Plant Nutrition and Transport Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering plant nutrition, photosynthesis equations and experiments, leaf adaptations, and internal leaf structures.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants make carbohydrates from raw materials like carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll to release oxygen.

Word equation for photosynthesis

carbon dioxide + water \rightarrow glucose + oxygen (in the presence of chlorophyll and sunlight)

Balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis

$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$$

Chlorophyll

A green pigment found in chloroplasts that traps sunlight and transfers light energy into chemical energy for the formation of glucose and other carbohydrates.

Starch (in plant nutrition)

A carbohydrate produced during photosynthesis that is used by plants as an energy store.

Cellulose (in plant structure)

A carbohydrate synthesized by plants that is used to build cell walls.

Sucrose (in plant transport)

The form of sugar used for transport through the plant.

Protein synthesis in plants

The process of synthesizing biological molecules like proteins using glucose and mineral ions.

Pondweed experiment for light intensity

An investigation using submerged aquatic plants to measure the rate of photosynthesis by counting the oxygen bubbles produced in a specific time range as the distance to a light source varies.

Light intensity plateau (Section C)

The point on a rate of photosynthesis graph where increasing light intensity no longer increases the rate of photosynthesis, because chlorophyll has absorbed as much sunlight as possible.

Leaf surface area adaptation

Leaves are broad and have a large surface area to absorb or receive more sunlight.

Leaf thickness adaptation

Leaves are thin to allow easy diffusion of gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Cuticle

A non-cellular waxy layer on the top and bottom surface of leaves that prevents water loss and allows sunlight to pass through.

Upper & lower epidermis

The top and bottom-most thin, transparent layers of the leaf containing cells without chloroplasts that protect the mesophyll.

Palisade mesophyll

The top section of the middle layer of a leaf containing long, cylindrical cells with the greatest number of chloroplasts, where most photosynthesis occurs.

Spongy mesophyll

A leaf layer containing irregularly shaped, loosely packed cells with air spaces in between and fewer chloroplasts compared to palisade cells.

Guard cells

Bean-shaped cells on the epidermis containing chloroplasts that open during daytime to allow carbon dioxide to diffuse in and oxygen and water vapour to diffuse out.

Stomata

The spaces formed when guard cells open, which are larger during daytime compared to night time.

Vascular bundle

The transport vessel system of plants consisting of xylem and phloem.

Xylem

A component of the vascular bundle that transports water and dissolved mineral salts from the roots to the stems and leaves and provides mechanical support for the plant.

Phloem

A component of the vascular bundle that transports sucrose and amino acids from the green parts of the plant to other parts of the plant.

Air spaces (in leaf structure)

Gaps inside the spongy mesophyll that allow faster diffusion, faster gas exchange, movement of gases, increased surface area and contact between cells and air, and store $CO_2$.