Plant Nutrition

Photosynthesis & Leaf Structure

 Lesson Objectives

What are the components

of a leaf?

How are the cells and

tissues of the leaf arranged
to suit leaf function?
 Leaf Structure
cuticle
upper epidermis

xylem palisade mesophyll

moisture

`
` spongy mesophyll
air spaces
phloem
lower epidermis
guard cells stoma
Leaf Structure
 Distribution of
Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts can
be found in
Palisade mesophyll cells
Spongy mesophyll cells
Guard cells
 Distribution of
Chloroplasts
Cells near the
upper surface of
the leaf that
receive the most
light have the
more
chloroplasts

Palisade
mesophyll cells
Upper surface
Distribution of Stomata
receive direct Upper Lower
exposure to the
Sun and is hotter.
Upper epidermis
has less stomata

Prevent
excessive water
loss
 Advantage of loosely
packed spongy cells

Air spaces allow carbon

dioxide to diffuse faster to
reach mesophyll cells
 Advantage of
vertically arranged
palisade cells

Vertical arrangement of palisade

cells means there are less cross-
walls to interfere with passage of
light. More light can penetrate the
leaf.
 Advantage of closely
packed palisade cells

Palisade cells are closely packed

with little spaces between the cells
in contrast with spongy cells. Top of
the leaf can contain more palisade
cells in this way. This means more
photosynthesis.
 Lesson Objectives

Outline the intake of

carbon dioxide gas into
leaf cells
 Intake of CO2 into Leaf Cells
atmosphere inside leaf

stoma

stoma

CO2 diffuse CO2 diffuse into CO2 dissolve CO2 diffuse

from the air into the air spaces in in the film of from moisture
leaf at the the leaf to reach moisture on across the cell
stomata. the mesophyll mesophyll cell membrane into
cells walls the cells.
 Lesson Objectives

What is the equation for

photosynthesis?
 Word Equation

carbon sunlight
water + dioxide chlorophyll
oxygen + glucose

sunlight
12H2O + 6CO2 chlorophyll 6O2 + C6H12O6
How water is absorbed at the roots
• The soil solution has a higher water potential
than the cell sap of root hair cells.
• Water molecules move from the soil solution,
across the partially permeable cell membrane,
into the root hair cells, by osmosis.
• The cell sap of the root hair cells becomes
diluted and has a higher water potential than
the neighbouring cortex cell.
How water is absorbed at the roots
• Water molecules move into the cortex cell by
osmosis.
• In a similar fashion, water molecules move
from cortex cell to cortex cell by osmosis until
they reach the xylem.