Plant Responses, Processes and Defense

Plant Processes Because plants are living organisms, they have processes that help them survive. Three are listed below. Photosynthesis is the process the plant uses to make sugar or food, which is why plants are autotrophs. Respiration is the process the cells in plant go through to use the sugar to make energy for the plant to use to grow and develop. Transpiration is the process plants go through to get rid of extra water.

Photosynthesis Energy Source End Products Raw Materials

Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through the stomata, which are usually located on the underside of a leaf. The guard cells open and shut the stomata when the plant needs to let carbon dioxide in or oxygen or water out. Chlorophyll, the green pigment inside the chloroplasts, is where sunlight is captured and used to make sugar or food for the plant.

Respiration This is the plant process that uses sugar for energy inside cells of plants. This happens inside the green dots or chloroplasts that have chlorophyll inside them.

Transpiration “Transpiration from a tree, water vapor you can’t see. A green bead shows it all to me. Water cycle Boogie.” This is the plant process that gets rid of extra water the plant may have.

A growth response of a plant to a stimulus. Plant Tropisms A growth response of a plant to a stimulus.

Hydrotropism Growth of plant parts towards water.

Thigmotropism Growth response of a plant to touch. This can be to help it grow or defend itself. http://www.ticklemeplant.com

Gravitropism Growth response to gravity.

Phototropism Growth response to light. http://www.botanical-online.com/lasplantasmovimientosvegetalesangles.htm

Asexual Reproduction Hornwort Requires one parent Produces identical offspring Moss Hornwort Liverwort

Bulbs: Underground stems that are big buds made of a stem and special type of leaf (onions, daffodils).

Runners: stems that run along the ground (strawberries, ivy, yard grasses). Strawberry plant.

Tubers: underground stems with “eyes” or buds from which new plants grow (potatoes).

Suckers: new shoots from roots (sweet potatoes and tomatoes).

Plant Defenses

Fungi Many types must grow in or on other organisms, such as plants. Disease caused by fungi may also affect other crops, such as rice, cotton, rye and soybeans. If a fungus infects a tree, fruit, or grass it can eventually kill the plant. They are decomposers that break down dead organisms. Also a source of medicine (penicillin) and food (cheeses).

Fungi that Cause Disease These are pictures of corn smut or grain mold. Both affect crops and grow a white mold that will damage the plant and eventually kill it.

Fungi that Cause Disease Wheat Rust

Fungi as Decomposers Fungi are decomposers that help break down dead material and return nutrients to the soil. This fungi, saprotroph, breaks down dead leaf matter and returns nutrients to the soil.

Oyster Mushroom or White Rot Fungus Coriolus varsicolor Decays dead parts of the tree.

Fungi that are Helpful Fungi help foods to grow such as blue cheese. Fungi also are used to make medicines, such as penicillin.