Plant Biology Exam 1

Principle

useful generalization derived from experimental data

Theory

Grouping of Related Principles

Anatomy

Study of the internal structure of a plant

Physiology

Study of a plant's functions

Taxonomy

The classification and naming of plants

Geography

Plant distribution

Ecology

Study of the interaction between plants and their environments

Morphology

Study of plant forms and structures in an evolutionary sense

Genetics

Plants and Heredity

Cell Biology

Study of plant cell structures and functions

Mycology

Study of fungi

Bryology

Study of bryophytes (mosses)

Ecosystem

all the biotic and abiotic factors of a community and the environmental conditions

40-50 micrometers

The size of the average plant cell (in micrometers)

1665, Robert Hooke

Cells were discovered in ______ by ____________.

Compound Microscope

Microscope better suited for distinguishing organelles of thin samples

Dissecting Microscope

Microscope better suited for examining the details of the surface of a thick specimen

Transmission Electron Microscope

Microscope utilizing beams of electrons to view samples up to 200,000x, given the sample is very thin

Scanning Electron Microscope

Microscope utilizing beams of electrons to see the details of a sample surface up to 10,000x

Cell Wall

Cell product structure surrounding the plasma membrane. Contains cellulose.

Plasma Membrane

The fluid coating that contains the cytoplasm

Cytosol

Mixture of cell fluids that contains most major organelles

Vacuole

Large membrane-bound organelle within the plasma membrane filled with water and other fluids. Takes up 90% of a plant cell

Nucleus

Central cell organelle containing the cell's genetic material

Lignin

Cell Wall is to cellulose as Secondary Wall is to ______.

Cellulose

Cell Wall is to _________ as Secondary Wall is to lignin.

Middle Lamella

Cell tissue between the two layers of cellulose making up a cell wall

Plasmodesmata

Pores within a cell wall that allow fluids and materials to pass between cells

Nucleoplasm

The fluid filling the nucleus

Nucleoi

The components that assemble to become RNA residing in the nucleoplasm

Chromatin

Compact strands of DNA

Endoplasmic Reticulum

The ribbon-textured organelle that facilitates cellular communication and material channeling

Ribosomes

The structures embedded in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum that synthesize proteins

Dictyosomes

Extensions of the endoplasmic reticulum made up of a series of flattened sacs. It puts together sugars and carbohydrates using the proteins made by ribosomes

Plastid

A plant cell organelle containing pigments. Examples include chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and amlyoplasts

Stroma

The fluid filling a plastid

Thylakoids

The individual disc-like structures within a chloroplast. Photosynthesis occurs on their surface

Grana

Stacks of thylakoids

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the plant cell

Cytoskeleton

The network of microtubules and microfilaments that channel cellulose to be deposited at cell walls

G1, S, G2

The three phases of interphase

Prophase

Stage of mitosis during which chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the nuclear membrane begins to break down

Metaphase

Stage of Mitosis during which the centromeres of chromosomes line up along the cell equator, and spindles attach to the centromeres

Anaphase

Stage of Mitosis in which sister chromatins are separated as the spindles pull them to the cell poles

Telophase

Stage of Mitosis in which the two new clumps of DNA start developing nuclear membranes

Cystokinesis

The process coinciding with telophase during which the two cells become separate

Meristematic Tissue

Plant tissues composed of embryonic cells that can continue to divide

Apical Meristems

The cells occurring at the apices of a plant that divide and stimulate primary growth

Lateral Meristems

The cells occurring along the sides of a plant that divide and stimulate outward (secondary) growth

Intercalary Meristems

The cells in the middle regions of a plant that divide and stimulate growth any whichway

Protoderm

Apical meristem cells that will eventually make up the epidermis

Procambium

Apical meristem cells that will eventually become vascular tissue

Ground Meristem

Apical meristem cells in between protoderms and procambiums

Cork Cambium

Lateral meristem cells that develop into secondary covering after the epidermis can no longer expand.

Parenchyma

Simple plant tissue with large vacuoles and thin cell walls

Collechyma

Simple plant tissue that provides temporary support to a plant. Such tissue is only a cell thick

Sclerenchyma

Simple plant tissue that is the lignin-enforced structural component of secondary walls. By the time the secondary wall is formed, these cells are dead.

Xylem

The vascular tissue that conducts water and minerals absorbed by the roots. (one way)

Phloem

The vascular tissue that conducts sugars made by photosynthesis throughout the plant (two way)

Tracheids

Specialized cells in the xylem that allow water to pass between cells

Sieve Tubes

Elongated tube-like cells in the phloem that have little sieve-like caps on either end. No nucleus! Needs a companion cell to operate

Companion Cells

The sister cell to sieve tubes that facilitates it's functioning (sieve tubes need the help because they have no nucleus)

Epidermis

The thin complex tissue covering the outside of the plant during primary growth

Cuticles

The thicker coverage tissue of a plant in primary growth. Only stems need these

Stoma

Opening on the underside of a leaf to allow for gas exchange

Trichomes

Plant hairs extending from the epidermis mainly for protection

Periderm

The secondary plant covering that succeeds the epidermis. Formerly cork cambium, now bark.

Suberin

Cutin is to cuticles as _______ is to periderms

Cutin

______ is to cuticles as suberin is to periderms

Monocots

Plants with a fibrous root system that is complex and multi-stemmed

Dicots

Plants with a taproot system that has one main root

Root Cap

A little helmet of parenchyma cells covering root tip apical meristems

Cortex Cells

Cells that were once ground meristems but in the roots maturate to store food

Pericycle

Ring of parenchyma cells inside the endodermis of a root that produce cells for lateral roots

pith

The parenchyma tissue at the core of a root. Specific to monocot roots

Propagative roots

Roots that can put out adventitious buds to develop into new shoots in the event the plant is cut down.

Pneumatophores

Spongy roots submerged in water that extend to the surface to make gas exchange

Aerial roots

Roots that are not in the ground

Contractile roots

Roots that pull their plant further into the soil

Buttress roots

Tall flat roots that extend out laterally to provide support to huge trees in shallow soils

parasitic roots

Roots of parasitic plants

mychorrhizae

Fungi that form a mutualistic association with plant roots

Legume Family

The Family of plants that grow nitrogen-fixating nodules off their roots

Hydroscopic Water

Water physically bound to soil particles that is not available to plants

Gravitational Water

Water that is lost from rapid soil drainage

Capillary Water

Water that is held in place in the pores of the soil; available to plants

Field Capacity

The amount of water retained in soil after drainage

Permanent Wilting Point

The rate of water absorption insufficient for a plant's needs

Alkaline

Basic soils with heavy limestone content are _______ and are mineral poor.

Acidic

Soils with heavy sandstone content are __________ and have little bacterial activity

Annual plants

Plants that have a lifespan of about one year

Perennials

Plants with long lifespans that die in the winter and grow back in the spring

Node

The point on a twig to which the leaf is attached

Petiole

The "stem" of a leaf

Axil

The angle at which a leaf grows from a twig

Axillary buds

leaf buds that grow from the axil of a twig

Terminal buds

Leaf buds that grow from the tip of a twig

Leaf primordia

The protective casing around the apical meristem-stage leaf bud

Vascular cambium

The ring of vascular cells that divide and stimulate lateral growth. Xylem cells get produced behind it, and phloem cells ahead of it

Xylem, Phloem

In woody trees undergoing secondary growth, there is more _______ tissue than ________ tissue.