Pakistan International School (English Section),
Riyadh
Department of Biology
Grade 8 Chapter: Plant Nutrition
Lecture Notes
Compiled by: Najwa Muhammad Farooq
Nutrition:
An essential characteristic of all living organisms.
Nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins etc) help to repairs damaged cells,
help in growth and provide energy to the living organism.
Nutrients are taken up into their bodies by all living organisms.
Plants can make organic nutrients for themselves by using inorganic raw
materials.
Therefore, plants are called as producers.
Structure of Leaf:
Leaf is an organ of the plant that is adapted to photosynthesise.
It has a large surface area for the absorption of light.
It is thin for efficient exchange of gases.
Its structure is supported by veins, that contain vascular bundle.
It contains a lot of chloroplasts.
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Tissues in the leaf:
Cuticle: It is a clear waxy layer. It prevents water loss from the leaf.
Upper epidermis: It protects the leaf from pathogens. It secretes cuticle.
The cells of upper epidermis do not contain chloroplasts, so no
photosynthesis occur in this layer and light passes straight through it into
the palisade layer.
Palisade mesophyll layer: This layer contains the cells that are
specialised for photosynthesis.
Palisade cells are positioned near the top so that they can receive
maximum sunlight.
Palisade cells are elongated.
They contain a lot of chloroplasts.
Chloroplast is a membrane bounded organelle present in plant cells.
Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts. It contains a green pigment called
chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorps sunlight for photosynthesis.
Palisade cells have little gaps between them that allow efficient gas
exchange and osmosis.
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Spongy mesophyll layer: This layer contains less elongated cells with
air-spaces between them for rapid diffusion of gases and osmosis.
Lower epidermis: Lower epidermis contains the cell similar to that in
upper epidermis. Lower epidermis also contains specialised cells for gas
exchange, called as guard cells. Two Guard cells contain an opening
between them called stoma (plu. Stomata). Stomata is responsible for
exchange of gases (CO2 and O2) and removal of water.
Vascular Bundle: It is the transport system of plants. It contains xylem,
which is responsible for transport of water and mineral salts from roots to
the leaf; and phloem, which is responsible of transport of sucrose from
the leaf to other parts of the plant.
Veins in Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons:
Dicotyledon Monocotyledon
Photosynthesis:
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The metabolic process by which green plants make their own food in the
form of carbohydrates (glucose)
Light energy in the presence of chlorophyll, converts raw material, Carbon
dioxide and Water into Glucose and Oxygen.
Word Equation:
Chemical Equation:
Sun is the source of light for the plants.
Palisade mesophyll cells are specialised cells in leaves that contain a
membrane bounded organelle called as chloroplast. Chloroplasts contain
a pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll traps the sunlight.
Carbon dioxide enters the leaves, from air, through the openings called
stomata.
Water is uptaken by roots from the soil.
Oxygen is released as a by-product/ waste gas, into the air, through
stomata.
Glucose serves various purposes in the plants. Some of them are listed
below;
1. Releases energy: Glucose is broken down in the mitochondria of the
plant cells to release stored energy.
2. Starch: Glucose is converted into starch for later use. Starch can be
stored in leaves (eg. Spinach), root (eg. Carrots), tubers (eg.
Potatoes), stem (eg. Ginger). Seeds of the plants contain starch to
provide energy for germination and initial growth. Starch is insoluble
so its does not affect the solution inside the cells. Starch is stored in
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the amyloplasts of the plant cells.
3. Cellulose: Glucose molecules are linked together to form linear chains
of cellulose that is present in the cell wall of plant cells.
4. Sucrose: Glucose is transported in the form of sucrose from leaves to
the other parts of the plants. Because, sucrose is less reactive and
less interfering with the solutions inside the cell.
5. Nectar: Glucose also makes nectar that is a sweet solution present at
the base of the flowers in the flowering plants. Nectar attracts the
insects and small birds which help in pollination.
6. Amino Acids: Glucose is converted into amino acids when combines
with nitrogen. Plants acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrates from the
soil. Amino acids are required by plants to make their proteins and for
proper growth.
7. Chlorophyll: Glucose is used to make chlorophyll along with
magnesium ion. Plants acquire magnesium ion from the soil through
roots. Chlorophyll is required to carry out photosynthesis.
Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis:
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Limiting factor is a factor that alters the rate of reaction if it gets
changed.
Following limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis:
1. Light intensity: Light intensity from a light source is inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between the light source
and object (plant). Increasing light intensity, by decreasing the
distance from light source and plant, increases the rate of
photosynthesis and vice versa. A time reaches when there is no
further increase in the rate of photosynthesis and light intensity is no
more limiting factor.
2. Carbon dioxide Concentration: Increase in carbon dioxide
concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis until a limited point,
after which there is is no further increase in the rate of photosynthesis.
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3. Temperature: Increase in temperature increases the rate of
photosynthesis but up to a certain limit. Further increase in
temperature decreases the rate of photosynthesis due to the
denaturation of enzymes.
4. Activity of stomata: In extremely hot weather, stomata are closed to
prevent the loss of water from the leaf. When stomata are closed, CO2
cannot enter in the leaf, thus slowing down the process of
photosynthesis.
