Nutrition in Plants

Nutrition in Plants The Process of Intake off food and its Utilisation by the body of an organism is known a& Nutrition Carbohydrates, fats. Proteins Vitamins and minerals cope, different Components of food. These are called nutrients. A. Autotrophic nutrition The word 'autotrophic' is derived from the Greek Words autos meaning 'Self' and trophe meaning nutrition'. * When some organism Prepares its own food from Simple Substances Such organism are called autotrophs. * Autotrophic nutrition is found in Plants * Plants have a green-colored pigment called chlorophyll B. Heterotrophic nutrition * The Word 'Heterotrophic" is derived from the Greek Word nutrition'. Heteros meaning Other' and trophic meaning 2 * When arganism take nutrition form or depend upon other arganisms is called heterotrophic nutrition. Autotrophic Nutrition In Plan's Most of the plants are autotrophic. Plants do it through the process of Photosynthesis. || A Requirements for photobynthes Sunlight. The raw materials required for photosynthesis are chlorophyll, Carbon dioxide and Water @Sunlight The green Pigment Present in leaves, absorbs Sunlight and initiates Photosynthesis. (b) Chlorophyl chlorophyll absorbs solar energy Which is converted into chemical energy through the process of Photosynthesis. (c) (carbon dioxide The main raw material used by Plants in the Synthesis off Carbohydrate (glucose) is Carbon dioxide. (d) Water water is another ran material required for the Synthesis of Plants. of Carbohydrates. It is. transported to the leaves. Hhrough Small Pipes/tubes. in Plants. Abosorption of waten by roots IB Photosynthesis The Process of synthesis of food (glucose) by green Plants from Carbon dioxoide and water in the presence of Chlorophyll and Sunlight is known as Photosynthesis The equation is writtenas: 6002 Carbon dioxide + 6H20 Water Sunlight Chlorophyll → C6H12O6 glucose + 60 oxygen Site of Photosynthesis Chlorophyll Chlorophyll is chiefly Present in leaves and in some quantity in young stems. So these Parts are the site of Photosynthesis * leaves are also called the food factories of the Plant. * Chlorophyll is present inside Chloroplast. * These Chloroplats are Scattered throughout the leaf cells. Stomata Leaves have tiny Pores Called Btomata on their Surface. * Stomata allow Carbon dioxide to enter the leaves-and Meach up to the choroplast So that it could be used in the photosynthesis. * The oxygen Produced during the process also escapes. through Stomato. Importance of Photosynthesis 1. Photosynthesis produces food for plants. 2. There Plants in turn serve as food for other Organisms like animals and human beings. 3. It helps to maintain the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 4. Photosynthesis provides oxygen for breathing of all living organisms. NOTE: The end Product of Photosynthesis is Carbohyd (glucose). It is converted into another Carbohydrate (Starch) for Storage Starch is stored in different Parts of the plant, e.g. in the stem (Potato).II C. Synthesis of Plant food other than carbohydrates Carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen and Oxygen in Matio (1:2:1). The nitrogen Present in the air Cannot be used as such by Plants. Nitrogen is absorbed by Plants in the following ways: 1. There are some bacteria Present in the doil Called mitrogen-fixing Bacteria that Convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable form Which is water Soluble, thus Can be absorbed by roots along with water for example, Rhizobium, a bacterium found in the roots of leguminous plants like Peas, grams, etc. Converts atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, a useful foom of nitrogen. Heterotrophic Nutrition in Plants. There are some plants Which are dependent on other plants or animals for their survival. Let us a few examples of heterotrophic nutrition in plants. 1 A. Parasitic Plants A Parasitic plant is the one which lives on another plant and draws its nutrients from it Completely or Partially.. This type of nutrition is Called Parasitism The Plant on Iwhich a Parasitic plant grows is called the host Plants Cuscuta have Special Structures in them Called haustoria. II B. Insectivorous plants. Some plants feed on insects by trapping and digesting them. There are called insectivorous (insect eating) Plank for example Venus fly trap, bladderwert, Sunden etc. Theye plants develop some special modifications to trap insects. C. Saprophytic plants Some plants do not have chlorophyll and appear White. These plants grow on spoilt food, decaying vegetables, fruits, clothes etc. These are a group of plants Called fungi These plants Secrete digestive juices on the dead and decaying Object on Which they grow and absorb the nutrients. This types of nutrition is called Sabrophytic. mutrition Such plants are called saprophyllor Safrotrophs. fungal Spores are generally found in air-like dust. InWhen they land on wet and warm materials, they germinate and grow. They usually grow in Wet and Warm Season. 7 11 D. Symbiotic Gelationship This type of relationship is Unique in Which tho Organisms (two animals or two plants) live together. This is called Symbiosis (meaning 'living together) and the relationship is Called Symbiotic relationship. In this, both partners are benefitted. (i ) The lichen is one such lexample. It has 2 Partners-One is a fungus that Provides Shelter, Water and minerals. The Second Partner is an alga Which has Chlorophyll. It makes food by photosynthesis. ii ) In legume plants (Pulses, beans) and some trees, the fungus lives on the roots. NOTE: In this association, both Partners are benefitted and the host is harmed.