Ch.1 Nutrition in plants

CH 1 NUTRITION IN PLANTS

# Mind Map: 

# Concept Map:

#flow chart for nutrients:

KEYWORDS:

1.)  Nutrition - is a process by which organisms take in the food and utilize it in order to survive. Based on the mode of nutrition organisms can be divided into two categories.

2.)  Autotrophic Organisms - They can prepare their food by themselves most green plants are autotrophic in nature.

3.)  Heterotrophic Organisms - They depend upon other organisms for their food such as animals

4.)  Parasitic Plants - Some plants live on another plant for their nutrition. These are called parasites. The plants on which these parasitic plants survive are called the host. For Example, cuscuta is a parasitic plant.

5.)  Insectivorous Plants - Some plants depend upon insects for the food and thus are called Insectivorous. The leaves of these plants are modified into a pitcher like structure. The top part of the leaves acts as a lid which can open and close the pitcher. The pitcher contains hair in a downward direction which traps the insects. The pitcher on capturing the insect secretes some digestive juices which help in the digestion of the insect. For Example, Dischidia, Nepenthes ( pitcher plant), and the Venus fly trap.

6.)  Saprotrophs - Some organisms survive on decaying food and organisms. This mode of nutrition is called saprotrophic nutrition and the organisms that survive because of the saprotrophic nutrition are called Saprophytes.

Q. Answer the following:

1.    Why is the process of photosynthesis important?

Ans:

             i.        There will be no food if the plants would stop conducting the photosynthesis process.

           ii.        The plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen during the process of photosynthesis. Hence, without this process, it would not be possible to survive on earth as they would be no oxygen.

2.    Explain the Production of Oxygen and Carbohydrates by the Plants.

Ans:

Plants use carbon dioxide and water in presence of the sunlight and chlorophyll to produce carbohydrates and oxygen. The carbohydrates thus produced by the plants are converted into starch.

3.    How do plants generate proteins and fats?

Ans:

1. Along with carbohydrates, plants can also produce proteins and fats which are formed with the help of Nitrogen.
2. Nitrogen is present in large amounts in the air but plants cannot consume the nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. 
3. The soil often contains some bacteria that are capable of converting the nitrogen into nitrates which can be the used by the plants.
4. Also, fertilizers used by farmers and gardeners contain a high amount of Nitrogen which mixes into the soil and is used by the plants.

4.    How do saprophytes obtain their nutrition?

Ans:

• The saprophytes secrete digestive juices on the decaying and dead matter.
• These juices convert the matter into a solution.
• The saprophytes that absorb the nutrients from the solution.
• For Example, Fungi (yeast and mushrooms) are a saprophytes that can be found on stale food and pickles which are exposed to the hot and humid environment.

Q. Short notes:

1.    Parasitic Plants - Some plants live on another plant for their nutrition. These are called parasites. The plants on which these parasitic plants survive are called the host. For Example, cuscuta is a parasitic plant.

Fig: Cuscuta growing on plants 

2.    Insectivorous Plants - Some plants depend upon insects for the food and thus are called Insectivorous. The leaves of these plants are modified into a pitcher like structure. The top part of the leaves acts as a lid which can open and close the pitcher. The pitcher contains hair in a downward direction which traps the insects. The pitcher on capturing the insect secretes some digestive juices which help in the digestion of the insect. For Example, Dischidia and Nepenthes

Fig: Insectivorous plants (Pitcher plant)

3.    Saprotrophs - Some organisms survive on decaying food and organisms. This mode of nutrition is called saprotrophic nutrition and the organisms that survive because of the saprotrophic nutrition are called Saprophytes.

Fig: Fungi growing on bread

4.    Symbiotic Relationship - Sometimes organisms live together to share shelter and food with each other. These are said to have a symbiotic relationship.

Examples of organisms living in a symbiotic relationship:

Sometimes an organism that contains chlorophyll such as algae lives in association with a fungus (together called as Lichens). The algae provide food and nutrition to the fungus while the fungus provides water, minerals and shelter to the algae.

Symbiosis between algae and fungi

Symbiosis between Rhizobium and leguminous plant