1

Botany: Part III

Plant Nutrition
Figure 36.2-1
Plant Nutrition and
Transport
H2O

Water and minerals in

the soil are absorbed
by the roots.

Transpiration, the loss

of water from leaves
(mostly through
stomata), creates a
force within leaves
H2 O
and that pulls xylem sap
minerals upward.
Transpiration
3
Getting Water Into The Xylem Of The Root
4
 Generation of Transpirational Pull
5

In addition to apoplastic
and symplastic
movement, there are
newly discovered
channels called
aquaporins that allow
only water to move
across the membrane.
Water movement
through aquaporins is
quicker since no lipids
are involved.
 Movement of Minerals
6
Into The Root
Plants need minerals to
synthesize organic
compounds such as amino
acids, proteins and lipids.

Plants obtain these minerals

from the soil and are
transported by various
transport proteins.
 Macro- and Micro- Nutrients
7

Macronutrients are required

by plants in relatively large
amounts and compose much of
the plant’s structure.
(C, N, O, P, S, H, K, Ca,
Mg, Si, etc. )
Micronutrients are needed in
very small quantities. Typically
function as cofactors.
Mycorrhizae: A Mutualistic Relationship

Roots

Fungus
 Figure 36.2-2
CO2 O2

H2O
• Gas exchange occurs
through the stomata.
• CO2 is required for
photosynthesis and O2
is released into the
atmosphere.

• Roots exchange gases

H2O O2 with the air spaces in
and the soil, taking in O2
minerals CO2 and releasing CO2.
Figure 36.2-3
CO2 O2 Light

H2O Sugar
• Sugars are produced by
photosynthesis in the
leaves.

• Phloem sap(green
arrows) can flow both
ways.
• Xylem sap(blue
O2 arrows) transport
water and minerals
H2 O CO2 upward from roots to
and
minerals shoots.
 Water Is In The Root, So Now What?
11
 Root pressure is caused by active distribution of mineral nutrient
ions into the root xylem.
 Without transpiration to carry the ions up the stem, they
accumulate in the root xylem and lower the water potential.
 At night in some plants,
root pressure causes
guttation or exudation
of drops of xylem sap
from the tips or edges
of leaves as pictured here.
 Water Is In The Root, So Now What?
12
 Water then diffuses from the soil into
the root xylem due to osmosis.
 Root pressure is caused by this
accumulation of water in the xylem
pushing on the rigid cells.
 Root pressure provides a force, which
pushes water up the stem, but it is not
enough to account for the movement
of water to leaves at the top of the
tallest trees.
 Let’s Apply Some TACT To The Situation!
13
A more likely scenario involves the Cohesion-Tension Theory
(also known as Tension-Adhesion-Cohesion-Transpiration or TACT Theory)
Tension: Water is a polar molecule.
 When two water molecules approach one
another they form an intermolecular
attraction called a hydrogen bond.
 This attractive force, along with other
intermolecular forces, is one of the
principal factors responsible for the
occurrence of surface tension in liquid
water.
 It also allows plants to draw water from the
root through the xylem to the leaf.
Let’s Apply Some TACT To The Situation!
14

• Adhesion occurs
when water forms
hydrogen bonds
with xylem cell walls.

• Cohesion occurs
when water
molecules hydrogen
bond with each
other.
 Let’s Apply Some TACT To The Situation!
15
• Transpiration: Water is
constantly lost by
transpiration in the leaf.
• When one water molecule is
lost another is pulled along by
the processes of cohesion and
adhesion.
• Transpiration pull, utilizing
capillary action and the
inherent surface tension of
water, is the primary
mechanism of water
movement in plants.
 Generation of Transpiration Pull
16
Ode To The Hydrogen Bond
Water Potential

 Water potential quantifies the tendency of free (not

bound to solutes) water to move from one area to
another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure,
or matrix effects such as surface tension.
 Water potential has proved especially useful in
understanding water movement within plants,
animals, and soil.
 Water potential is typically expressed in potential
energy per unit volume and very often is represented
by the Greek letter psi,  . (pronounced as “sigh” )
Water Potential

 The addition of solutes to water lowers the water's

potential (makes it more negative), just as the
increase in pressure increases its potential (makes it
more positive).
 Pure water is usually defined as having an osmotic
potential () of zero, and in this case, solute potential
can never be positive.
 Free water moves from regions of higher water
potential to regions of lower water potential if
there is no barrier to its flow.
Water Potential

 The word “potential” refers to water’s potential energy

which is water’s capacity to perform work when it
moves from a region of higher water potential to a
region of lower water potential.

 The water potential equation is  = S + P where  is

the water potential, S is the solute potential (directly
proportional to its molarity and sometimes called the
osmotic potential and the S of pure water is zero) and
P is the pressure potential.
Water Potential

 P is the physical pressure exerted on a solution.

 It can be either positive or negative relative to the
atmospheric pressure.
 Water in a nonliving hollow xylem cells is under a
negative potential (tension) of less than
−2 MPa.
 BUT the water in a living cell is usually under positive
pressure due to the osmotic uptake of water.
Solutes have a negative
effect on  by binding
water molecules.
 movement.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Adding solutes to the
right arm makes  lower
there, resulting in net
movement of water to
the right arm:
Pure
water
Solutes
Membrane
H 2O
Positive pressure has a
positive effect on  by
pushing water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying positive
pressure to the right arm
makes  higher there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the left arm:
Positive
pressure
H 2O
Solutes and positive
pressure have opposing
effects on water
Pure water at equilibrium
H 2O
In this example, the effect
of adding solutes is
offset by positive
pressure, resulting in no
net movement of water:
Positive
pressure
Solutes
H2O
Negative pressure
(tension) has a negative
effect on  by pulling
water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying negative
pressure to the right arm
makes  lower there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the right arm:
Negative
pressure
H 2O
Solutes have a negative
effect on  by binding
water molecules.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Adding solutes to the
right arm makes  lower
there, resulting in net
movement of water to
the right arm:
Pure
water
Solutes
Membrane
H 2O
Positive pressure has a
positive effect on  by
pushing water.
 movement.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying positive
pressure to the right arm
makes  higher there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the left arm:
Positive
pressure
H 2O
Solutes and positive
pressure have opposing
effects on water
Pure water at equilibrium
H 2O
In this example, the effect
of adding solutes is
offset by positive
pressure, resulting in no
net movement of water:
Positive
pressure
Solutes
H2O
Negative pressure
(tension) has a negative
effect on  by pulling
water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying negative
pressure to the right arm
makes  lower there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the right arm:
Negative
pressure
H 2O
Solutes have a negative
effect on  by binding
water molecules.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Adding solutes to the
right arm makes  lower
there, resulting in net
movement of water to
the right arm:
Pure
water
Solutes
Membrane
H 2O
Positive pressure has a
positive effect on  by
pushing water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying positive
pressure to the right arm
makes  higher there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the left arm:
Positive
pressure
H 2O
Solutes and positive
pressure have opposing
effects on water
movement.  water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H 2O
In this example, the effect
of adding solutes is
offset by positive
pressure, resulting in no
net movement of water:
Positive
pressure
Solutes
H2O
Negative pressure
(tension) has a negative
effect on  by pulling
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying negative
pressure to the right arm
makes  lower there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the right arm:
Negative
pressure
H 2O
Solutes have a negative
effect on  by binding
water molecules.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Adding solutes to the
right arm makes  lower
there, resulting in net
movement of water to
the right arm:
Pure
water
Solutes
Membrane
H 2O
Positive pressure has a
positive effect on  by
pushing water.
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying positive
pressure to the right arm
makes  higher there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the left arm:
Positive
pressure
H 2O
Solutes and positive
pressure have opposing
effects on water
movement.
Pure water at equilibrium
H 2O
In this example, the effect
of adding solutes is
offset by positive
pressure, resulting in no
net movement of water:
Positive
pressure
Solutes
H2O
Negative pressure
(tension) has a negative
effect on  by pulling
water. 
Pure water at equilibrium
H2O
Applying negative
pressure to the right arm
makes  lower there,
resulting in net movement
of water to the right arm:
Negative
pressure
H 2O
Water Potential vs. Tonicity
26
27

The green arrows indicate water moving OUT of the cell.

The yellow arrows indicate water moving INTO the cell.

Initial conditions: cellular  greater than environmental 
Initial flaccid cell:
P = 0
 S = −0.7
0.4 M sucrose solution:
 P= 0  = − 0.7 MPa
 S = − 0.9

Plasmolyzed cell  = − 0.9 MPa

at osmotic equilibrium
with its surroundings

 P= 0
 S = − 0.9
 = − 0.9 MPa
Initial conditions: cellular  less than environmental 

Initial flaccid cell:

 P= 0
 S = − 0.7
 = − 0.7 MPa Distilled water:
 P= 0
 S= 0
 = 0 MPa
Turgid cell
at osmotic equilibrium
with its surroundings
 P = 0.7
 S = − 0.7
 = − 0 MPa
 Wilting

 Turgor loss in plants causes wilting

 Which can be reversed when the plant is watered
Ascent of Xylem Sap
31
 Stomata Regulate Transpiration Rate
32

• When water moves into guard cells

from neighboring cells by osmosis,
they become more turgid.

• The structure of the guard cells’ wall

causes them to bow outward in
response to the incoming water.

• This bowing increases the size of the

pore (stomata) between the guard
cells allowing for an increase in gas
exchange.
Homeostasis and Water Regulation
33

• By contrast, when the guard

cells lose water and become
flaccid, they become less
bowed , and the pore
(stomata) closes.

• This limits gas exchange.

Role Of Potassium Ion In Stomatal
34 Opening And Closing
The transport of K+ (potassium ions, symbolized
here as red dots) across the plasma membrane and
vacuolar membrane causes the turgor changes of
guard cells.

H 2O H2 O H2 O
H2 O
H2 O
K+ H2 O

H2 O
H2 O H2 O H2 O
Homeostasis and Water Balance
35

• Trees that experience a

prolonged drought may
compensate by losing part of
their crown as a consequence
of leaves dying and being shed.

• Resources may be reallocated

so that more energy is
expended for root growth in
the “search” for additional
water.
Natural Selection and Arid
36
Environments
 Natural Selection and Arid
37 Environments
Plants that have adapted to arid environments have
the following leaf adaptations:
1. Leaves that are thick and hard with few stomata
placed only on the underside of the leaf
2. Leaves covered with trichomes (hairs) which
reflect more light thus reducing the rate of
transpiration
3. Leaves with stomata located in surface pits which
increases water tension and reduces the rate of
transpiration
Natural Selection and Flooding
38

• Plants that experience

prolonged flooding will have
problems.
• Roots underwater cannot
obtain the oxygen needed for
cell respiration and ATP
synthesis.
• As a result, leaves may dry out
causing the plant to die.
• Additionally, production of
hormones that promote root
synthesis are suppressed.
Adaptations to Water Environments
39
 Adaptations to Water Environments
40

Plants that have adapted to wet environments have

the following adaptations:
1. Formation of large lenticels (pores) on the stem.
2. Formation of adventitious roots above the water
that increase gas exchange.
3. Formation of stomata only on the surface of the
leaf (water lilies).
4. Formation of a layer of air-filled channels called
aerenchyma for gas exchange which moves gases
between the plant above the water and the
submerged tissues.
Bulk Flow of Photosynthetic Products
41
Vessel Sieve tube Source cell
(xylem) (phloem) (leaf)
1 Loading of sugar (green dots) into
the sieve tube at the source reduces
H2 O 1 Sucrose
water potential inside the sieve-tube
H2O members. This causes the tube to
take up water by osmosis.
2

2 This uptake of water generates a

positive pressure that forces the
Transpiration stream

sap to flow along the tube.

Pressure flow

3
The pressure is relieved by the
unloading of sugar and the
Sink cell consequent loss of water from the
(storage root) tube at the sink.
4 In the case of leaf-to-root
4 3 translocation, xylem recycles water
Sucrose
H2O from sink to source.
Nutritional Adaptations in Plants
42
 Epiphytes- grow on other
plants, but do not harm their
host
 Parasitic Plants-absorb
water, minerals, and sugars
from their host
 Carnivorous Plants-
photosynthetic but
supplement their mineral diet
with insects and small
animals; found in nitrogen
poor soils
 Halophytes
43
 Adaptations of Plants: Saline Environments
44

• Soil salinity around the world is increasing.

• Many plants are killed by too much salt in the soil.
• Some plants are adapted to growing in saline
conditions (halophytes)
• Have spongy leaves with water stored that
dilutes salt in the roots
• Actively transport the salt out of the roots or
block the salt so that it cannot enter the roots
• Produce high concentrations of organic
molecules in the roots to alter the water
potential gradient of the roots