Plant Products

Lipids

Plants make many different lipids, a group of insuluble substances that include fats and oils.

The cuticle of a plant leaf contains lipids to make it water proof and plants use them to make parts of cells, like the membrane.

Glucose

When glucose molecules are connected in a long chain, it’s called starch. When 2 glucose molecules are connected it’s called maltose.

Iodine Test

Iodine solution is orange-brown. To test if starch is present, add a few drops of iodine solution to your food sample. If starch is present, it will become blue-black

How sucrose is made

The plants convert the glucose from photosynthesis to starch and this starch stays in the chloroplast until photosynthesis stops.

It is then broken down into smaller sugar molecules called sucrose and is transported around the plant, via the phloem.

Sucrose

Sucrose can be transported around the plant and maybe used to make:

—> Other molecules in the plant such as cellulose which is used in cells

—> Glucose for respiration or… Starch which can be found in a storage organ such as a potato.

Day and Night

Starch is broken down in the chloroplast at night ot when there is not enough light for photosynthesis. Because during the daytime, the plant has enough glucose for respiration (because it is being made through photosynthises) so when it’s nightime, the plant needs glucose so they break down the starch to get sucrose which is used to make glucose for respiration.

Proteins

Proteins are a type of polymer, they are long chains of amino acids.

To make amino acids, a plant needs a good supply of minneral salts called nitrates which is a nitrogen containing compound.

1- Glucose and nitrates are used to make amino acids. These amino acids can make different proteins depending on the order of amino acids, the order of amino acids is determined by your DNA.

Proteins more stuff

.Seeds also conatain a store of protein to supply amino acids to make new proteins as a seedling starts to grow.

Plants need nitrates to make proteins. All enzymes are proteins so processes such as photosynthesis and respiration cannot occur properly without a good supply pf nitrates

Germination

Water and oxygen enter seed, allowing molecules to move around. Enzymes that digest starch into glucose are released(Works faster when it’s warmer) which enters the embryo allowing it to respire and grow.

Things found in a seed

1: Starch: Which is used as a source of energy

2: Glucose: Used to respire

3: Oxygen: Also used to respire (It has to enter the seed)

4: Lipids: An energy store

5: Protein: Store of amino acids

6: Cellulose: In the cell walls of the embryo

7: Enzymes: To break down starch

Uses of Glucose

Aerobic Resperation
Amino acids which are used to make proteins
Fat/Lipids which are used in the cell membrane
Cellulose which is used in cell walls
Starch, which is used as a store of energy

Uses of Carbohydrates

respiration (energy)
stored as starch
cellulose for cell walls