CHAPTER 7

NUTRITION IN PLANTS
Leaf structure and functions

chmskb/year9sc/biology/-
Autotrophic
nutrition
• This involves the building up
or
synthesis of complex organic substances
from simple inorganic chemicals, using a
source of energy.
Photosynthesis
• Process by which light
energy from the sun is
converted into chemical
energy and stored in
glucose molecules.

• Carbon dioxide and

water react together
using light energy
absorbed by chlorophyll
to produce glucose and
oxygen.
Importance of
photosynthesis
1. As a source of energy (food) for practically
all living organisms.
2. Supplies oxygen to the air and helps to
sustain life.
3. Removes carbon dioxide (purifies air).
4. Energy store in coal (fuel) comes from
photosynthesis.
5. For the formation of other organic compounds like
fats and proteins.
What does a plant need to
perform photosynthesis?
1. Carbon dioxide - enters the leaf by
diffusion through the stomata
2. Water – absorbed by the roots from the
soil
3. Light energy – from the sun
4. Chlorophyll
Functions of the
leaf
a) Absorbs carbon dioxide from the
air
b) Absorbs light energy
c) Manufacture carbohydrate
(glucose)
d) Release the waste product,
oxygen
External features of a leaf

lamina
small
netted vein

vein
petiole

stipules
midrib
External features of a leaf
Lamina
• Has a large flat
surface area to
obtain the
maximum amount
of sunlight for
photosysthesis
and provide a
short diffusion
Network of veins
distance for
Petiole • Veins carry water
gases.
• Holds the lamina and mineral salts
away from the stem to the cells in the
to allow the lamina and carry
lamina to obtain manufactured food
sufficient sunlight from these cells to
 Monocot Dicot

parallel veins network of

branching veins
Monocot
Internal structure of the lamina

1. Upper epidermis
• Made up of a single
layer of closely packed
cells.
• Covered on the outside
by a waxy and
transparent cuticle.
cuticl
e
upper
epidermis

xylem
vascular
phloem
bundle
mesoph
yll
lower
epidermis
stoma

guard cells
2. Mesophyll
• Lies just between the
upper and lower
epidermis.
• Main site of
photosythesis.
• Consist of two types of
tissue:
a. Palisade mesophyll
b. Spongy mesophyllcuticl
e
upper
epidermis

xylem
vascular
phloem
bundle
mesoph
yll
lower
epidermis
stoma

guard cells
2a Palisade mesophyll
• Consists of one or two
layers of closely packed,
long and cylindrical cells.
• Cells contain numerous
chloroplast.
2b Spongy mesophyll
• Cells are irregular in size.
• Numerous large
intercellular spaces among
the cells.
• Cells carry out
photosynthesis but contain
fewer chloroplast than the
palisade mesophylls.
• Cells are covered with a
thin film of moisture.
• Contain transport tissue,
3. Lower epidermis
• Consists of a single
layer of closely packed
cells.
• Covered by an outer
layer of cuticle to
reduce water loss
through epidermal cell.
4. Stomata
• Lower epidermis
contains many minute
openings called
stomata.
 cuticle

upper
epidermis

xylem vascula
phloem r
mesophyll bundle

lower
epidermis
stoma
guard cells
 Upper
epidermis

Palisade
mesophyll

vascular
Spongy
bundle
mesophyll

lower Stoma
epidermis
Guard cell
 palisade mesophyll

spongy mesophyll

lower epidermis

cuticle
Adaptations of water plants
• Stomata are found only in the
upper epidermis.
• Upper epidermis is covered by a
thick cuticle.
• No cuticle in the lower epidermis.
• Many large air chambers are
present near the lower surface of
the leaf.
Adaptations of leaf for photosynthesis
1.Petiole (leaf stalk)
• Holds leaf in position to absorb maximum light
energy.

2.Thin broad lamina

• Provides a short diffusion distance for gases
and enables light to reach all mesophyll cells.
• Provides a large surface area for maximum
absorption of light.
3. Waxy cuticle on
upper and lower
epidermis
• Reduces water loss
through
evaporation from
the leaf.
• Transparent for
light to enter the
leaf.

4.Stomata present
in the epidermal
layers
• Open in presence
of light, allowing
carbon dioxide to
5. Chloroplasts containing chlorophyll in
all mesophyll cells
• Chlorophyll absorbs and transforms light
energy to chemical energy used in the
manufacture of sugars.

6.More chloroplast in upper palisade

tissue
• More light energy can be absorbed near the
leaf surface.

7.Interconnecting system of air spaces in

the spongy mesophyll
• Allows rapid diffusion of carbon dioxide and
oxygen into and out of the mesophyll cell.
8. Veins
containing
xylem and
phloem
situated close
to mesophyll
cells
• Xylem transports
water and
mineral salts to
mesophyll cells.

• Phloem
transports sugar
away from the
leaf.
w do guard cells control the size of stomata?
In
For photosynthesise takes place ,
sunlight
converting light energy to chemical
energy.
The chemical energy is used to pump
potassium ions (K+) into the guard
cell from neighbouring epidermal
cells.
The water potential of the guard cells
is lowered and water from the
neigbouring epidermal cells then
enters guard cells by osmosis.

This increases the turgidity of the cell

and causes them to become swollen.

The guard cells have a thicker cell

wall on one side of the cell (the side
around the stomatal pore) causes
the swollen guard cells to become
more curved and pull the stoma
open.
w do guard cells control the size of stomata?
At night
The potassium ions (K+) that have
accumulated in the guard cells
during the day diffuse out of the
guard cells.
Water potential in the guard cells is
increased and water leaves the cells
by osmosis.

The guard cells become flaccid and

the stoma closes.
• As the guard cells control the
opening and closing of the
stomata:
_ regulate the rate of diffusion of
gases.
_ reduce the amount of water
vapour escaping
from the leaf.

On extremely hot day, the

excess evaporation of water
causes guard cells to become
flaccid and the stomatal pore
closes.
ow does carbon dioxide enter the leaf?
Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through the
stomata.
In daylight when photosysthesis occurs, the carbon dioxide in
the leaf is used up.

The carbon dioxide concentration in the leaf becomes lower

than that in the atmospheric air, so a diffusion gradient
exists.
Therefore, carbon dioxide
diffuses from the surrounding air
through the stomata into the air
spaces in the leaf.
The surfaces of the mesophyll
cells are always covered by a
thin film of water so that carbon
dioxide can dissolve in it.
The dissolve carbon dioxide then
diffuse into the cell.
How does water enter the leaf?
Xylem transports water and mineral salts to
the leaf.
The xylem transports
water and dissolved
mineral salts to the leaf
from the roots.

Once out of the veins, the

water move from cell to
cell right through the
mesophyll of the cell

xylem
phloem
E N D O F L E SS O N