Plant Water, Mineral Nutrition, and Essential Elements

All flashcards

What is transpiration?

Transpiration is the loss of water vapor from a plant, especially through its leaves. This loss helps draw more water upward from the roots.

What is the role of root hairs and xylem in water movement?

Root hairs absorb water from the soil, and xylem transports it upward through the plant toward the leaves.

Why is water important to plants?

Water supports cell structure, enables metabolic functions, carries nutrients, and is used in photosynthesis.

What makes a compound organic?

An organic compound contains carbon and is made by a living organism. Plant examples include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

How do plants obtain the carbon used in organic molecules?

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and incorporate its carbon into organic molecules. Carbon consequently makes up a large share of plant dry mass.

Quiz questions

1. Which set of conditions defines an essential element for plants?Answer: Required for life-cycle completion, irreplaceable, and directly involved in plant nutrition.
2. Which element helps regulate the opening and closing of plant stomata?Answer: Potassium.
3. What does hydroponics involve?Answer: Growing plants in a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil.
4. What is chlorosis in a plant?Answer: Yellowing of leaves.
5. Approximately what percentage of the dry weight of an average plant cell is carbon?Answer: About 45 percent.