plant physio terms

turgor pressure

pressure of water within plant cells, helps hold plants up

plant cell wall

prevents lysis, gives rigidity

primary cell walls

growing cells

secondary cell walls

at maturity secondary cell wall develops and stops growth

physoalexins

chemical compounds synthesized in response to cell wall attack

plastids

important for chloroplasts

an envelope composed of two membranes

primary involved in photosynthesis and storage

vacuoles

big pouch of water in middle of cell

plasmodesmata

pores in the cell wall

primary molecules

found in all cells that are neccesary for life

secondary molecules

present in some plant cells that are imp for plant survival and propagation

alkaloids

organic molecules that contain nitrogen

terpenes

all contain some isoprene, a greenhouse gas released by plants

phenolics

compounds with a hydroxyl group attached

lignin

a phenolic polymer deposited in teh cell wall

sallicylic acid

active ingredient in aspirin, in plants essential for the development of systemic acquired resistance

tannin

stored inside the vacuole to prevent damage to cell

growth

process by which the number and size of cells increases

differentiation

process by which cells with identical genetic consitutions become different from one another

development

maturation into an adult body

meristems

growth points where new tissues are generated through cell division

apical meristems

present at root and shoot tips

secondary meristems

produce secondary tissues

trichomes

hair like cells, can be used as a detterent

dermal tissue

tissue of the plant that makes up the waxy outer layer of the plant

ground tissue

tissue system that makes up the majority of a plant

vascular tissue

Plant tissue consisting of cells joined into tubes that transport water and nutrients throughout the plant body.

sporophyte

Diploid, or spore-producing, phase of an organism

gametophyte

The stage in the life cycle of a plant in which the plant produces gametes, or sex cells. haploid

apoplastic

the space between the cell wall and plasma membrane of a plant cell

allows free movement

symplastic

through cells but not vacuoles

transcellular

water goes through vacuoles

botany

study of plants

autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

chloroplasts

Capture energy from sunlight and use it to produce food for the cell

chlorophyll

A green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and some bacteria

cell wall

A rigid layer of nonliving material that surrounds the cells of plants and some other organisms.

cellulose

Carbohydrate component of plant cell walls.

Phytoalexins

an antibiotic, produced by plants, that destroys microorganisms or inhibits their growth

water potential

the potential energy of a volume of water, expressed as a pressure

parenchyma

Fundamental tissue composed of thin-walled living cells that function in photosynthesis and storage.

Collenchyma

type of ground tissue cell with a strong, flexible cell wall; helps support larger plants

sclerenchyma

type of ground-tissue cell with an extremely thick, rigid cell wall that makes ground tissue tough and strong

nodes

the points at which leaves are attached

internodes

the section of a stem between two nodes

axil

the angle between the upper side of the stem and a leaf, branch, bract, tubercle or petiole

bud

undeveloped leafy offshoots that form on the stem of a plant

epidermis

outermost layer of a plant, acts as protective barrier, regulates water loss, gas exchange

cortex

a tissue that performs many functions, including storage, support, and transportation

located between the epidermis and the vascular tissues

vascular

containing phloem and xylem, type of plant

phloem

Living vascular tissue that carries sugar and organic substances throughout a plant

xylem

vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant

sieve elements

living cells that compose sugar-conducting sieve tubes of phloem. Each sieve tube consists of a stack of sieve elements that meet end to end at sieve plates

tracheary elements

specialized dead cells within the xylem tissue that are primarily responsible for transporting water and minerals upwards

pith

ground tissue internal to the vascular tissue

vascular bundle

plant stem structure that contains xylem and phloem tissue

apical meristem

present at root and shoot tips

meristem

Undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells are formed

determinate growth

stop growing after reaching a certain size

indeterminate growth

growth occurs throughout the plant's life

taproot

Single, large root like a carrot.

fibrous roots

several main roots that each branch off to form a mass of roots

lateral roots

The roots that grow out of the sides of a taproot.

adventitious roots

roots that arise above ground

mucigel

sugary water mixture, protects/lubricates, helps absorption

root cap

a structure that covers the tip of a root, protecting the root from injury

root hairs

increase surface area for absorption

Casparian strip

waterproof strip that surrounds plant endodermis cells

what forces draw water out of a cell

tension draws water up as the molecules stick together

how do roots grow?

By producing new cells at their tips with the root apical meristem

which part of the root does cell division

apical meristem

which part of the root does cell elongation

zone of elongation, just below apical meristem

which part of the root does cell maturation

region of elongation, above apical meristem

dermal tissue (epidermis)

forms the outer layer of a root, shoot, or leaf that covers and protects the plant