Three Basic Transport Mechanisms in Vascular Plants to

transfer water, minerals and sugars

Diffusion, Active Transport,
and Bulk Flow

36.1: Land Plants Acquire Resources Both Above and Below Ground

Land Plants inhabit two
worlds

Above Ground and below ground

Above Ground

Shoot Systems acquire sunlight and CO2

Below Ground

Root Systems acquire water and minerals

Evolution of Vascular
Tissue w/ xylem and
phloem

Development of extensive root and shoot systems that carry out
long-distance transport

Shoot Systems

Stems serve as supporting structures for leaves and as
conduits for the transport of water and nutrients

Variation in Shoot Systems

Arrangement of leaves, outgrowth of axillary buds, and relative
growth in stem length and thickness

Large Leaves

Tropical Rainforests

Small Leaves

Dry or cold environments

Phyllotaxy

Arrangement of leaves on stem
 important in light capture/

Alternate (Spiral) Phyllotaxy

One leaf per node

Opposite Phyllotaxy

Two leaves per node

Whorled Phyllotaxy

More than two leaves per node

Angiosperms

Leaves arranged in an ascending spiral around the stem (137.5
degrees)

137.5 Degrees

Angle allows each leaf to get the max exposure to light and
reduces shading of the lower leaves by those above

Leaf Area Index

Ratio of the total upper leaf surface of a single plant or an entire
crop divided by the surface area of the land on which the plant
or crop grows

Self-Pruning

Nonproductive leaves or branches undergo programmed cell
death (due to being shaded too much by higher leaves)

Leaf Orientation Affects light capture Horizontal Oriented Leaves Low-Light Conditions Vertical Oriented Leaves GrassLands or Other Sunny Regions Stem Thickness thick stems = greater vascular flow to the leaves and mechanical support Thin Stems (Vines) rely on other plants to raise their leaves higher Root Branching Enable strong anchorage Taller Plants (Gymnosperms and eudicots) Anchored by strong taproot systems w/ numerous branches Small Plants (Monocots) Small due to weaker fibrous root systems as anchors Mycorrhizae Mutualistic associations between roots and fungi (80% of all plants) Fungal Hyphae Provides an extensive surface area for the absorption of water and minerals Stem Elongation (766)  Carbon dioxide and sunlight are easilier absorbed through branching (exploitation)  Plants have a finite amount of energy to devote to shoot growth o Can not put all energy in branching → will be shaded by taller plants o Must find a proper median based off their environment .