The Acquisition of Plant Nutrients

Photosynthesis in General Light + CO 2 + H 2 O  C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2

General Plant Anatomy Roots support the plant and absorb water and important nutrients Leaves absorb the sunlight Stoma on the leaves open to absorb carbon dioxide gas

Root Anatomy A section of root contains epidermal and endodermal layers The endodermal layer is impregnated with a water tight casparian strip and contains the vascular cylinder (made of xylem and phloem)

Epidermal Function Epidermis cells increase their surface area for absorption with root hairs The root manipulates solute concentration so that water will move by osmosis into the vascular cylinder

Capillarity in the Xylem Water’s cohesive and adhesive properties allow it to move up the xylem through capillarity. The thinner the xylem the higher the water will rise

Transpiration and the Stoma When stoma open to acquire carbon dioxide, water evaporates (transpires) causing an area of low pressure so that water flows from the root where the water is at a higher pressure

CO 2 & Light Acquisition The palisade layer contains packed columnar cells for intercepting light The spongy layer is open for the movement of CO 2 that enters through the stomata

Photosynthesis in the Leaf CO 2 + H 2 O + light  O 2 + C 6 H 12 O 6 Radiant Energy in Sunlight is converted into the chemical energy of Carbohydrates or Sugar

Translocation in the Phloem Once sugar is created, it is loaded into the phloem This increases the concentration of solutes causing water to move by osmosis and create pressure causing the sugar to flow