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NOTES
Chapter 7: Nutrition in Plants

7.1 Photosynthesis
1. Plants are able to synthesise their own food by the process of photosynthesis.
2. Photosynthesis is a process in which light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and
converted to chemical energy.
3. Inorganic molecules of carbon dioxide and water are used for the synthesis of an
organic molecule of glucose.
4. Oxygen is released as a by-product.

How can we study photosynthesis?

To do photosynthetic experiments, the following basic knowledge is required:
1. Glucose is first formed from carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
2. Presence of starch in the leaves suggests that photosynthesis has taken place.
- When glucose is formed more quickly than it is used up, the excess glucose is
changed to starch for storage.
- Test for starch using the iodine test.
3. Destarching must be carried out on the plants before the experiments.
- This ensures that starch is absent in the leaves prior to the experiments.
- Put the plants in the dark for two days to stop photosynthesis and change
starch to sucrose, which is used up by the plant.

The light-dependent (light) and light-independent (dark) stages in photosynthesis

1. Enzymes catalyse a series of reactions involved in the light and dark stages of
photosynthesis.
2. During the light stage of photosynthesis, the following processes occur:
a. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll
b. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy
c. Photolysis of water into hydrogen atoms and oxygen gas.
3. During the dark stage of photosynthesis, the chemical energy and hydrogen atoms
produced from the light stage are used to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) to form
glucose.

The overall equation of photosynthesis is:

Light
6CO2 + 12H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6 H2O
Chlorophyll

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 Limiting factors
1. Any factor that directly affects or limits a process if its quantity or concentration is
altered is called a limiting factor.
2. Light intensity: Increasing the light intensity will increase the rate of
photosynthesis up till a certain point.

3. Carbon dioxide: When the carbon dioxide concentration is raised from 0.03% to
0.13% while keeping the temperature constant at room temperature, the rate of
photosynthesis will increase.
4. Temperature: Enzymes catalyse the reactions in photosynthesis. Therefore at
temperatures higher or lower than optimum temperatures, enzymes are denatured
or inactive, thus affecting the rate of photosynthesis.

Fates of glucose in leaves

1. Glucose is used by plant cells for cellular respiration or to form cellulose cell
walls.
2. Excess glucose is converted either into sucrose and transported to storage organs
or changed into starch for temporary storage in the leaves.
3. Glucose can react with nitrates to form amino acids which are combined to form
proteins for the synthesis of new protoplasm in the leaf.
4. Glucose can be used to form fats (oils) for storage.

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7.2 Leaf Structure and Function

External structure of the leaf

Lamina:
 Has large surface
area for maximum
absorption of sunlight
 Thin to allow rapid
diffusion of carbon
dioxide into the leaf

Veins:
 Network of veins
branching out from
the vein in the mid-
rib.
 Allow transport of Petiole:
water and mineral  Positions the leaf
salts to the leaves as away from the stem
well as transport of to allow maximum
manufactured food absorption of
away from the leaves. sunlight.

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Internal structure of the leaf

Epidermis:
 Single layer of
closely packed cells.
 Covered by a waxy
cuticle to prevent
excessive water loss.

Palisade mesophyll:
 Layers of closely
packed, long and
cylindrical cells
containing
numerous
chloroplasts
fophotosynthesis.
Spongy mesophyll:
 Layers of loosely
packed cells with
intercellular air Stomata:
spaces for gaseous  An opening controlled Vascular bundle:
exchange and few by guard cells.  Xylem to
chloroplasts.  In the presence of transport water
light, allows carbon and mineral salts
dioxide to enter and to the leaves
oxygen to be released  Phloem to
transport sugars
away from the
leaf

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 Control of the Stomata by guard cells
In sunlight:
1. Guard cells photosynthesise and produce chemical energy that pumps ions into the
cells.
2. The ions lower the water potential in the guard cells. Water moves into the guard
cells until they become turgid.
3. The turgidity of guard cells causes them to open the stomata.
At night:
1. The ions diffuse out of the guard cells. This increases the water potential.
2. Water moves out of the guard cells by osmosis. The guard cells to become flaccid
which causes the stomata to close.

Entry of carbon dioxide and water into the leaf

1. During the day, the plant carries out photosynthesis and carbon dioxide is rapidly
used up.
2. The carbon dioxide concentration inside the leaf is lower than the atmosphere,
causing carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf via the stomata.
3. The carbon dioxide dissolves in the film of water surrounding the mesophyll cells
and diffuses into cells.
4. Water and mineral salts move into the leaf through the xylem. Once out of the
vein, these substances move from cell to cell right through the mesophyll of the
leaf.

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