Ch. 37 Warm-Up What conclusions should we draw from van Helmont’s experiment? Where would you expect a deficiency of a relatively immobile element to be seen first in a plant? (pg. 756) What are the possible consequences of selling off water rights to cities and developments?
Chapter 37 Plant Nutrition
What you need to know: Mutualistic relationships between plant roots and the bacteria and fungi that grow in the rhizosphere help plants acquire important nutrients. Nonmutualistic nutritional adaptations enable plant survival in adverse habitats.
Nutritional Requirements Essential element: required for plant to complete life cycle and produce another generation Macronutrients (large amounts): CHNOPS + K, Ca, Mg Nitrogen = most important! Micronutrients (small amounts): Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, etc.
Mutualistic Relationships: Rhizobium bacteria supply nitrogen at roots (fix atmospheric N2 to usable N) Plant supplies sugar & amino acids Mycorrhizae (plant + fungus)
Role of soil bacteria in the nitrogen nutrition of plants
Unusual nutritional adaptations: epiphytes, parasitic plants, canivorous plants Epiphyte: grow on another plant, absorb H2O from rain through leaves
Parasitic Plants: not photosynthetic; absorb sugar and minerals from living hosts
Carnivorous Plants: photosynthetic, but obtain some nitrogen and minerals by digesting small animals