Plant Physiology I: Part B

(CMCHOW)

• Photosynthesis
– Basic principles
– Exploring photosynthesis
• Observing Photosynthesis
• Limiting factors
• Chromatography
• Transport and absorption by roots 1
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Concept of Limiting factors

• The principle of limiting factor:
– “At any given moment, the rate of a
physiology process is limited by the one
factor which is in shortest supply, and by
that factor alone” (Blackman 1905) A

• The limiting factor: any change of its level 

reaction rate B

• Other factors: no effect

• E.g. The limiting factor photosynthetic rate in
C
the dark

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 The levels of different conditions
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on the rate of photosynthesis

Limiting factor D

Limiting factor C

Limiting factor B

Limiting factor A

Light intensity 3
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The effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis,

as measured by the amount of CO2 exchange

• Compensation point:
– CO2 produced in respiration =
CO2 used in photosynthesis
• Light saturation
– Further increases in light
intensity: no effect
– Other factors: limiting

Light intensity

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 In which of the following graphs is the
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limiting factor on photosynthesis initially

light intensity?
A B

C D

• http://www.spsbiology.info/Learning%20exercises/Photosynthesis%20mulitchoice/photosynthesis_multi-choice.htm
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Measuring the rate of photosynthesis

• An aquatic plant (Elodea)
• Net oxygen production
– Assumption about the respiration rate
• Identify
– Independent variables
– Dependent variables
– Controlled variables
• A small volume of sodium
hydrogencarbonate solution
usually added to the pond water
before photosynthetic rates are
measured. Why?

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Measuring the rate of photosynthesis

• Excluding the anomalous results
• Calculate the mean length of bubble
• Present the data by plotting a graph

70

60

50
Mean length of
Distance of lamp Length of bubble
bubble after 5 minutes
40 from plant /cm after 5 minutes/mm
/mm
60, 55, 28, 62, 63,
5
30 68
10 3, 36, 39, 33, 24, 28
20
20 7, 10, 5, 6, 9, 8
40 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 4
10
y-axis:

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
x axis:
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How the amount of CO2 and light

affect the rate of photosynthesis

• http://www.neiljohan.com/projects/biology/rate-of-photosynthesis.htm

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Photosynthesis and chromatography

• Chromatography:
– Moving the mixture carried by
the mobile phase (as a liquid or
a gas), over a stationary phase
(embedded in cellulose or silica)
– Separating one type of molecule
from another
• Differing in a range of chemical
and physical properties (e.g.
solubility and molecular mass)
– E.g. Paper chromatography  Draw a large circle in the center of a piece
• The identification of a particular of filter paper with a black water-soluble,
felt-tip pen.
molecule
 Fold the paper into a cone and place the tip
– Rf value (retardation factor) in a container of water.
– Distance travelled by a  In just a few minutes you will have tie-dyed
compound/ Distance travelled filter paper!
by solvent front
•The mobile phase:
•The stationary phase:
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 Photosynthetic Pigment
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Separation By Paper
chromatography

http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/lab4/concepts1.html

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What is the Rf value for carotene calculated
from the chromatogram below?
Statement T/F?
The Rf for carotene can be determined by
dividing the distance the yellow-orange
pigment (carotene) migrated by the
distance the solvent front migrated.
The Rf value of chlorophyll b will be higher
than the Rf value for chlorophyll a
If this same chromatogram were set up
and run for twice as long, the Rf values
would be twice as great for each pigment

If a different solvent were used for the

chlorophyll chromatography described earlier,
what results would you expect?
A. The distances travelled by each pigment
will be different, but the Rf values will stay
the same.
B. The relative position of the bands will be
A. 1.09 different.
B. 0.17 C. The results will be the same if the time is
C. 0.96 held constant.
D. 0.33 D. The Rf values of some pigments might
E. 0.50 CMCHOW exceed 1.0. 12
 CMCHOW http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp08/0802003.html

Tracing the pathway of CO2 by combing radioactive

tracer labeling with paper chromatography
Extract of collected algae

a second run performed in a

Two-dimensional paper chromatography perpendicular direction

capillary
action
travel at
different
speeds

https://www.whfreeman.com/BrainHoney/Resource/6716/SitebuilderUploads/Hillis
2e/Student%20Resources/Animated%20Tutorials/pol2e_at_0605_Tracing_the_Path
way_of_CO2/pol2e_at_0605_Tracing_the_Pathway_of_CO2.html 14
CMCHOW

Tracing the pathway of CO2 by combing radioactive

tracer labeling with paper chromatography

an x-ray film on top of the paper

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Transport

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Basic concepts of the movement of molecules

• Brownian motion: the random motion and collision of
molecules
• Diffusion: the movement of particles from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower concentration
– Concentration gradient

Diffusion will occur; net movement from a region of high Concentration gradient is 0; no net movement
concentration to a region of lower concentration
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Passive transport vs Active transport

– Passive transport /diffusion of a molecule
• exergonic movement ‘DOWN’ the concentration
gradient
– Active transport
• movement ‘UP’ the concentration gradient/
electrochemical gradient
Active transport
– Require driving force

Passive transport

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CMCHOW

Transport across membrane:

Passive transport
• Simple Diffusion
– Transported molecules: a small, relatively non-polar molecules simply
permeates/move into the phospholipid bilayer and diffuses passively
across the bilayers
– Net movement down the gradient (from high [x] to low [x])
– E.g. Oxygen
• LUNG: High [O2] in alveoli  Low [O2] in the cytosol of RBCs
• TISSUE: Low [O2] in cells  High [O2] in the cytosol of RBCs

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Transport across membrane:

Passive transport
• Facilitated Diffusion
– Facilitated by a specific transport protein in the membrane
• E.g. glucose
– Too large & too polar to diffuse across the membrane unaided
• Transport proteins
– Carrier proteins
• The alternating conformation model
– Carrier proteins alternate between two conformational states

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CMCHOW

Transport across membrane:

passive transport
• Osmosis
– a special example of diffusion
– the diffusion of water through a partially permeable membrane
– Down the water potential gradient

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Transport across membrane:

Active transport
• Active transport
– Molecules ions transported
against a gradient
• Up a concentration gradient or
against an electrochemical
potential
– Input of energy
• A thermodynamically unfavorable
/ endergonic process (energy-
absorbing process)
• Coupled to energy-yielding
reactions
– E.g. ATP hydrolysis (ATP  ADP +
Pi)

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How Are Plant Bodies Transport system
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Organized?
• A root system
– Anchorage
– Absorption
• A shoot system
– Photosynthesis
– Reproduction

• Vascular tissue
• Occurs in strands, called vascular bundles
• Contains both xylem and phloem.

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Transport system
• Xylem: conducts water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the
rest of the plant
ground tissue
cells (fibers)

pits

Openings connect Pits link the insides

the vessel elements of the tracheids and
vessel elements
end
wall

vessel
tracheids
element
vessel tracheids
element

(a) Xylem structure (b) Longitudinal section of xylem

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• Phloem conducts substances throughout the
plant.
– sugars, amino acids, and hormones
– sieve tubes that form continuous conducting
tubes that connect all parts of the plant

ground
tissue
cells

Sieve plates connect

the sieve-tube elements

sieve plate
with pores

sieve-tube
element
companion
cell
nucleus companion
cell

(a) Phloem structure (b) Cross section of phloem 26

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Transport system: roots

epidermis
root hair
cortex

endodermis
of cortex

xylem
phloem

vascular
cylinder

apical
meristem

root
cap

Fig. 17-8
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Transport system: shoots

terminal bud
beginning leaves
apical
meristem sunflower
(dicot)
stem pith
node

lateral bud

vascular cortex
epidermis
bundle

internode blade
leaf
stalk
branch
(sprouted
lateral bud)
pith
epidermis
cortex
phloem phloem vascular
cambium
vascular xylem
cambium
xylem
pith
vascular stem
bundle 28
vascular bundle
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How Do Plants Acquire Water And
Transport Water And Nutrients?
• Transpiration drives the
movement of water in xylem Water evaporates
through the stomata
of leaves
– Water evaporates through the
stomata of leaves
– Lower water concentration in water molecules

mesophyll  water from

xylem to mesophyll cells Cohesion of water
molecules to one
(Osmosis) another and adhesion
to the xylem wall by

flow of water
– Hydrogen bonding between hydrogen bonds
creates a “water chain”
adjacent water molecules
– Low water pressure in the
vascular cylinder of roots
– Water absorption from soils
Water enters
the vascular
cylinder of the root

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