Lecture_13_-_Introduction_to_Plants_2024

Introduction to Plants (Kingdom Plantae)

By the end of this discussion, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What are the key characteristics of plants?

2. How do plants acquire energy and nutrients, and produce ATP?

Key Characteristics of Plants

1. Cell Structure

   • Composed of one or more eukaryote cells.

   • Eukaryotic cells have distinct nucleus and organelles.

2. Cell Wall Composition

   • Cell wall is composed of cellulose, which is a carbohydrate.

   • Provides structure and support to the plant cells.

3. Chlorophyll

   • Presence of chlorophyll within chloroplasts, enabling photosynthesis.

   • Chloroplasts are the sites where light energy is converted into chemical energy.

Plant Nutrition

1. Energy Acquisition

   • Plants obtain energy in the form of carbohydrates through autotrophy, primarily via carbon fixation during photosynthesis.

   • This process is termed primary production as it forms the base of the food web.

2. Nutrient Absorption

   • Essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon are absorbed from the environment.

   • Methods of absorption vary across different taxonomic groups of plants.

3. ATP Production

   • Plants produce ATP through aerobic cellular respiration, which involves the breakdown of glucose.

   • This ATP is crucial for various cellular activities and growth processes.