PhotosynthesisPlant Unit

Vascular or NonvascularWhy?

What four things do plants need in order to begin photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis

Plant process of synthesizing their own food

1. Plants trap the sun’s light energy and use the energy to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen.

2. Plants take in carbon dioxide and combine with the hydrogen and oxygen to form glucose (sugar).

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/photosynthesis.htm

Chloroplast

The plant organelle where photosynthesis occurs

Chlorophyll within the chloroplast captures the light energy from the sun

Plant Reproduction

Gametes-reproductive cells Asexual reproduction-plants reproduce without male

and female gametes Sexual reproduction-plants reproduce using male

and female gametes

Asexual Reproduction Many methods New plant is almost always a clone of the parent

plant (genetically identical) Disadvantage: that mutations can lead to distinction

in all clones from the parent plant

Asexual Reproduction

Runners-grow above the ground Grow stems that branch out along the ground These stems have places where new roots can

grow, starting a whole new plant. Examples: Strawberries and spider plants

Asexual Reproduction

Stems that grow below the ground are called rhizomes.

Examples: grasses, irises, bamboo, aspen trees

Sexual Reproduction

Development from spore or seed

DNA from the male gamete combines with DNA from the female gamete

New plant is not identical both has aspects of both DNA

Leads to diversity and stronger resistance to diseases

Propagation Cutting up parts of plants and growing entirely new plants

from the parts.

Produces identical offspring

Farmers use to produce identical plants

Can be grown from any plant organ or tissue including buds, roots, stems, and leaves