Plant Anatomy, Photosynthesis, and Cell Biology: Key Concepts for Biology Students

Cuticle (Cutin)

A waxy coating that helps prevent water loss on plants

Trichomes

Cellular outgrowth that may reduce water loss

Vein

The part of the plant that contains the xylem and phloem

Lower Epidermis

Dermal layer with many stomata

Palisade Parenchyma

The part of the mesophyll that is very ridged and contains most of the chloroplast of the cell.

Midrib

Supports vein and leaf blade, found going down the length of a leaf.

Spongy Parenchyma

The part of the mesophyll that is very open and hollow which allows for gas to be exchanged in the leaf. Oxygen goes out while CO2 is brought in.

Upper Epidermis

Dermal layer with few stomata

Mesophyll

Most photosynthesis takes place here

Vascular Tissue

Xylem and Phloem

Xylem

Conducts water and minerals throughout the plant

Phloem

transports sugars (food) and amino acids

Guard Cells

Cells found flanking the stoma that open and close when need to adjust the rate of gas exchange, and regulate water loss.

Stoma

A small opening generally found at the bottom of a plants leaves that allows for gas exchange

Stomata

Multiple stoma

How does energy enter most ecosystems?

As sunlight

An organism that can make its own food is called a:

Producer (autotroph)

An organism that gets energy by breaking down organic matter such as wastes and dead organisms is called a:

Decomposer

The first organism in a food chain is always a:

Producer

The organism that eats the producer is a:

First-level consumer (Herbivore)

The organism that eats a first-level consumer is called a:

Second-level consumer (Carnivore)

A diagram made up of many food chains is called a(an):

Food Web

The energy in food is released through the process of:

Respiration

The energy released in0 the process known as cellular respiration is stored in the carrier molecule known as:

ATP

What organelles found in plant cells capture energy from the sun to make food?

The Chloroplasts

What is the name of the process in which cells break down simple food molecules such as sugar and release the energy these molecules contain?

Cellular Respiration

What is the name of the organelle where aerobic respiration takes places, converting simple sugar molecules into usable energy?

The Mitochondria

What form of respiration does not require the presence of oxygen?

Anaerobic Respiration

Does respiration take place only in animal cells?

No, it takes place in both animal and plant cells.

What form of respiration releases more ATP, Anaerobic or Aerobic respiration?

Aerobic Respiration.

What consumers only eat plants?

Herbivores

What consumers only eat other animals?

Carnivores

What consumers eat both plants and animals?

Omnivores

What consumers eat only animal and plant remains?

Scavengers

The Light Reaction occurs in the:

Thylakoids

The Calvin Cycle (Dark Reaction) occurs in the:

Stroma

Leaves are very thin and flat:

To maximize sunlight capture

There are air spaces between the mesophyll cells to:

Capture/exchange gases

The epidermis secretes cuticle to:

To prevent drying out

Why does water travel up the xylem of a plant if there is not any heart to pump the water around?

Xylem tubes are so small that water is able to travel up using capillary action. Water evaporates (sweats) out of the leaves of a plant (partially through the stomata) and the charge of the water evaporating pulls up more water at the bottom of the plant.

Cell Membrane

Regulates what goes in and out of a cell using enzymes, phospholipids, and specific proteins

Ribosomes

Responsible for protein synthesis by converting mRNA into amino acids. Generally attached to the endoplasmic reticulum

Amyloplast

Converts sugars into starch and stores it for later use, generally found in non photosynthetic cells

Chloroplast

Primary location for where photosynthesis takes place

Golgi apparatus

Packages and transports proteins and lipids in and out of the cell

Cell wall

Provides structure to plant cells

Nucleus

Contains cells genetic material

Endoplasmic reticulum

Responsible for protein, lipid, and steroid synthesis and folding

Mitochondria

Converts sugar into ATP

Cytoplasm

A liquid material that houses the organelles of a cell

Stroma (Chloroplast)

Where the Calvin Cycle takes place

Interior membrane (Chloroplast)

Regulates the passage of substances between the chloroplast and the rest of the cell

Thylakoids (Chloroplast)

Location of the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis takes place

Exterior Membrane (Chloroplast)

Regulates the passage of substances between the chloroplast and the exterior of the cell

Granum (Chloroplast)

A stack of thylakoids

Where is the chloroplast located?

Within the cytoplasm

What are the four function of a leaf?

1) Gas exchange

2) Cool the plant

3) Photosynthesis

4} Food storage

Equation for Cellular Respiration

C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen) ---------> 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + energy (ATP)

Equation for Photosynthesis

6CO2 (6 carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (6 water) + energy (Sun light) -------> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (6 oxygen)

Petal

A type of leaf that surrounds that reproductive parts of a flower, primarily severing to attract pollinators through their color, shape and scent

Stamen

the male fertilizing organ of a flower, typically consisting of a pollen-containing anther and a filament.

Anther

the part of a stamen that contains the pollen.

Filament

The filament is the stalk that supports the anther and makes it (the anther) more visible/accessible to pollinators

Pistil

the female organs of a flower, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary

The Stamen consists of the following:

anther and filament

the Pistil consists of the following:

Stigma, style, and ovary

Stigma

the topmost, sticky part of the pistil that is designed to catch pollen

Ovary

produces ovules, protects them until fertilization , and that develops into a fruit or seed

Sepal

protects the developing flower bud from physical damage and dehydration before it opens, provides support for the petals

receptacle

provides structural support, ensuring that the different parts of the flower are correctly positioned for pollinations and reproduction

Pedicel

a small stalk-like growth that supports a flower, found at the base of the flower

What is the root word use when describing parts of the fruit?

Carp

What must ALL fruits have in the to be a fruit?

Seeds

What are the three parts of a seed?

Endosperm, seed coat, embryo

Do do gymnosperms have fruits?

No

What must happen (what process(es) has to have happened) in order for a flower to become a fruit?

Pollinations and fertilization

What three tissues make up the pericarp?

Exocarp, Endocarp, and Mesocarp

What is the pericarp?

The part of a fruit formed from the wall of the ripened ovary; the part of a fruit that develops from the ovary wall of a flower after fertilization and encloses the seed

What is another name for seed coat?

Testa

Does the light-independent reaction, or Calvin cycle, need to be done exclusively at night?

No, the Calvin cycle can be done at any time, but is most commonly done at night.

Where does most photosynthesis take place?

in the mesophyll between, the two epidermal layers

What part of the plant conducts food?

Phloem

What part of the plant conducts water and minerals?

Xylem

What dermal layer has the most stomata?

The lower epidermal layer

Do leaves have true top and true bottoms?

Yes`

Lumen

indie the individual thylakoid

Monocots have:

have one cotyledon (seed leaf), parallel leaf veins, fibrous roots, and flower parts in multiples of three

Dicots

have two cotyledons, net like leaf veins, a taproot, and flower parts in multiples of four or fives

Cotyledon

an embryonic leaf in seed bearing plants, one mor more of which are the first leaves to appear from a germinating seed. They are not photosynthetic and serve as a food source for the young germinating plant

Vascular bundles

A strand of specialized vascular tissue in plants that contains the xylem and phloem of the transport of water, minerals, and food

Tap Root

the main root of a plant that grows vertically downward, from which smaller lateral roots branch out of, it serves to anchor the plant and reach deep water sources

Fibrous root

a dense, fibrous root system with many thin branching roots that grow from the base of the stem, unlike a tap root system with a single main root. They are found in most monocots like grasses, corn, and wheat

Root hairs

not visible to the naked eye, responsible for water absorption and nutrient absorption

Zone of maturation

a region in a plat root where cells stop dividing and begin to specialize into different tissues to further support plant growth

Apical meristem

The growing point of a root (where cell division occurs)

Root Cap

a hard root mass that protects the apical meristem

Apical bud

the primary growing point at the tip of a pant, responsible for vertical growth and releases a hormone (auxin) to discourage the growth of lower, lateral buds.

Internode

a section of a plant stem that lengthens to increase height between nodes

Lenticel

small, pore like structures on the stems and trunks of woody plants, as well as on the skin of some fruits and other organs. They re a type of pore that allows for gas exchange between the internal tissues of the plants and the atmosphere. Important for when a plant does not have leaves.