BIOLOGY REVISION

PLANTS, WATER AND MINERALS

IMPORTANCE OF WATER
Water is very important in plants. Along with all living things, the chemical reactions
which maintain life in plants take place in aqueous solution. It is also important for its
use in photosynthesis and transporting minerals. Water also provides support (in
non- woody plants) the pressure of the vacuoles pushing against the cell walls, thus
keeping the cell turgid and not flaccid or even plasmalysed.

TRANSPIRATION
Plants lose water through small holes called stomata in the leaves in a process
called transpiration. The rate of this is affected by the environmental conditions: high
temperatures and wind increase it and high humidity decreases it. Water is inevitably
lost during photosynthesis as the stomata are opened to allow in carbon dioxide. The
plant itself can close the stomata by bending the guard cells around them, often at
night when the plant is not respiring or in very hot conditions. The outer waxy cuticle
is also waterproof.
The rate of transpiration can be measured through the rate of water uptake. This can
be done by placing a shoot into a test of a known volume of water with oil on top and
measuring the mass at intervals. A potometer can also be used, set up as below,
with the shoot cut and inserted into the tubing under water to prevent air getting in as
it causes an air lock which stops the uptake of water. The rate of water uptake is
measured by the movement of the bubble.

UPTAKE OF WATER AND MINERALS

Plants obtain water from the soil. This is done through osmosis through root hairs
which are thousands of tiny hairs coming off of the roots which increases the surface
area.

Minerals are also obtained from soil in which they are dissolved in water. However,
there is a greater concentration of minerals in the roots than in the soil and so it must
be done through active transport which requires energy from respiration.

MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
Minerals are only required in small quantities, but if the plant does not get enough of
a certain mineral; it cannot grow and function properly. For example, a lack of
nitrates, which supply the nitrogen needed to make proteins, would result in poor
growth. A lack of potassium causing yellowing of the leaves and a lack of phosphate
causes poor root growth. To try prevent these things happening a combination of the
three is often used in fertilisers which are often called KPN fertilisers.

XYLEM
When the water and mineral reach the centre of the root, they are transported up the
stem and to all parts of the plant in the xylem tubes. The upward movement in the
xylem is caused by the loss of water through transpiration which creates suction,
pulling water and minerals up the xylem. This process can be seen using dyed water.

PHLOEM
Photosynthesis produces sugar which is needed for photosynthesis in all cells of the
plants with surplus being converted to starch. Therefore a specialised tissue called
the phloem is used to do this. Sugar can be transported up or down the phloem but
scientists are currently unsure how.

LEAF STRUCTURE
Some of the following structure can be seen by making an impression of the leaf in
nail varnish.

The cuticle is a waxy waterproof layer to reduce water loss. The palisade layer is
packed with chloroplasts for photosynthesis. The spongy layer contains large air
spaces to allow carbon dioxide to reach the palisade layer for photosynthesis. The
xylem brings water to the leaf and the phloem transports sugar away. The guard cells
open and close the stomata to let carbon dioxide in or to prevent water loss.