Vascular Plant Structure and Resource Transport

These flashcards cover key concepts related to vascular plant structure, growth, resource transport, and water movement. They serve as a study aid for understanding the major ideas presented in the lecture notes.

What is the primary difference between primary and secondary plant growth?

Primary growth increases the length of the plant, while secondary growth increases its girth.

What resources do vascular plants need to acquire from their environment?

Vascular plants need water, minerals, carbon dioxide, and sunlight.

What mechanisms do vascular plants use for transport of resources?

Diffusion, active transport, and bulk flow.

What are the two major systems for resource acquisition in plants?

The shoot system (above ground) and the root system (below ground).

How do roots maximize nutrient uptake?

Roots respond to local changes in conditions and form mutualistic associations with mycorrhizae.

What are the apoplastic and symplastic routes?

The apoplastic route is through cell walls and extracellular spaces, while the symplastic route is through the cytosol.

What role do aquaporins play in plant water transport?

Aquaporins are transport proteins that facilitate the passage of water across cell membranes.

What is water potential in plants?

Water potential is the measure combining solute concentration and physical pressure that predicts the direction of water flow.

What happens to a flaccid cell in hypertonic conditions?

A flaccid cell in a hypertonic environment loses water and undergoes plasmolysis.

What is the importance of turgor pressure in plant cells?

Turgor pressure helps maintain cell stiffness and drives cell elongation.

What is phyllotaxy?

Phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on a stem, which is important for maximizing light capture.

What is the function of the xylem and phloem in plants?

Xylem transports water and minerals, while phloem transports sugars.

How do leaf orientation and canopy cover affect plant productivity?

Leaf orientation affects light absorption; shaded leaves may undergo self-pruning, affecting overall productivity.

What defines osmosis in the context of plant cells?

Osmosis is the diffusion of water from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a semi-permeable membrane.

What is the effect of increased solute concentration on water potential?

As solute concentration increases, the solute potential becomes more negative, reducing overall water potential.