Chapter 6

Plant Nutrition
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 Photosynthesis Basics

• Glucose from the raw materials carbon dioxide and water.

• Oxygen is made and released as a waste product.
•Energy is obtained by the pigment chlorophyll trapping light.

•Defined as the process by which plants manufacture

carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

The light energy is converted into chemical energy in the bonds that are holding
the atoms in the glucose molecules together

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE
 Importance of photosynthesis

1. The main source of oxygen which is used for aerobic

respiration.
2. The main source of food for all living organisms.
3. Necessary for regulating the concentration of carbon
dioxide and oxygen.
4. The process which traps energy of the sun which later
can be found in the fossil fuels such as coal and
petroleum.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 Rate of photosynthesis and respiration

 In high light intensity, rate of photosynthesis is higher

than the rate of respiration, therefore oxygen is produced.
 In dim light the rate of photosynthesis becomes equal to
the rate of respiration. This point is known as compensation
point. (No gases are produced)

 In dark , only respiration takes place therefore carbon

dioxide gas is produced .

•Plants cannot carry out photosynthesis in green light.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 Conditions necessary for photosynthesis

1. Light
2. Chlorophyll
3. Carbon dioxide
4. Water.
5. Suitable temperature
which affects activity of enzymes
 The Products of Photosynthesis
Plants use the glucose they make as a source of energy in
respiration.

They can also convert it into:

1. Starch for storage
2. Lipids for an energy source in seeds
3. Cellulose to make cell walls
4. Amino acids when combined with nitrogen and other
mineral ions absorbed by roots
5. Sucrose for transport in the phloem
6. Nectar to attract insects for pollination

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What is a Limiting Factor?

• Limiting factor can be defined as something present in the

environment in such short supply that it restricts life
processes.

•There are 3 main factors which limit the rate of

photosynthesis:
1) Temperature
2) Light intensity
3) Carbon dioxide concentration

•Water is not considered a limiting factor as the amount

needed is relatively small compared to the amount of water
transpired from a plant so there is hardly ever a situation where
there is not enough water for photosynthesis
How to test for starch in a plant leaf

1. Put the leaf in boiling water for about 30 minutes.

2. Put the leaf in boiling alcohol using a water bath
3. Put the leaf in hot water to soften it because alcohol makes it brittle.
4. Put the leaf in a Petri dish ,and add iodine solution.
 How to prove that chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis
1. Get a plant of variegated leaves.
2. Destarch this plant.
3. Expose the plant to light for suitable period of time.
4. Take one of its leaves ,and draw it carefully to show where
chlorophyll is found.
5. Test for starch in this leaf.

Observation
•The parts were previously green turn blue black.
•The other parts gain the yellow brown color of iodine solution.
Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis.
 The Need for Light in Photosynthesis
How to prove that light is necessary for photosynthesis
•Get a potted plant ,and destarch it.
•Cover a part of one of its leaves with aluminum foil.
•Let the plant exposed to light for about three hours.
•Test the leaf for starch using iodine solution.

Observation:
•The covered parts gain the yellow- brown color of iodine solution.
•The parts exposed to light gain dark blue colour.
Light is necessary for photosynthesis .
Light Intensity
•The more light a plant receives, the faster the rate of
photosynthesis.
•This trend will continue until some other factor required for
photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further
because it is now in short supply.
Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE
 The Need for Carbon Dioxide in Photosynthesis
How to prove that carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis
•Destarch a plant
•Tie a clear bag containing sodium hydroxide, which will absorb
carbon dioxide from the surrounding air, around one leaf
•Tie a clear bag containing water (control experiment), which will not
absorb carbon dioxide from the surrounding air, around another leaf.
•Place the plant in bright light for several hours.
•Test both leaves for starch using iodine
Observations
•No starch can be detected in the leaf which is found in the
flask that contains sodium hydroxide.
•Starch can be detected in the leaf which is found in the
flask that contains distilled water.

Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 Carbon Dioxide Concentration
• The more carbon dioxide that is present, the faster the reaction can
occur.
•This trend will continue until some other factor required for
photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is
now in short supply.
•As temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis
increases as the reaction is controlled by enzymes
•However, as the reaction is controlled by enzymes, this
trend only continues up to a certain temperature beyond
which the enzymes begin to denature and the rate of
reaction decreases.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 The Rate of Photosynthesis Using a Water Plant

The plants usually used are Elodea or Camboba – types of

pondweed

•As the plant is in water, the oxygen released can be seen as

bubbles leaving the cut end of the pond weed
•The number of bubbles produced over a minute.

•Or collect the oxygen released in a test tube inverted over

the top of the pondweed over a longer period of time and
then measure the volume of oxygen collected

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How to prove that oxygen evolves during photosynthesis

Sodium Hydrogen carbonate or

bicarbonate is used as a source of
carbon dioxide as it decomposes
releasing carbon dioxide.

one of them exposed to light -the

other one in a dark place.

Observation :

Bubbles of a gas evolve in the

apparatus which is placed in light.

Test for this gas using a glowing

splint ,you observe that it
relights.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE
Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE
LEAF STRUCTURE

Leaf blade
- Supported: exposed to light and to obtain carbon dioxide
easily.
- Thin: to allow the passage of light to the inner tissues - to
allow diffusion of gases.
-Broad: to increase surface area to obtain as maximum light

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 Epidermis Upper and lower epidermis
Function: is to protect the inner cells of the leaf.
•Each consists of one row of thin walled cells which are :
1. Transparent to allow light to penetrate them.
2. Lens -shaped cells to converge light rays.
3. Secrete cuticle (waxy layer) to reduce the rate of water loss.

Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE

 Internal structure
The number of stomata
•accumulation of dust .
•exposed to agents of evaporation of water

Contain stomata to
•Allow exchange of gases during photosynthesis and respiration .
•Allow diffusion of water during transpiration .

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Each stoma is formed of two cells known as guard cells and a stomatal
pore :
The wall of the guard cell is thicker in the side facing the stomatal pore
than the other side therefore when the guard cell becomes turgid the
inner surface cannot stretch as much as the outer surface, therefore the
guard cells curve away from each other causing the stoma to open.
 Mesophyll layer

I. The palisade layer:

Function: photosynthesis
1. Contains chloroplasts.
2. Chloroplasts are closely packed.
3. Chloroplasts are found close to the cell membrane.
4. Palisade cells are elongated to Carry more chloroplast
5. Palisade cells are perpendicular to the upper
epidermis to obtain as maximum light as possible.
6. Palisade cells have thin cell walls.

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II. The spongy layer:

It contains chloroplasts - less than that of the palisade layer.

It contains air spaces to allow circulation of gases.

Vascular bundle Contain :

-Xylem
-Phloem
Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE
Dr. Ahmad Salem - Biology OL CIE