1.

Green plants are able to synthesise their own nutrients such as glucose from
carbon dioxide and water .
2. (a) The glucose produced is used in cellular respiration to form ATP molecules.
3. (b) The glucose produced can be converted into starch , cellulose, proteins,
lipids and nucleic acids.
4. Minerals are essential chemical elements required by plants to achieve optimal
growth and can be obtained from soil.

MINERALS
Macronutrients Macronutrients
The elements needed by plants in The elements needed by plants in
large amounts. small amounts.

• Carbon
• Chlorine
• Hydrogen
• Iron
• Oxygen
• Manganese
• Nitrogen
• Boron
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
• Potassium
• Cuprum
• Calcium
• Nickel
• Magnesium
• Molybdenum
• Sulphur

macronutrients function Effects of deficiency

Synthesise main organic • Death of plants
compounds such as
carbohydrates , proteins ,
lipids and nucleic acids
Synthesise chlorophyll , amino • Chlorosis
acids and nucleic acids • Sunted growth
 - Synthesis nucleic acids ,
ATP and plasma membrane
- Important in
photodynthesis
- Synthesise protein
- A cofactor for many
enzymes
- Component of cell walls
- Formation of spindle
fibers
Sythesise chlorophyll and
activate plant enzymes
Synthesise amino acids ,
nucleic acids and vitamin B
micronutrients functions
Control turgidity of cell and
balance of ions
Synthesis chlorophyll
Activates enzymes in
photosynthesis
Cell division in meristematic
tissues
Synthesis auxin
- Synthesise chlorophyll
- Activates mny plant
enzymes
• Poor root growth
• Red or purple spots on old
leaves
• Premeture death of plants
• Yellow – edged leaves
• Stuned growth
• Formation of unhealthy
leaves
• Chlorosis and red spots on
leaf surface
• chlorosis
Effects of deficiency
• Chlororsis
• Wilting of young leaves
• chlorosis
• Brown spots between the
veins
• Death of shoot tips
• Stunted growth
• Chloris
• Red spots on leaf surface
 - Certain enzymes • Necrosis
components in metabolism • Chlorosis
- Involved in nitrogen • Unhealthy growth of
binding shoots , tips of shoot is
dead
Involved in nitrogen fixation • Pale green leaves
• Eduction in crop yields

3. Effects of N:P:K ratio on plants growth:

• Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are main elements in
macronutrients.
• Imbalance and different N:P:K ratios will affect growth and development in
plants.
• Effects of N:P:K ratio on plants can be studied through experiment by
manipulating the ratio of N:P:K in culture solution.

1. Root is the main organ used to absorb water and mineral salts from soil.
2. Roots grow and elongate towards water.
3. The uptake of water and mineral salts occurs along the root especially in the
zone of cell differentiation , in which the vascular tissue and root hairs are
formed.

ADAPTATION OF ROOT FOR

UPTAKE OF WATER AND MINERAL SALTS
a) The non-cuticle epidermis enables the roots to
uptake water and mineral salts.

b) Some epidermis cells undergo differentiation to

form root hair to increase surface area for
uptake of water and mineral salts.
c) The presence of endodermis to transport
mineral salts actively into vascular tissue of
root. This will create a concentration gradient
between the vascular tissue and cortex so that
water in the cortex can diffuse into vascular
tissue rapidly.

d) Xylem in root transports water and mineral

salts from root to shoot to ensure continuously
diffusion of water and mineral salts from soil
into root.

1. All plants can carry out photosynthesis except the parasitic plants.
2. Some plants also diversify nutrition with
3. photosynthesis. This is due to the nutritional adaptations in certain species
through evolution.
4. There are three plant nutrition other than photosynthesis.

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
• The carnivorous plants carry out photosynthesis to obtain glucose.
• Examples of carnivorous plants are tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.) and
Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula).
• Grow on hill with nitrogen poor habitat and low soil pH.
• The leaves of carnivorous plants are adapted to trap insects.
• When the insects are trapped, glands on the leaf surface secrete enzymes and
digest the insects.
• The digested products, especially amino acids that rich in nitrogen are absorbed
and assimilated in the plants.
 PARASITIC PLANTS
• The parasitic plants have modified roots, called haustoria .
• Haustoria can penetrate into vascular tissue of the host plant to absorb
nutrients .
• Example of parasitic plant is Rafflesia

EPIPHYTIC PLANTS
• Examples of epiphytic plants are staghorn fern , bird’s nest fern and epiphytic
orchids.
• Have modified roots to dry environment and can anchor to the host plant on
trunk, branch or other surfaces where they grew.
• Have roots and leaves to absorb water and mineral from rain water.
• The epiphytic plants do not harm the host plants.