CHAPTER 1

HOW PLANTS GROW

Chapter 1

WHEN A PLANT GROWS

The

size increase

The

mass increase

Start

to reproduce

Flowering
Fruiting

Chapter 1

STARCH
Energy

in the form of carbohydrate stored in

the plant in the form of colourless grain.

The

leaf of a plant is starch free when its left

in darkness for 2-3 days, this process is
known as destarching.

Chapter 1

STARCH IN LEAF
Can

not be tested by directly adding iodine

to leaf

No

colour change due to the cell wall

doesnt allow liquid to pass through.

Chapter 1

TESTING STARCH IN LEAF

1.

A beaker of water is boiled.

2.

The leaf is dipped in boiled water. (to

make water easier to pass through it)

3.

The leaf is then boiled in the test tube

filled with ethanol. (to remove the
chlorophyll)

4.

The leaf is placed on white tile.

5.

Iodine solution (brown in colour) is

dropped to the leaf. (If starch present, the
leaf will turn blue black)

Chapter 1

Figure 1.3
5

TESTING STARCH IN LEAF

Chapter 1

STARCH

Chapter 1

EFFECT OF CARBON DIOXIDE ON

STARCH PRODUCTION
Soda Lime
- Absorbs carbon dioxide
Sodium Hydrogencarbonate
- Produce carbon dioxide
Result
- The leaf of plant with dish of soda lime did not
contain starch
- The leaf of plant with dish of sodium
hydrogencarbonate contain starch.
Conclusion
- Carbon dioxide is needed for starch production.
Chapter 1

Figure 1.5
8

EFFECT OF LIGHT ON STARCH

PRODUCTION
Aluminium foil covering
- Opaque
Plastic covering
- Transparent
Result
- The leaf of plant with aluminum foil cover does
not contain starch.
- The leaf of plant with plastic cover contain
starch.
Conclusion
- Carbon dioxide is needed for starch production.
Chapter 1

Figure 1.7

OXYGEN PRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Observation and testing
- The gas produce is tested with a glowing
wooden splint, the splint reignited.
- It shows that the gas produce is oxygen.
Conclusion
- Oxygen gas is produced during starch
production.

Chapter 1

Figure 1.6
10

STARCH PRODUCTION
1. FACTORS THAT EFFECT THE STARCH PRODUCTION:
- Present of carbon dioxide
- Present of light
2. CO2 is needed for the production of starch and oxygen in
the presence of light.
3. The process is known as photosynthesis.

Chapter 1

11

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Process

in plants using light and produce starch.

In

the chlorophyll, the lights energy is absorbed

and converted into carbohydrate.

Chlorophyll is a substance that makes the leaves

appear green and can be found in leaf cells.

Transfer

of energy during photosynthesis:

Light Energy
Chapter 1

Chlorophyll

Stored Chemical
Energy
12

Chapter 1

13

BIOMASS
Amount
Can

of matter/mass in living thing.

be found out by weighting the living things.

Photosynthesis

is responsible for making biomass

and oxygen.
Used

Chapter 1

to monitor environment.

14

WET AND DRY BIOMASS

WET BIOMASS

DRY BIOMASS

- mass of living things when - Mass of living things when

alive
dead
- Includes the mass of water - Does not includes the mass
of water

Usually, dry biomass is considered because it is more

accurate measurement of actual matter which formed the
living part of the organism
Chapter 1

15

MINERALS
Can

be found in soils.

Dissolved

in water in soils.

Absorbed

into the plants by roots.

Move

through plants to where they are needed.

Examples

of minerals salts, potassium phosphate

and calcium nitrate.

Chapter 1

16

TRANSPORT OF WATER THROUGH A

PLANT

Chapter 1

Figure 1.10

17

Roots hair

Found in the projection of most plant roots.

The tips of roots hairs grow into soil.

Large quantity, up to 500 root hairs in 1cm 2 of roots

surface.

Water

in the soil is drawn into the plant to replace the

water that has lost via evaporation.

Transportation

energy.

Chapter 1

of water in plant does not require

18

 Mineral
Plants
The

salts are dissolved in the soil water.

required energy to take them in.

energy is provided by the root cells.

Root

cells use oxygen in respiration.

The

oxygen is obtained from the air space

between soil.

Chapter 1

19

 Tubes

for transporting water

Formed by cell in the plants.

The cell formed columns in plants.

When they die, the walls between them break down.

Tubes is formed.

These water-conducting tubes are called xylem

vessel.

Chapter 1

20

THE CELL STRUCTURE OF A LEAF

Chapter 1

21

 Substances

passing
through stoma:
1.

Carbon dioxide

2.

Water vapor

3.

Oxygen

. Opening

and closing of stoma is

controlled by guard cell.

Figure 1.14
Chapter 1

22

ENDS OF CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

23