GCE Study Buddy Biology

Autotrophic nutrition
Autotrophic nutrition is the mode of nutrition in which organisms can make organic food by themselves using simple inorganic substances. The process by which the green plants obtain nutrients is called Photosynthesis

Nature of photosynthesis
Takes place in Chloroplast Necessary factors:
1. 2. 3. 4.

Carbon dioxide Water Sunlight Chlorophyll

Route of Carbon Dioxide for Photosynthesis

Chloroplast Spongy Mesophyll Cell

Air Space

Stoma CO2

Route of Carbon Dioxide for Photosynthesis

Chloroplast Palisade Mesophyll Cell Air Space

Stoma CO2

Light reaction

Light energy is trapped by chlorophyll in chloroplast Light energy absorbed by chlorophyll splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen Oxygen is released as a gas through stoma to outside Hydrogen is fed into dark reaction

Dark reaction
No light is required; can take place either in light or darkness Hydrogen produced in light reaction combines with CO2 to form carbohydrates Water is formed as a by-product

Summary of Photosynthesis
6 CO2 + 6 H20
Light Water H

C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Carbon Dioxide Dark Reaction Glucose (C6H12O6)

Light Reaction Oxygen

the plant
carbon dioxide and water photosynthesis carbohydrates (e.g. glucose)

1. release energy by respiration 2. convert into starch for storage because glucose is not a very good storage molecule 3. change into sucrose and is transported to other parts through phloem 4. combine to form fats and oils to form cell membranes and as a food store 5. join together with mineral salts from soil (e.g. NO3-, SO42-) to become protein molecules

Destarching
Reason: o To avoid any existing starch in the leaves interfering with the result, and to show that any starch found after the experiment is produced during the period of investigation Method: o By placing the plant in dark for at least 48 hours

To test a leaf for the presence of Starch

boilin g water turn off Bunsen burner boilin g alcoh ol turn off Bunsen burner hot water iodine

white tile

To test a leaf for the presence 1. Why is the leaf first boiled in water ? of can soften the leaf, break down the Starch Ans: Because the process
cuticle and kill the leaf. 2. Why is the leaf then boiled in alcohol ? Ans: To decolourize the leaf (to remove chlorophyll). 3. Why is it important to turn off the Bunsen burner when you are heating the alcohol ? Ans: Because alcohol catches fire easily. 4. Why is the leaf put in hot water after being boiled in alcohol ? Ans: Since the leaf becomes brittle after boiling in alcohol, so dipping it into hot water enables it to be softened. 5. What colour change can be observed if starch is present ?

To show that Chlorophyll is necessary for Photosynthesis purple part

green part

To show that Chlorophyll is necessary for Photosynthesis 1. Which part of the leaf turns blue-black
when treated with iodine solution ? Ans: Only the green part. 2. Is chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis? Ans: Yes. 3. What is the control in this experiment? Ans: The green part of the leaf acts as the control.

To show that Carbon Dioxide is necessary for Photosynthesis

sunlight A water B

potassium hydroxide solution

To show that Carbon Dioxide is necessary for Photosynthesisput in one 1. Why is potassium hydroxide solution
of the flasks ? Ans: To absorb all the carbon dioxide in flask B. 2. What happens to each leaf after testing the presence of starch at the end of the experiment ? Ans: The leaf in flask A changes to blue-black while the leaf in flask B stains brown. 3. What do your results suggest about the relationship between carbon dioxide and photosynthesis ? Ans: Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis.

Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

1. Light intensity
o Light intensity increase: Rate of Photosynthesis increase

1. Carbon dioxide concentration

o Carbon dioxide concentration increase: Rate of Photosynthesis increase

1. Temperature

o Temperature increase: Rate of Photosynthesis increase o Temperature > 40: Rate decreases and stop soon o If no water, stomata close no gaseous exchange photosynthesis ceases

1. Water supply

Why is Photosynthesis important ?

Green plants are the only organisms capable of trapping light to manufacture food from simple inorganic substances Green plants (producers) starts the food chain & provide food for other organisms Atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed & oxygen is released into the atmosphere which maintains the composition of the atmosphere constant

Parts of plant where photosynthesis takes place

Mainly in the leaf because
o it contains a lot of chloroplasts o it is well adapted for performing photosynthesis

Internal Structure of Leaf cuticle

upper epidermis palisade mesophyll chloroplasts spongy mesophyll intercellular space (air space) guard cell lower epidermis stoma cuticle

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

upper protect epidermis
internal tissues from mechanical damage and bacterial & fungal invasion

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

a waxy Cuticle layer prevent water loss from the leaf surface protect the leaf

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

mesophyll

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

palisade mesophyll (layer)

contains many chloroplasts columnar cells closely packed together absorb light more efficiently

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon irregular cells loosely packed

together to leave numerous large air spaces allow rapid diffusion of gases throughout the leaf some (fewer than palisade mesophyll) chloroplasts for photosynthesis

spongy mesophyll (layer)

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

same as upper epidermis except the cuticle is thinner

lower epidermis

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

opening which allows gases to pass through it to go into or out of the leaf

stoma (stomata )

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

guard cells control the size of stoma

Stoma
Guard cells

thinner outer wall thicker inner wall stoma

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

vascular bundle (vein)

Internal Structure of Leaf

xylem phloem

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

xylem
to transport water and mineral salts towards the leaf for mechanical support

Cross-section of a leaf of dicotyledon

phloem
to transport organic substances (food/sugar/gluc ose/sucrose) away from the leaf

Adaptation of leaf to photosynthesis leaf is The

decrease diffusion distance for gases & light

thin

The leaf is broad & flattened

increase surface area to absorb more sunlight

Adaptation of leaf to Cuticle exists photosynthesis in upper

epidermis and is transparent Allows most light to pass into photosynthetic mesophyll tissues

Adaptation of leaf to photosynthesis Palisade

mesophyll cells are closely packed and contain many chloroplasts To carry out photosynthesis more efficiently

Adaptation of leaf to Spongy photosynthesis mesophyll cells

are loosely packed with numerous large air spaces To allow rapid diffusion of gases throughout the leaf

Adaptation of leaf to photosynthesis Numerous

stomata on lower epidermis To allow rapid gaseous exchange with the atmosphere

Adaptation of leaf to photosynthesis

Extensive vein system

Allow sufficient water to reach the cells in the leaf To carry food away to other parts of the plant

Mineral requirements in plants

In order to synthesize amino acids, nitrate ions which must be taken into the plant from the soil through the root Other minerals are also necessary to maintain the life of the plant (N, Mg, P, K, S, etc)

Mineral requirements in plants

Nitrogen For synthesis of proteins, chlorophyll, etc Taken in form of nitrate ions Deficiency symptoms: Little growth ( - no protein made) Yellowing of leaves - no chlorophyll made) Magnesium Essential component of chlorophyll Deficiency symptoms: Yellowing of leaves (no chlorophyll made) Poor growth (no food manufactured ( because of lack of chlorophyll)

Use of fertilizers in agriculture

Continuous harvesting crops removes valuable mineral salts from soil Fertilizers are added to replace such loss Two kinds of fertilizers: o Natural fertilizers From manure Organic compounds in it are decomposed by the bacteria in soil to form mineral salts o Chemical fertilizers Mainly nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds manufactured artificially

Natural fertilizers
Contain humus which can improve soil texture Less soluble in water so less likely to be washed away

Chemical fertilizers
No humus so cannot improve soil texture Very soluble in water so more likely to be washed away

natural and chemical fertilizers

Natural fertilizers Much cheaper Less soluble in water so more difficult to be absorbed Chemical fertilizers Very expensive Very soluble in water so easier to be absorbed

Time is needed for the More readily to be used by decomposition to complete the plants before nutrients are available to plants