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Fundamental Biology
BI 1101

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Iriawa&
SITH-ITB
Sem I 2017/2018 iriawati 1

Five Levels of Organiza&on

Molecular
Cellular
Organismal
Popula&on
Ecological System

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Learning outcomes
After this chapter, students are able to:
1. Compare the intracellular and extracellular movements of material into
root xylem.
2. Explain how the transpiration-cohesion-tension mechanism causes the
ascent of xylem sap in a plant.
3. Explain how guard cells control transpiration.
4. Explain how hydroponics helps to determine which plant nutrients are
essential.
5. Distinguish between micronutrients and macronutrients
6. Explain how fertilizers can prevent nutrient deficiencies in plants.
7. Describe the properties of different soil layers.
8. Explain how and why most plants depend upon bacteria to supply
nitrogen and how fungi help most plants absorb nutrients from the soil.
9. Describe examples of parasitic and carnivorous plants.

THE UPTAKE AND TRANSPORT

OF PLANT NUTRIENTS

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Introduction
Plants acquire nutrients from air,
water, and soil CO2 O2

Plant growth uses Sugar

Light
H 2O
air,
water, and
soil.
Plants obtain water, minerals, and
some oxygen from the soil.
The sugars made by plants in
photosynthesis use
carbon and oxygen from the O2
atmosphere and H 2O CO2
and minerals
hydrogen from water.

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Plants use cellular

respira&on to break down
some of these sugars
obtaining energy and
consuming oxygen.
A plant must
move water from its roots
to its leaves and
deliver sugars to specic
areas of its body.

Introduction
Many plants can remove toxins
such as heavy metals from soils
by
taking them up with their roots
and
storing them in their bodies.
ARer Hurricane Katrina,
sunowers were used to remove
toxins from soils in some parts of
New Orleans.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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The plasma membranes of root cells control

solute uptake
Root hairs greatly increase a roots absorp&ve
surface.
Water and solutes can move through the roots
epidermis and cortex by going
through cells,
between cells, or
through some combina&on of these
routes.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

The plasma membranes of root cells control

solute uptake
Once the water and solutes
Root hair Epidermis Cortex Phloem
reach the endodermis, a
continuous waxy barrier
called the Casparian strip
stops them from entering the
xylem via cell walls and
forces them to cross the Xylem Casparian
strip
selectively permeable plasma Endodermis
membrane of an endodermal Key
Dermal tissue system
cell to enter the xylem (water- Ground tissue system
conducting tissue) for transport Vascular tissue system

upward.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Extracellular route, Casparian strip Xylem

via cell walls and spaces
between cells; stopped by
Casparian strip

Root hair
Intracellular
route, via
cell interiors,
through Epidermis Plasmodesmata Endodermis
plasmodesmata
Key Cortex
Dermal tissue system
Ground tissue system
Vascular tissue system

Transpiration pulls water up xylem vessels

Xylem sap consists of

water and
dissolved inorganic nutrients.
Xylem &ssues of angiosperms consist of very thin
tubes composed of two types of cells that
conduct xylem sap up a plant:
1. tracheids and
2. vessel elements.

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Transpiration pulls water up xylem vessels

What force moves xylem sap up against the

downward pull of gravity?
Root pressure, the accumula&on of water in roots by
osmosis, can push xylem sap up a few meters.
Transpira6on, the loss of water by evapora&on from
leaves (and other aerial parts of a plant)
is regulated by guard cells surrounding stomata and
can move xylem sap to the top of the tallest tree.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Transpiration pulls water up xylem vessels

Transpira&on can pull xylem sap up a tree

because of two special proper&es of water:
1. Cohesion is the s&cking together of molecules of the
same kind.
2. Adhesion is the s&cking together of molecules of
dierent kinds.

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Transpiration pulls water up xylem vessels

The overall process of this movement of xylem sap is

called the transpira6on-cohesion-tension mechanism. In
this process,
the airs pull on water creates a tension and
that tension pulls on an unbroken chain of water molecules in
the xylem
held together by cohesion and
helped upward by adhesion.
Therefore xylem sap moves up without any energy
expenditure by the plant.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 32.3 Leaf

Xylem sap
Mesophyll cells
Air space within leaf
Stoma
1
Water molecule
Outside air
Transpiration 4 Adhesion

Stem Cell wall

Water
molecule
Flow of water

Xylem
Cohesion
Cohesion and cells
adhesion in the xylem
Root Xylem sap
3

Root hair

Soil particle
Water

Water uptake from soil

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Guard cells control transpiration

A plant must make a trade-o between its need

for water and
to make food by photosynthesis.
Stomata
can open and close and
help plants adjust their transpira&on rates to changing
environmental condi&ons.
Guard cells control the opening of a stoma by changing shape.

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Opening and Closing of Stomata

Each stoma in a leaf epidermis is bordered by two

guard cells.
When water enters guard cells, increased turgor
pressure opens stoma.
When water exits guard cells, decreasing turgor
pressure, the stoma closes.
Active transport of K+ into guard cells causes water
to follow (osmosis) and stoma to open.

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Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Open Stoma

H 2O H 2O

vacuole K+

guard cell

stoma

K+ enters guard cells, and water follows.

a. 25 m

Closed Stoma

H 2O H 2O

K+

K+ exits guard cells, and water follows.

b. 25 m
Jeremy Burgess/SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Guard cells control transpiration

Several factors inuence guard cell ac&vity.
In general, stomata are open during the day and closed at
night.
Sunlight signals guard cells to accumulate K+ and open
stomata.
Low CO2 concentra&on in leaves also signals guard cells to
open stomata.
Plants have natural rhythms that help them close stomata at
night to conserve water.
Plants may also close stomata during the day to conserve
water when necessary.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Phloem transports sugars

Phloem sap transports

Sieve-
sugars tube
element
made by
photosynthesis and Sieve
plate
using a pressure ow
mechanism.
Sieve-
tube
element

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Phloem transports sugars

At a sugar sink
sugar is removed,
water follows, and
phloem sap ows from source to sink in a process called
the pressure ow mechanism.

At a sugar source
sugar is loaded into the phloem tube,
sugar raises the solute concentra&on in the tube, and
water follows, raising the pressure in the tube.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Phloem transports sugars

Plant biologists use aphids to study phloem sap.
Pressure in the phloem sap force-feeds an aphid.
If an aphid is severed at the stylet (sucking
mouthpart) and only the stylet remains, phloem sap
con&nues to ow into the stylet.

Aphids feeding on a branch Aphid with phloem

droplet

Stylet
of aphid

Aphids stylet inserted

into a phloem cell Severed stylet dripping
2012 Pearson Education, Inc. phloem sap

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PLANT NUTRIENTS AND

THE SOIL

Plant health depends on a complete diet of

essential inorganic nutrients
A plant must obtain inorganic substances to survive and
grow.
Essen6al elements are those that a plant must obtain to
complete its life cycle of growth and
have reproduc&ve success.
There are 17 elements essen&al to plant growth and
reproduc&on.
nine macronutrients require in rela&vely large amounts.
eight micronutrients require in rela&vely small amounts.
Both types of nutrients have vital func&ons.

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Hydroponics allowed us to see what

was needed
The necessary nutrients are those
the plant can not grow with out them
Come in two categories
1. Macronutrients (C, O, H, N, S,
P, K, Ca, Mg)
Majority of the &me used for
the main organic compounds
2. Micronutrients (Cl, Fe, B, Mn,
Zn, Cu, Mo, Ni) Complete solution containing Solution lacking
Mostly cofactors for par&cular all minerals (control) potassium (experimental)

enzymes (Fe -> Cytochromes

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Hydroponics

Hydroponics
a technology for growing plants in nutrient
solu&ons (water containing fer&lizers) with
or without the use of an ar&cial medium
(sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, perlite,
peat moss, coir, or sawdust) to provide
mechanical support.

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Hydroponic culture techniques

come in dierent avors
Main disadvantage of simple
solu&on culture as plant grows, it
selec&vely depletes certain minerals
When one becomes limi&ng,
growth will slow signicantly
Can grow in vermiculite/perlite
(inert, non-nutri&ve) and refer&lize
daily

Nutrient film technique)

Aerates
Standard nutrient level
maintained
Continuous process monitoring

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Fertilizers can help prevent nutrient deficiencies

The availability of nutrients in soil aects plant growth and health.

Growers can oRen determine which nutrients are missing from soil
by looking at plant symptoms.
Nitrogen shortage is the most common nutri&onal problem for
plants.
Fer6lizers are compounds given to plants to promote growth.
Nutrient deciencies can be alleviated by adding to soil
inorganic chemical fer&lizers or
compost, a soil-like mixture of decomposed organic mager.

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Healthy

Nitrogen-deficient

Phosphorus-deficient

Potassium-deficient

Fertile soil supports plant growth

Soil horizons are layers of soil with dierent
characteris&cs.
The A horizon, or topsoil,
is subject to weathering and
contains humus (decayed organic mager) and many soil
organisms.
The B horizon primarily consists of
clay and
dissolved elements.
The C horizon consists of rocks of the parent
material from which soil is formed.

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Fertile soil supports plant growth

A soils physical and chemical characteris&cs

aect plant growth.
Small rock and clay par&cles
hold water and ions and
allow oxygen to diuse into plant roots.
Humus
provides nutrients and
supports the growth of organisms that enhance soil
fer&lity.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Fertile soil supports plant growth

Anions such as nitrate are readily available to

plants because they are not bound to soil
par&cles.
Ca&ons such as K+ adhere to soil par&cles.
In ca6on exchange, root hairs
release H+ ions, which displace ca&ons from soil
par&cles, and then
absorb the free ca&ons.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Soil particle surrounded

by film of water Root hair
Air space
Water

K+ K+
H+ K+
K+
Clay particle
K+ K+
K+
K+ K+
K+

Root hair

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Soil conservation is essential to human life

Human prac&ces in agriculture have degraded soils.

Irriga&on can gradually make soil salty.
Plowed lands are subject to erosion by wind and rain,
which removes topsoil.
Chemical fer&lizers are costly
and may contaminate
groundwater.

Soil conservation is essential to human life

Good soil management includes
water-conserving irriga&on,
erosion control, and
the prudent use of herbicides and fer&lizers.

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Organic farmers follow principles of sustainable

agriculture
Organic farming promotes sustainable
agriculture, a system embracing farming methods
that are
conserva&on-minded,
environmentally safe, and
protable.
The USDA has established guidelines for foods
labeled organic.
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Organic farmers follow principles of

sustainable agriculture

Organic farming guidelines

are intended to
sustain biological diversity,
maintain soil quality,
reduce or eliminate the use of
chemical pes&cides,
avoid use of gene&cally
modied plants, and
reduce or eliminate the use of
chemical fer&lizers.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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PLANT NUTRITION
AND SYMBIOSIS

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Most plants depend on bacteria to supply nitrogen

The Earths atmosphere consists of about 80%

nitrogen.
However, nitrogen deciency is the most
common nutri&onal problem in plants. Why is
that?
Plants cannot absorb nitrogen directly from the air.
Instead, to be used by plants, nitrogen must be
converted to ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3).
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Most plants depend on bacteria to supply nitrogen

Soil bacteria can convert N2 gas from the air into

forms usable by plants via several processes.
Nitrogen-xing bacteria convert atmospheric N2 to
ammonia (NH3) in a process called nitrogen xa6on.
Ammonifying bacteria add to the supply of
ammonium by decomposing organic mager.
Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to nitrates, the
form most oRen taken up by plants.

2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

N2
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE

SOIL Amino
acids, etc.

N2 Nitrogen-fixing
bacteria
NH4+
H+

NH3 NH4+ NO3-

SOIL
(ammonium) (nitrate)
Nitrifying
bacteria
Ammonifying
bacteria
Organic
material Root

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Plants have evolved symbiotic relationships that

are mutually beneficial
Most plants form mutually benecial symbioses with
fungi called mycorrhizae, which
act like extensions of plant roots, increasing the area for
absorp&on of water and minerals from soil,
selec&vely absorb phosphate and other minerals from the soil,
release growth factors and an&bio&cs into the soil, and
have evolved with plants and were important to plants
successfully invading land.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 32.13A

Fungal
Root filament

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Plants have evolved symbiotic relationships that

are mutually beneficial
Some plants form symbioses with nitrogen-xing
bacteria.
Legumes (peas, beans, alfalfa, and others) form root nodules
to house nitrogen-xing symbionts in the genus Rhizobium.
Other plants, such as alders, form symbioses with other kinds
of nitrogen-xing bacteria.
Plants that form these associa&ons are rich in nitrogen.

Mycorrhizae and nitrogen-xing bacteria benet by

receiving sugars from the plants they colonize.
2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Shoot

Bacteria within Nodules

vesicle in an Roots
infected cell

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The plant kingdom includes epiphytes, parasites,

and carnivores
Some plants have nutri&onal adapta&ons that
take advantage of other organisms.
Epiphytes, including many orchids,
grow anchored on other plants and
absorb water and minerals from rain.
Parasi&c plants, such as dodder and mistletoe,
may not use photosynthesis,
use their roots to tap into the host plants vascular
system, and
absorb sugars and minerals from the host plant.

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The plant kingdom includes epiphytes, parasites,

and carnivores
Carnivores, such as a sundew plant or Venus
ytrap,
capture and digest small animals such as insects,
absorb inorganic elements from prey, and
are found in nutrient-poor environments.

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