Plant Structure and Photosynthesis

Plant Structure and Photosynthesis Start at the beginning—underground Where does soil meet plant? At the root hairs—structures that increase surface area to aid in absorption of water and minerals needed by the plant

Notice the root hairs in the region of cell maturation (differentiation). These are extensions of epidermal cells. Purpose-increase surface area in contact with soil.

Water (and nutrients) can travel by passive diffusion within the ground tissue of the cortex.

Once materials reach the endodermis, they must enter the living part of the cell due to the __________

I get they (roots) absorb water and nutrients but how do they absorb nutrients? Some form similar to osmosis? Yes! Exactly! I understand that osmosis moves nutrients and water to the cortex from the root epidermis. QUARKS 1st period QUARKS 1st period

Water can move outside the cell (red line) along the cell wall or in the space between cells OR it can move inside cells (blue line) by osmosis

I understand that osmosis is involved in the absorption of water and nutrients, but what is osmosis? QUARKS 2nd period Q: What if the plant absorbs chemical water? Does it know not to absorb that? Some are needed! A: We learned about osmosis in unit 2 homework #5. Thank you! QUARKS 4th period

Dude—I just clicked, plants have an outside layer on their roots called the epidermis, just like us humans! John-Anthony former student I understand that the Casperian strip is found in the endodermis of root cells, but was wondering if (it) was found any where else in the plant and in what type of tissue? Waterproofing in some areas of the plant could be useful. John last year

The same waxy substance (suberin) can be found filling cork cells in the outer bark of older, woody plants. It is waterproofing!

I get that primary growth is the result of cells at the tip of roots and secon-dary growth is the widening. Do both monocots and dicots go through secondary growth? Just dicots—and mostly the woody dicots. Do you see a connection between the location of vascular bundles in the fist year and xylem and phloem in the second year? Kenzie last year

Eventually the vascular bundles will make a continuous ring of vascular tissue. This happens in roots of dicots also.

In meristematic tissue are the cells kind of like (human) stem cells because they haven’t turned (differentiated) into anything with a specific function? Saul 2010 Exactly right. They will differentiate into different cell types. I studied the parenchyma cell for the cell project. There are also collen-chyma and sclerenchyma cells for support. Student last year making connections

Here is how one student remem-bers—Collenchyma collaborative people are flexible and help support each other (flexible support for green stems.) Sclerenchyma thick, rigid…make ground tissue tough and strong (strict people are rigid and make you strong)

I understand that dicots produce secondary growth from meristem-atic tissue called vascular cambium. A young dicot first goes through primary growth, secondary growth and then is a mature stem. Big idea from student

I understand that a leaf consists of spongy mesophyll with air spaces that connect to the exterior (outside) through stomata and that each stoma has two guard cells, controlling the stoma’s opening and closing. Chelsea last year I understand the stomata but do they only open up for water to enter the plant? Conner last year

The main function of the leaf is photosynthesis. The stoma must let in CO2 and let out O2 as well as water vapor so this can happen!

I understood that the stomata open and close in response to changes in water pressure within the guard cells. Brogan last year I understood transpiration, but I don’t understand why being moist helps gas enter and leave more easily. Brian last year

Oxygen (and CO2) dissolves more easily in a wet environment. Just the same way you must have a layer of moisture in your lungs. Did you notice that alveoli in your lungs and spongy mesophyll in the leaves both increase surface area?

I understand that stomata open and close just enough to allow photo-synthesis to take place, but do under-water plants that have access to SOO much water, do those plants leave their stomata open all day and all night? Kelsey 2010 Remember, leaves need CO2 and O2 as well as water for photosynthesis and water plants have stomata on top only.

How do the requirements for photosynthesis get in to the leaf and the results get out?

U: I understand that transportation is different in plants and leaves. Q: Why can’t transport be one thing, not different. Can’t it all work together at once? Ismeny2010 It does! Let us see how by building a model of the transport system in Plants.

Soil-plant-air continuum means a solid column of water all the way.

I understand that the tuber allows the potato plant to store food, but what kind of food does a potato store? Sunlight? Reggie 2010 In a way—yes. Photosynthesis makes what kind of food? If we link a bunch together we get…….

GLUCOSE STARCH is a polymer of glucose!

Plant Structure and Photosynthesis