1. Nutrients In Plants
This chapter is about THE PLANTS that how they make
NUTRIENTS. Also we will learn that directly or indirectly
all the living organisms are dependent on PLANTS. We
will also learn the MODES OF NUTRITION and other
types of plants.
2. Living organisms such as plants and animals survive on food.
The food gives them the energy to perform several activities
in their life and helps in the growth.
Nutrients - Certain substances are present in the foods that
help in the survival of the organisms. These special substances
are called nutrients for example, proteins, vitamins,
carbohydrates, minerals and fats.
Some living organisms like plants synthesize their food by
themselves while others such as animals depend upon the
plants and other animals for their food.
3. Mode of Nutrition in Plants
What is nutrition?
Nutrition can be defined as a process by which organisms take in the food and
utilize it in order to survive. Based on the mode of nutrition organisms can be
divided into two categories
4. PHOTOSYTHESIS
The process by which plants prepare their food by using these raw materials is called
Photosynthesis.
Where is the food made in plants?
Leaves are also known as the Food Factories of the plants as they are the places where
food is prepared.
Different parts of the plants like roots gather the raw materials from the
environment and then transfer them to the leaves where photosynthesis takes place.
Transportation of water and Minerals in plants - The roots of the plants absorbs the
water and minerals of the soil and then transports them to the leaves via stems and
branches.
Inhalation of Carbon Dioxide - There are tiny holes or pores present on the surface of
the leaves called Stomata that take in the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere.
5. • The conditions for photosynthesis to
occur are:-
Sunlight
Chlorophyll
Carbon Dioxide
Water
In further slides we will learn about
these conditions.
6. 1)Chlorophyll
It is a green pigment which is present in
leaves (green part of plants).
Chlorophyll molecules are the principal
sites of light absorption during
photosynthesis.
7. 2) Sunlight
Chlorophyll helps the leaves to capture energy
from sun and this energy is utilized for the
synthesis of food from carbon dioxide and water.
Plants can manufacture food only in the presence
of sunlight because sun is the only and ultimate
source of energy.
8. 3) Carbon Dioxide
Plants take carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere through small openings genrally
present in the lower surface of the leaves,
called Stomata ( Singular Stoma).
Each Stoma is surrounded by two guard cells
which regulate its closing and opening.
9. 4) Water
It is essential for Photosythesis .
Roots absorb water along with minerals
from the soil and it is transported to
different parts of the plants.
10. HETROTROPHIC NUTRITION
Some plants that do not have chlorophyll
cannot synthesise their own food.
This mode of Nuitrition is called
hetrotrophic mode of nuitrition and
organisms having this type of nutrition are
called heterotrophs.
11. 1st type of Hetrotrophic plants are Parasitic Plants
Parasites are those organisms which obtain
food from the other organisms called Host.
It is a kind of association in which only
parasites are benefitted. Parasites plants
take their food from other plants.
The Cuscuta is a parasitic plant. It has a
special tubular structure called Haustria
that penetrate into the tissues the tree
from which it gets food.
EX:- Mistletoe, Rafflesia, Yellow Rattle,
Witch Weed, Broomrape
12. 2nd type of Hetrotrophic plants are
Saprophytic Plants
The mode of Nuitrition in
which organisms takes
nuitrients from dead and
decaying matter is called
Saprophytic Nuitrtion.
Plants that use Saprophytic
mode of nutrition are called
Saprophytes. All Saprophytes
lack Chlorophyll.
EX:- Fungi (Mushroom), Indian
Orchid, Snow Orchid Etc…
13. 3rd type of Hetrotrophic plants
are Symbiotic Plants
Some organisms live together and share shelter and nutrients. This is called symbiotic
relationship. For example, in organisms called lichens, a chlorophyll-containing
partner, which is an alga, and a fungus live together.
The fungus provides shelter, water and minerals to the alga and, in return, the alga
provides food which it prepares by photosynthesis.
14. 4th type of
Hetrotrophic plants
are Insectivorous
Plants
Insectivorous means insect-eating, these
plants derive most of their nutrition from
the insects, that they trap and consume.
These plants grow in humid areas, where
plenty of sunlight and moisture is found.
They are found in the nitrogen deficient
soil. That is why they trap and digest
insects to absorb nutrients. Venus
flytrap, pitcher plant and cobra lily are
some of the insectivorous plants’ names.
They are often called Carnivorous plants.