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Ch-11 Transport in Plants (Open)

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44 views3 pages

Ch-11 Transport in Plants (Open)

Uploaded by

sallu bhai
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Here are detailed notes on Chapter 11: Transport in Plants for Pearson Edexcel (9-

1) IGCSE Biology.

Chapter 11: Transport in Plants

1. Need for Transport Systems in Plants

Plants require a transport system to move water, nutrients, and minerals from roots
to other parts of the plant and distribute food made in the leaves. Unlike animals,
plants lack a circulatory system but have specialized vascular tissues: xylem and
phloem.

• Xylem: Transports water and dissolved minerals from roots to leaves.


• Phloem: Transports organic nutrients (mainly sucrose and amino acids)
produced in leaves to other parts of the plant.

2. Water Uptake and Movement

a. Water Absorption by Roots

• Root hair cells increase surface area for water absorption.


• Osmosis: Water moves from the soil (higher water potential) into root
hair cells (lower water potential).

b. Pathway of Water in the Root

• Water enters through the root hair cells and passes through the cortex
cells.
• Moves through either:
• Apoplast Pathway (through cell walls)
• Symplast Pathway (through cytoplasm via plasmodesmata)
• Endodermis: Acts as a selective barrier, forcing water into the
symplast pathway.

c. Water Transport in the Xylem

• Water moves up through the xylem vessels by transpiration pull,


capillary action, and root pressure.

3. Transpiration

Definition

• Transpiration: The loss of water vapor from the leaves and other aerial
parts of the plant through stomata.

Mechanism of Transpiration

1. Water evaporates from the mesophyll cells and diffuses out through
stomata.
2. This creates a low water potential in the mesophyll, pulling water up
from the xylem (known as the transpiration pull).
3. Cohesion and adhesion in the xylem vessels help to maintain a
continuous water column.

Factors Affecting Transpiration Rate

1. Light Intensity: Stomata open in light, increasing transpiration.


2. Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation,
speeding up transpiration.
3. Humidity: Lower humidity (dry air) increases the water potential
gradient, increasing transpiration.
4. Wind: Wind removes water vapor around the leaf, maintaining the
gradient and increasing transpiration.

Importance of Transpiration

• Cooling: Evaporation cools the plant.


• Water and Mineral Transport: The transpiration stream moves water and
dissolved minerals from roots to leaves.
• Turgidity: Maintains cell turgor, which supports non-woody plants.

4. Adaptations to Reduce Water Loss

Plants have various adaptations to minimize water loss, especially in dry


environments:

1. Waxy Cuticle: Reduces water loss by preventing evaporation from the


epidermis.
2. Stomata: Mainly located on the leaf underside to reduce direct sun
exposure.
3. Stomatal Control: Stomata can open and close to regulate water loss.
4. Reduced Leaf Surface Area: Some plants have smaller leaves to minimize
the surface area for water loss (e.g., pine needles).
5. Hairy Leaves: Trap moisture and reduce water potential gradient near
the leaf surface.

5. Xylem Structure and Function

• Xylem Vessels: Long, hollow tubes made of dead cells, with thick lignin
walls to prevent collapse under tension.
• Lignin: Provides structural support and waterproofing.
• Pits: Allow lateral movement of water between xylem vessels.

6. Phloem Structure and Function

• Phloem: Made of living cells, unlike xylem.


• Sieve Tube Elements: Have no nucleus and limited organelles, with sieve
plates that allow movement of sap.
• Companion Cells: Support sieve tube elements by providing metabolic
energy for transport.

Translocation

• Translocation: The movement of organic nutrients, mainly sucrose and


amino acids, through the phloem from sources (where nutrients are produced or
stored, like leaves) to sinks (where they’re used or stored, like roots or fruits).
• Source to Sink: Sugars are transported from leaves to growing tissues,
storage organs, and roots.
• Active Transport: Energy from ATP is used to load sucrose into phloem
at the source.

7. Experiments on Transpiration and Transport

a. Potometer Experiment

• A potometer measures the rate of water uptake in a plant, which can be


used as an indirect measure of transpiration rate.
b. Ring Barking Experiment (for Phloem Transport)

• Removing a ring of bark (phloem) from a tree stem blocks sugar


transport below the ring, causing swelling above it, which indicates that the
phloem is responsible for transporting sugars.

c. Radioactive Tracers (for Phloem Transport)

• Carbon-14 labeled CO₂ is used to trace the movement of sugars produced


in photosynthesis. The movement of labeled compounds through the phloem to sinks
can be tracked.

8. Mineral Ion Transport

Plants absorb essential mineral ions through their roots, which are transported via
the xylem and used for various cellular processes.

1. Nitrate (NO₃⁻): For amino acids, proteins, and DNA.


2. Phosphate (PO₄³⁻): For ATP, DNA, and cell membranes.
3. Potassium (K⁺): For enzyme activation, particularly in photosynthesis
and respiration.
4. Magnesium (Mg²⁺): For chlorophyll production.

Minerals are typically absorbed via active transport because their concentration is
lower in soil than in root cells, requiring energy to move against the
concentration gradient.

These notes cover the essentials of transport in plants, including water and
mineral uptake, transpiration, xylem and phloem structure, and adaptations for
minimizing water loss. Let me know if you’d like further details on any specific
area!

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