Kingdom Plantae Nutrition

Photosynthesis- o The process of converting solar energy to chemical energy o Used by green plants, algae, euglena, and the blue- green bacteria o 6 CO H 2 O > C 6 H 12 O O 2 Carbon Water Glucose Oxygen dioxide

How we perceive color o Sunlight is a mixture of all visible wavelengths o Objects appear a certain color because they are reflecting that wavelength o So when we look at green plants, red and blue light is absorbed (used for photosynthesis) and green light is reflected

The visible spectrum o Light travels in particles that form waves o The shorter the wavelength the greater the available energy o Violet=the greatest energy o Red=the lowest energy

Pigments-substances that absorb light o Photosynthetic pigments o 1) chlorophyll a-primary photosynthetic pigment o 2) chlorophyll b o 3) carotenes-reflect orange light o 4) xanthophylls-reflect yellow light

o Chlorophyll a hides the other pigments o It is the first to break down in the fall when sunlight decreases and temperatures cool o This is why we see other colors in the fall

Chloroplasts-cell organelle containing photosynthetic membranes and pigments o Thylakoids-”green disks”, the photosynthetic membranes inside o Grana-stacks of thylakoids o Stroma-regions around the grana Stroma Thylakoids

Photosynthesis- o The process by which organic compounds (glucose) are synthesized in the presence of carbon dioxide and light

Factors affecting photosynthesis o 1) light intensity-as intensity increases, rate of photosynthesis increases (to a certain point) o 2) water-a deficiency will slow or stop photosynthesis o 3) minerals, carbon dioxide, nutrients-a deficiency will slow or stop photosynthesis o 4) temperature-this influences enzyme activity

Heterotrophic plants o Mistletoe-a parasitic plant o It photosynthesizes but also takes sap from the vascular tissue of host plants such as oaks

Heterotrophic plants con’t o Indian pipes-does not photosynthesize o Lives symbiotically with a fungus

Heterotrophic plants con’t o Pitcher plants- photosynthetic but supplements missing nutrients in its environment with nitrogen from captured insects o Venus flytrap does this too!

Venus Flytrap

Plant Regulation o Remember the factors that affect photosynthesis? o Plants need to regulate carbon dioxide intake and water loss o Leaves have pores called stomata that let carbon dioxide in and oxygen out

Stomata o If stomata are open, what is lost along with oxygen? o Water!!!! o So plants close stomata during times of high water loss (like hot, sunny days)

Guard cells o The cells surrounding the pores or stomata of a leaf are called guard cells. o In the photo, the dark center is the stomate and the cells surrounding it are the guard cells.