5 Plant nutrition

the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light.

6CO2+6H2O→C6H12O6+6O2.

Carbon dioxide + water —> (light energy) glucose + oxygen.

Absorbs light to transfer light energy into chemical energy in molecules for synthesis of carbohydrates.

Converted into starch. Starch is insoluble so not affected by osmosis. Large molecules with lots of glucose molecules joined together. Some converted to sucrose. this is soluble but not as reactive as glucose so easily carried around the plant in solution.

Plants respire as well as photosynthesise. At night plants only respire. They take in CO2 and release O2.

Covers leaf on upper surface, prevents loss of water from epidermal cells and helps from drying out too quickly.

Transparent, allows as much light as possible to reach the photosynthesising cells in leaf.

Most photosynthesis takes place here. Tightly packed together in upper half of leaf to receive as much sunlight as possible.

Contain chlorophyll, concentrated in palisade mesophyll cells.

Air spaces around to allow gases to be exchanged.

Allow movement of gases in and out of leaf.

Forms the veins in stem and leaf. Thick cell walls of tissue to help support stem and leaf.

Transports sucrose away from the leaf.

Transports water and minerals to leaf from roots.

Nitrogen and Magnesium. When deficient in nitrogen, plant has stunted growth. When deficient in magnesium, plant is yellow between the veins.