Nutrition in plants

Plants are autotrophic organisms. They can make their own food using small

inorganic molecules and light energy. This process is called photosynthesis. Word equation:

Carbon dioxide+water glucose+oxygenLight

chlorophyll

Leaf structure

Leaf structure

Fate of glucose

Test for starch in leaves

Finding out what is important for photosynthesis

How would you test for the importance of light ?

How would you test for the importance of CO2?

how would you test for the importance of chlorophyll?

Hint: Soda lime absorbs CO2 in air.

Hint:Variegated leaves have yellow areas with no chloroplasts.

Measuring the rate of photosynthesis

How could you test the effect of:

Variable light intensities?

Variable CO2 concentrations?

Variable temperatures?

Minerals needed by plants Nitrates: provide the plant with the

nitrogen needed to make amino acids and thus proteins.

Magnesium: is needed to make chlorophyll.

Predict how soil with no nitrates /magnesium would affect plant growth.

Eutrophication

O2 level falls