LESSON 1

NUTRITION IN PLANTS

 Life processes: - The basic activities that all living organisms perform are known as life
processes.
E.g.: - Nutrition, Reproduction, Growth, Excretion, Response to Stimuli, Circulation,
Respiration.
 Nutrition: - The process of taking or consuming and utilizing food is called nutrition.
 Nutrients: - The components of food which is necessary for our body are called as
nutrients.
E.g.: - Carbohydrates, fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals.
 Modes of nutrition: - There are basically two modes of nutrition:
a) Autotrophic nutrition
b) Heterotrophic nutrition
 Autotrophic nutrition: - The mode of nutrition in which the living organisms make their
own food from simple substances is called autotrophic nutrition. This mode of nutrition is
found in green plants as they contain the green pigment called chlorophyll. They prepare
their food by a process called photosynthesis. Autotrophs are producers of food.
 Photosynthesis: - The process by which green plants prepare their own food in the
presence of sunlight, and chlorophyll by using carbon dioxide and water.
Sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water Glucose + Oxygen + Water
Chlorophyll

Sunlight
6 C O2 +12 H 2 O C 6 H 12 O6+ 6 O2+6 H 2 O
Chlorophyll

 Raw materials required for photosynthesis: -

a) Carbon dioxide: - absorbed through stomata.
b) Water: - absorbed from the soil through the roots and transported to the leaf by
xylem.
c) Chlorophyll: - green colour pigment present in the leaf.
d) Sunlight: - Chlorophyll traps light energy from sun.
 Role of leaf in Photosynthesis: - A leaf shows two important structures,
a) Presence of small pores generally on the lower surface through which carbon
dioxide enters. These pores are called stomata.
b) Presence of chlorophyll containing cells.
 CROSS SECTION OF LEAF

STRUCTURE OF STOMATA

 STRUCTURE OF STOMATA: - Stomata are small pores generally located on the lower
surface of the leaf. It encloses a small pore called stoma which is guarded by the bean
shaped cells called the guard cells. They are surrounded by the subsidiary cells and
epidermal cells.
 PRODUCTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS: -
The end products of photosynthesis are glucose and oxygen.
The immediate product of photosynthesis is glucose.
 IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS: -If there is no photosynthesis, plants will not
survive. In the absence of plants, the survival of other organisms would not be possible as
they directly or indirectly depend on plants. Oxygen will not be released in atmosphere.
 DESTARCHING: - Keeping a plant in a dark room for 48 hrs so as to remove starch
stored in them. It can also be done by wrapping the leaves with black paper for 2-3 days.
This is used as precaution for starch test. Starch is produced during photosynthesis.
 Presence of starch can be tested by using Iodine solution. If the leaf contains starch it
turns to blue black.
 Chlorophyll can be removed by placing the leaf in a test tube containing boiled alcohol.
 HYDRILLA is a plant used for the experiment to prove that oxygen is released during
photosynthesis.
 Photosynthesis also occurs in leaves which are coloured other than green.
E.g: - Croton : - as the green pigment masked by the other color, it is not green.
 HETEROTROPHIC NUTRITION; -It is the mode of nutrition in which organisms
depend up on green plants directly or indirectly for their food. They are called
Heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are also called consumers.
 TYPES OF HETEROTROPHIC NUTRITION: - According to their mode of nutrition
heterotrophic plants can be divided into four groups.

Heterotrophic plants

Parasitic Plants Saprophytic Plants Insectivorous Plants Symbiotic Plants

 PARASITES: - They are organisms that live in or on the body of other organisms (host).
They derive nutrition from the host by specialized structures called haustoria.
E.g.; - Cuscuta or Amarbel
 SYMBIOSIS: - It is the mutual association of two organisms where both are benefited.
E.g.: - Lichens – It has algal partner to prepare food and a fungal partner to give support.
 SAPROPHYTES: - These are organisms that feed on dead or decaying organic matter.
E.g.: - Fungus like mushroom and mould.
 INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS: -Plants which feed on insects so as to satisfy the nitrogen
requirements
E.g.: - Pitcher plant, Drosera, Venus flytrap
 All animals are divided into 3 categories on the basis of their eating habits.
a) Herbivores: - Animals that feed only plants for their food. E.g.:- Cow, Giraffe, etc.
b) Carnivores: - Animals that eat only flesh of other animals for their food. E.g.: -
Lion, tiger etc.
c) Omnivores: - The animals that feed on both plants and animals for their food.
E.g.: - Bear, Man, Crow etc.

NUTRITION IN PLANTS
 FBQ

1.Different modes of nutrition has been observed in plants. What are they? Give example of
each.
2.Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots and then transported to leaves. How?
3.Describe the process by which plants prepare their food using different raw materials.
4.Describe the method for replenishing the soils with minerals and other essential constituents
used by plants growing in those soil by farmers.

5.Asha went to visit her grandfather in his village. He was having a serious discussion with his
fellow members regarding the productivity level of crops for present year. They all were
worried about how to increase the productivity of crop Asha listened to this and then suggested
to the group that the reason may be decreased level of minerals in soil.
She told her grandfather to plant crops like pulses, gram, beans, etc., for a year then follow
with regular crops. This will increase the crop productivity?
(a) What will you name the process suggested by Asha? Why is there decrease in crop
productivity?
(b) What are noted benefits of this process? Will the results be as what Asha expressed?

6.In the process of photosynthesis, which of the following energy conversions occur?
(a) Solar energy is changed into chemical energy.
(b) Solar energy is changed into mechanical energy.
(c) Bioenergy is converted into chemical energy.
(d) Chemical energy is changed into light energy.
7.The symbiotic association is seen in which of the following?
(a) Lichens
(b) Algae
(c) Fungi
(d) Bacteria
8. Assertion: Carbon dioxide is not required for photosynthesis.
Reason: Oxygen is liberated during photosynthesis.
(A) Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the
Assertion.
(B) The Assertion and the Reason are correct but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the
Assertion.
(C) Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
(D) Assertion is false but the Reason is true.