intensity

State the relationship between light intensity and rate of transpiration

P1-Light increase as the rate of transpiration increase 1
P2-The plant carries out anaerobic respiration 1

(b) Explain the changes in the volume of carbon dioxide absorbed or released by a plant
in different light intensity
P1-glucose is broken down in the absence of oxygen to release energy produces 1
ethanol, CO2 (and energy) 1
P2- cells in the roots of rice plants are extremely tolerant of ethanol 1
P3-Many of the roots are very shallow 1 6
P4-the roots use the oxygen which diffuses into the water surface. 1
P5-Rice stem contain a large number of air spaces
P6-(the air space) allow oxygen to penetrate through to the cells of roots ( growing in
the absence of oxygen)

(c) Explain the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of
respiration in the plant at points P, Q, R and S.
At P : 1
P1-In the dark / low light (intensity), only respiration occurs 1
P2-hence large quantity of CO2 is produced/released 1
P3-As light (intensity) increases the quantity of CO2 / produce decreases 1
P4because part of CO2 produced during respiration is used for photosynthesis 1
P5-sugar used in respiration more rapidly than it is produced in photosynthesis 1

At Q:
P6- (At this point of light intensity) all the CO2 release from respiration is reused / 1
equivalent to CO2 used up during photosynthesis // no net gain or loss in CO2 / sugar 1
produced 1
P7- rate of photosynthesis is equal to the rate of respiration 10
P8-this point is called compensation point 1
P9-net gaseous exchange is zero
1
 At R:
P10- as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis become faster than / 1
exceed the rate of respiration 1
P11-the CO2 needed is obtained from the atmosphere (at the same time) excess O2
is releases (into the atmosphere)

At S:
P12- is the light saturation point
P13-an increase in light intensity does not increase the rate of photosynthesis //
maximum rate of photosynthesis (Any 8)
(d) An experiment on a plant is carried out to study the rate of water loss from 0500 to
0300 the next day. Graph 6.1 shows the result of the experiment and diagram 6.2
shows the structure of a stoma and the cells found in the epidermal layer of a leaf.

1
1
1
1
1
Based on the graph, explain how light intensity and the structure in diagram 6.2 affect
the rate of water loss 10 1
F1 : From 0500 to 0170, the rate of water loss increases 1
E1: Light intensity increases 1
E2 : stimulates photosynthesis in the guard cells./ (The guard cells) start producing 1 10
glucose 1
E3 : This makes energy available for potassium to move into guard cells 1
E4 by active transport 1
E5 : (The guard cells) become hypertonic (compared to the cell sap) of the epidermal 1
cells.
E6 : Water molecules from the epidermal cells diffuse into the guard cells by osmosis
E7 : Causing the guard cells to bend outwards
E8 : the stoma opens (to allow water to escape to the atmosphere through it)
@
F2 : From 0170 to 0300, the rate of water loss decreases
E9 : Light intensity decreases / causes the rate of photosynthesis to decrease / soon
stop.
E10 : The guard cells become flaccid
E11 : and bend inwards
E12: The stoma closes and this prevent water molecules to escape through it.
Notes : (F1 + any 5 Es) + (F2 + 3 Es)