NUTRITION IN PLANTS

1. LIGHT DEPENDENT STAGE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

During the light dependent stage, light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and
converted into chemical energy. Light energy is also used to split water
molecules into oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This process is known as
photolysis.

2. LIGHT INDEPENDENT STAGE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

During the light independent stage, hydrogen produced in photolysis is used to
reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrates such as glucose. The energy required
for this reduction comes from the light dependent stage.

3. DEFINITION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is the process where light energy absorbed by chlorophyll is
converted into chemical energy. The chemical energy is used to synthesize
carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide. Water and carbon dioxide are
raw materials for photosynthesis. Oxygen is released during the process.

4. LIMITING FACTORS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

- Light intensity
- Concentration of carbon dioxide (increase in CO2, increase in photosynthesis)
- Temperature (0.03% + increase temp = temperature not important limiting
factor, 0.13% + increase temp = temperature important limiting factor)

5. WHAT HAPPENS TO GLUCOSE THAT IS FORMED DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Glucose is either used immediately or stored. It is used immediately for
cellular respiration to provide energy for cellular activities or for formation of
cellular walls. Glucose is also converted into sucrose and transported to other

parts of the plant via phloem. It is converted into starch or other storage
compounds at storage organs (roots tubers, seeds, stem tubers) or is
converted back to glucose as it reaches the target area of the plant. Glucose
reacts with nitrates or other mineral salts from soil to form amino acids in
leaves. These amino acids formed are used to form proteins for the synthesis
of new protoplasm in leaves. Excess amino acids are transported to other
parts of the plant for synthesis of new protoplasm or storage as proteins.
Glucose also forms fats for storage, synthesis of new protoplasm, or for
cellular respiration. Lastly, glucose forms starch in leaves. In daylight, the rate
of photosynthesis is so great that sugars are formed faster than they can be
removed. The excess glucose is converted into starch for storage. However, in
dark, photosynthesis stops and starch is converted by enzymes back into
glucose.
**GLUCOSE HAS TO BE CONVERTED TO SUCROSE IN ORDER TO BE
TRANSPORTED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE PLANT**

6. IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- Makes chemical energy available to animals and other organisms
- Removes carbon dioxide and provides oxygen
- Energy is stored in fossil fuels through photosynthesis

7. THINGS TO TAKE NOTE

- Epidermal cells (upper and lower) DO NOT have chloroplasts
- Cells in the spongy mesophyll is COVERED IN MOISTURE
- Vascular bundles = phloem and xylem = veins

8. ADAPTATION OF LEAF FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS

- Has a petiole to hold the leaf in position away from the stem to absorb
maximum light energy.

- Has a thin, broad lamina. It is thin to provide a short diffusion distance for
gases and enables light to reach all mesophyll cells. It is broad to provide a
large surface area for maximum absorption of light.
- Has waxy and transparent cuticle. It is waxy to reduce water loss through
evaporation from leaf. It is transparent to allow light to enter the leaf
- Has stomata in the epidermal layers which open in the presence of light,
allowing the diffusion of carbon dioxide and oxygen in and out of the leaf.
- Has mesophyll cells that have chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs and transforms light energy to chemical energy.
- There are more chloroplasts in upper palisade tissue (palisade mesophyll) so
more light can be absorbed near the leaf surface
- There are interconnecting system of air spaces and thin film of moisture in
the spongy mesophyll to allow rapid diffusion of carbon dioxide and oxygen
in and out of mesophyll cells
- There are veins containing xylem and phloem close to mesophyll cells. Xylem
transports water and mineral salts to mesophyll cells while phloem transports
sugars away from the leaf.

9. WHAT HAPPENS TO STOMATA IN SUNLIGHT

In sunlight, guard cells photosynthesize, converting light energy to chemical
energy. The chemical energy is used to pump K+ (potassium) ions into the
guard cells from neighboring cells. This causes the water potential of guard
cells to be lowered. Water from neighboring cells then enters the guard cells
via osmosis. This increases turgidity of guard cells, causing them to be swollen.
The thicker inner side of the guard cell causes the swollen guard cells to
become more curved and pull the stoma open.

10. WHAT HAPPENS TO STOMATA IN DARK

In the dark, potassium ions that accumulated in guard cells (during the day)
diffuses out of the guard cells. This causes the water potential of guard cells
to increase. Water then leaves the cells via osmosis. The guard cells become
flaccid and the stoma closes.

11. HOW DOES CARBON DIOXIDE ENTER THE LEAF

In daylight when photosynthesis occurs, carbon dioxide in leaf is rapidly used
up. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the leaf becomes lower than
atmospheric air, thus carbon dioxide diffuses from surrounding air through the
stomata into the air spaces in the leaf, down a diffusion gradient. The carbon
dioxide dissolves in the thin film of water on the surface of mesophyll cells.
The dissolved carbon dioxide then diffuses into the cells.

12. HOW DOES WATER AND MINERAL SALTS ENTER THE LEAF
The xylem transports water and mineral salts to the leaf from the roots. Once
out of the veins, the water and mineral salts move from cell to cell right
through the mesophyll of the leaf.

**VEINS = VASCULAR BUNDLE**