Nutrition in Plants

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the Nutrition in Plants lecture notes.

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food from simple substances using energy from sunlight; plants are autotrophs.

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and must obtain it by consuming other organisms; animals are heterotrophs.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (food) and oxygen.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis.

Stomata

Pores on the leaf surface that allow gas exchange; opened and closed by guard cells.

Guard cells

Specialized cells that surround stomata and regulate their opening.

Leaves

The primary site of photosynthesis in plants; known as the food factory due to chlorophyll and stomata.

Vessels

Tubular tissues in plants that transport water and minerals from roots to leaves.

Water

Reactant in photosynthesis; absorbed by roots and transported to leaves.

Carbon dioxide

Gas absorbed from air and used in photosynthesis to form carbohydrates.

Nutrients

Substances required for growth and energy, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Carbohydrate

A group of energy-rich compounds (sugars, starch) synthesized via photosynthesis.

Starch

A stored carbohydrate in leaves; its presence indicates photosynthesis and can be detected with iodine.

Nitrogen fixation

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants, performed by certain bacteria.

Rhizobium

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in root nodules of legumes and supply nitrogen to the plant in exchange for shelter.

Legumes

Plants such as peas, beans, gram, and moong that form symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium.

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two organisms that benefits at least one partner.

Cuscuta

A parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll that climbs on hosts and derives nutrients.

Host

The plant that provides nutrients to a parasite.

Parasitic plant

Plants that obtain nutrients from living hosts rather than photosynthesizing themselves.

Insectivorous plants

Plants that trap and digest insects to obtain nutrients in addition to photosynthesis.

Pitcher plant

A carnivorous plant with modified leaves forming a pitcher and a lid to trap insects for digestion.

Saprotroph

An organism that feeds on dead and decaying matter by absorbing nutrients from it, such as many fungi.

Fungi

A kingdom of organisms that absorb nutrients from dead matter; includes mushrooms and yeast; some are useful, some cause disease.

Saprotrophic nutrition

Nutritional mode in which fungi absorb nutrients from dead and decaying matter.

Lichens

A symbiotic association between a photosynthetic alga and a fungus; alga provides food, fungus provides shelter and minerals.

Alga

Photosynthetic organism that forms the photosynthetic partner in lichens.

Fertiliser

Substance added to soil to replenish essential nutrients (N, P, K, etc.).

Manure

Organic fertilizer derived from animal waste; enriches soil with nutrients.