Nutrition in flowering plants

➢ Green plants are called autotrophs as they can build up their own food by a process called
photosynthesis.

➢ They use small molecules around them (CO2 from the air by diffusion and H2O from the soil by
osmosis) to build large organic molecules of glucose which is a carbohydrate.

➢ Photosynthesis is a plant’s method of nutrition.

Photosynthesis

➢ Energy is needed to link CO2 and H2O molecules to construct the larger carbohydrate molecules.
➢ This energy is provided by sunlight.
➢ Some of this energy remains locked away as chemical energy in produced carbohydrate
molecules.
➢ Photosynthesis is therefore a process in which light energy is converted into chemical energy.
➢ Sunlight is trapped in a plant by chlorophyll which is a green coloured chemical that contains Mg.
➢ It is found within the chloroplasts of cells.
➢ Photosynthesis is represented by the following equation.

Word equation:
Light energy
Carbon dioxide + Water Glucose + Oxygen
Chlorophyll

Chemical equation:

Light energy
6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Chlorophyll
➢ The produced glucose is usually converted to starch and stored in the leaf and in other storage
organs.

Factors needed for photosynthesis

1) Carbon dioxide 2) Water 3) Light energy 4) Chlorophyll

Destarching plants for photosynthesis experiments

➢ It is very important to make sure that there is no starch present in the plants that are used in the
experiments, before we begin the experiment.
➢ Therefore destarching should be done by keeping the plants in a dark cupboard for 24 – 48 hours.
➢ It allows the plant to use up any starch present in their leaves.

Steps of the starch test on a leaf

1. Boil the leaf in a beaker of boiling water for about 1 minute –

To kill the plant cells by stopping all the metabolic reactions in them.

2. Turn off the Bunsen burner.

Transfer the boiled leaf into a boiling tube of ethanol and immerse the boiling tube in a
hot water bath –
To remove all the chlorophyll from the leaf and to make the leaf brittle.
Precaution: As alcohol is flammable the Bunsen burner should be switched off and the
boiling tube of alcohol should be boiled using a hot water bath.

3. Remove the leaf from alcohol and rinse it in tap water –

To soften the leaf and to remove the remaining alcohol from the leaf.

4. Spread the leaf on a white tile and add iodine solution.

5. If starch present – leaf will turn blue/black

If starch is absent – leaf will turn brown
 Investigating the necessity for chlorophyll for photosynthesis

Apparatus: A potted plant that is well watered, destarched and variegated.

Variegated plant has leaves one part of which are green (chlorophyll present) and the rest contains no
chlorophyll (often white areas).

Method: Leave the destarched plant in sunlight for 8 hours.

Remove one leaf and carry out the starch test.

Results:

Conclusion: Starch is made only in areas of the leaf where chlorophyll is present. Therefore chlorophyll is
necessary for photosynthesis.
Q. What was the control in this investigation?

The green colour area where chlorophyll is present.

Investigating the necessity for light for photosynthesis

Apparatus: A well-watered, destarched, potted plant

A folded piece of black paper or aluminium foil with a cut out shape on it
Paper clips

Method:

• Fasten the paper or foil over both sides of a leaf on the plant using paper clips.
• Leave the plant in sunlight for a few days.
• Remove the cover from the leaf for starch.

Results:
Conclusion:

Starch is produced only in areas of the leaf where light is able to reach. Therefore light is necessary for
photosynthesis.

Q1. Why was the plant destarched before the beginning of the experiment?

To make the plant use up the previously prepared and stored starch.

Q2. Why was part of the leaf left uncovered?

To act as the control to compare the results with.

Investigating the necessity for carbon dioxide for photosynthesis

Apparatus:

• Two well watered, destarched potted plants

• Polythene bag to fit over the pots
• Two bell jars
• A small beaker containing concentrated NaOH or KOH
• A large piece of flat glass
• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)

Method:

Set up the experiment as follows.

 • The two plants are left in sunlight for about 8 hours.
• A leaf is taken from each plant and tested for the presence of starch.

Results:

• Leaf from the experiment jar stains brown – no starch present

• Leaf from the control jar stains blue/black – starch is present

Conclusion:

Conditions in the two jars were identical, except that only control jar contained CO2. Therefore CO2 is
necessary for photosynthesis.

Waste product of photosynthesis

➢ Carbohydrate is produced when a plant has access to CO2, H2O, sunlight and chlorophyll.
➢ O2 is also produced as a waste product of the process.

Apparatus:

Large beaker, short stemmed funnel, two wooden supports, sodium hydrogen carbonate powder
(NaHCO3) to supply CO2 to the plant, test tube, submerged aquatic plant such as Hydrilla.

Method:

Set up the apparatus as shown below and leave it for 2 days in a place where it will receive sunlight.
Results:

A gas collects at the top of the test tube which is found to relight a glowing splint.

Conclusion:

Only O2 has the ability to relight a glowing splint. Therefore O2 is released during photosynthesis.

The effect of varying light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis

Apparatus:

A large test tube , a funnel, beaker, a bench lamp, an aquatic plat such as Hydrilla, a timer

Method:

Set up the apparatus as shown below and carry out the experiment in a darkened room. So that the only
source of light reaching the plant is the bench lamp.
 • Bubbles are released from the plant as the water plant photosynthesizes.
• Place the bench lamp at a close position to the set up.
• Leave the plant for about 10 minutes to allow the plant to get adjust to the conditions.
• Count the number of bubbles released by the plant for a measured period of time (e g 3 minutes)
• Record the results.
• Move the lamp further away from the set up.
• Again leave the plant for 10 minutes and count the bubbles released for the same length of time
and record the results.
• Repeat the procedure for another far away position of the lamp. Measure the distance between the
lamp and the aquatic plant at each instance.

Results:

• The light intensity reaching the plant decreases as the lamp is moved further away from the plant.
• The number of bubbles released over the same time period also decrease as the light intensity
decreases.

Conclusion:

The rate of photosynthesis decreases with decreased light intensity.

The effect of varying CO2 concentration on the rate of photosynthesis

Apparatus:

A large test tube, a bench lamp, an aquatic plant, a timer, sodium hydrogen carbonate powder (NaHCO3)

Method:

NaHCO3 supplies water with CO2 when it is dissolved in water.

• Immerse the aquatic plant in a test tube filled with tap water.
• The water should be at the room temperature and leave it for about 20 minutes for the plant to
adjust to the conditions.
• Place a bench lamp about 25cm away and direct it at the plant.
• Count the number of bubbles released by the plant over a period of 3 minutes and record the
results.
 • Weigh out 0.25g of NaHCO3 and add it to the water in the test tube.
• Gently shake the tube to dissolve the powder and leave for 20 minutes.
• Again place the lamp about 25cm away from the plant and count the number of bubbles released
over 3 minutes.
• Repeat this process several times by adding a further o.25g of NaHCO3 each time.

Results:

More CO2 becomes available to the plant as more NaHCO3 is added to water.

The number of bubbles released by the plant measured over the same period of time increases as the
amount of CO2 increases.

Conclusion:

The amount of O2 released from the plant increases as the amount of CO2 increases.

Therefore the increased amounts of available CO2 increase the rate of photosynthesis.
 The effect of varying the temperature on the rate of photosynthesis

Apparatus:

A large test tube, bench lamp, an aquatic plant, large beaker, timer, thermometer

Method:

• Set up the apparatus by immersing the plant in a test tube filled with water and immerse it in a
water bath.
• The temperature of the water bath is the only factor that is altered in this experiment.
• Lower the temperature of the water bath by adding ice and leave the plant for 20- 30 minutes to
get adjust to the conditions.
• Count the number of bubbles released by the plant over the period of 3 minutes and record the
results.
• Raise the temperature of the water bath above room temperature by adding warm water.
• Each time leave the plant for 20-30 minutes and count the number of bubbles.
• Check the temperature regularly to make sure the temperature is maintained.

Results:
• More bubbles are released over the same time period with the increasing temperature up to
around 45 0C.
 Conclusion:
The rate of photosynthesis increases with the increasing temperature up to about 45 0C.

Limiting factors in photosynthesis

➢ The required factors which is in the shortest supply limits the rate at which a plant will
photosynthesise.
➢ The rate of photosynthesis in a plant depends on which of these factors in shortest supply.
➢ Light, CO2, H2O and temperature are therefore limiting factors.

Region up to B – light is a limiting factor

In region C – light is not a limiting factor

 Intake of CO2 and H2O by plants

➢ Roots absorb H2O from the soil and leaves absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to construct the

larger glucose molecules formed during photosynthesis.

➢ CO2 enter through the pores called stomata in the leaf surface by diffusion.

➢ Then it diffuses through the spaces between mesophyll cells.

➢ CO2 then dissolves in the film of water which surrounds the cells.

➢ CO2 diffuses in solution into the mesophyll cells and passes to the chloroplasts, where

photosynthesis occurs.

➢ Sugar made by photosynthesis is carried away (translocate) from the leaf in the phloem of the

vascular bundles.

➢ O2 diffuses from the mesophyll cells into the intercellular spaces and out through the stomata

down a concentration gradient into the atmosphere.

➢ Chlorophyll traps light energy and converts it to chemical energy for the formation of

carbohydrates.
 ➢ Glucose manufactured by photosynthesis may be,

a) Converted to starch and stored in the chloroplasts and /or

b) Converted to sucrose to be conducted to other organs via phloem for storage as sucrose or

starch. E g: sucrose storage organs such as sugar cane

Starch storage organs such as potato tuber, sweet potato, manioc, carrot etc.

➢ Osmotic balance of cells will be maintained as the carbohydrate is stored in the form of insoluble

starch.

Structure of a dicotyledonous leaf

➢ Most of a plant’s photosynthesis takes place in the leaves.

➢ Leaves are organs containing several different tissues.
➢ Cells within these tissues are adapted to perform a particular function as efficiently as possible.

Vascular bundle

Intercellular air
spaces Guard cell
 structure Feature Functional adaptation
1) Cuticle Waxy non cellular covering to help protect the • Water proof and prevents
leaf excessive water loss from the leaf
• Prevents the entry of
microorganisms
• Transparent to allow light to
enter.
2) Upper epidermis A single layer of cells that secretes the cuticle • No chloroplasts and allow light to
reach the cells beneath.
3) Palisade mesophyll Usually one layer of closely packed, long cells. • Contains largest number of
cells The first cells to receive light. chloroplasts.
Walls are coated with a water film. • The most active cells in
photosynthesis.
4) Spongy mesophyll Loosely packed with many air spaces between • Fewer chloroplasts than palisade
cells them. cells.
Walls are coated with a water film. • Carry out some photosynthesis.
• Allow gases to freely diffuse
through the leaf.
5) Xylem tissue Dead cells, end-on- end, hardened with lignin. • Transport water and mineral ions
to the leaf.
6) Phloem tissue Small pores between two adjusted tube like • Transport dissolved sugar
cell. (sucrose) mostly away from the
leaf.
7) Lower epidermis Cells do not contain chloroplasts except the • Layer of cells that form the lower
guard cells. protective boundary to the leaf.
May be coated with a thin waxy cuticle.
8) Guard cells Specialized epidermal cells occur in pairs. • Control the opening and closing
Contain chlorophyll. of the stoma between them.
9) Stomata Pores between pairs of guard cells. • Allow,
I. CO2 to enter the leaf for
photosynthesis.
II. O2 to leave the leaf
during photosynthesis.
III. H2O vapour to leave a
leaf during transpiration.
 Control of stoma size

➢ Stoma size is controlled by water pressure within guard cells.

Water lost by
Osmosis

Water lost by
Osmosis

1) Water lost by osmosis. 1) Sugar enters the vacuole from the chloroplast
2) Guard cells become flaccid. 2) Water enters vacuole by osmosis.
3) Stoma closes. 3) Guard cells become turgid, but the thicker inner wall
does not stretch as much as the outer thinner wall.
Guard cells become banana shaped.
Stoma opens.
 Importance of nitrate and Mg ions on plant growth

➢ Carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis acts as the starting point for building other organic
molecules.
➢ Plants must absorb ions from the soil to make these molecules and thereafter for the growth of the
plant.

Mineral Use Deficiency symptom in plant

Nitrate ion For making amino acids and Stunted growth of plant.
then proteins. Older leaves turn yellow.

Magnesium ion For chlorophyll manufacture. Leaves turn yellow.