Investigation into Plants Essay Example

Usually found at the tip of a leaf's stalk, which connects it to the stem and suspends it in the air, this spot allows for efficient absorption of Carbon Dioxide. Due to the low concentration (0.03%) of Carbon Dioxide present in the atmosphere, leaves must be incredibly effective at absorbing it. Diffusion is how Carbon Dioxide enters stomata as air moves through small gaps and diffuses into leaves.

As Carbon Dioxide enters inward, water vapour and oxygen diffuse outward through the stoma. Unique 'guard cells' present in each stoma regulate the opening and closing of the leaves to either retain or expel products. These 'guard cells' consist of a thick inner wall and a thinner outer wall that aid in the opening and closing mechanism. The leaves may become turgid or flaccid depending on the situation of the palisade cells filled with water or emptied of it, respectively. During night time, the guard cells shut down to preserve water inside the leaves, and when the palisade cells fill up with water, they open up the stoma to expel some water out.

The closure of the stoma by guard cells occurs when cells become flaccid. This prevents the escape of water and the entry of Carbon Dioxide, ultimately leading to the cessation of photosynthesis. Water enters the plant via osmosis in root hairs where selectively permeable membranes absorb it. This causes a cell’s cytoplasm to swell as its vacuole is filled with water. However, due to the cell wall, the cell's turgidity is maintained preventing it from bursting.

Osmosis causes water to move from areas with less water to areas with more water. As a result, if one cell's

vacuole becomes saturated with water, the excess water moves into neighboring cells until it reaches the xylem vessels. The xylem vessels are fortified with cellulose lignin, which helps to maintain the stem's stiffness. A constant supply of water is necessary to replace the water lost through transpiration in the leaves' stomata (known as the transpiration stream).

The plant's xylem vessel rapidly transports water to the leaves when they require more, having lost it through their stomata. The dissolved nutrients in this water are also received by the plant. Water is expelled from the plant either through evaporation or via guard cells expelling Carbon Dioxide from the leaves. Furthermore, there exist phloem tubes within the plant.

The plant's tubes transport essential nutrients such as magnesium ions, potassium ions, nitrate ions, and phosphate ions to all growing areas. These substances are necessary for chlorophyll production and growth, as well as maintaining overall plant health by providing sugars, fats, and proteins - the main food source. Moreover, these tubes also transfer nutrients to and from storage organs in the roots.

Plants utilize Active Transport to keep nutrients within their system by expending respiration-generated energy to uptake the nutrients. Sugars can be stored in various ways within plants. They can be stored as simple sugars for immediate utilization and transport, or as starch for long-term storage that can be converted into simple sugars or a cellulose substance later, which only bolsters the plant's structure. The adaptations of plants towards photosynthesis are diverse.

The design of leaves facilitates photosynthesis. The leaf stalks and large leaf surface areas allow for more exposure to light and air. Thin leaves make the absorption of

substances easier. Air spaces and stomata enable the diffusion of CO2 in and out. Mesophyll layer contains chloroplasts that react with CO2 and H2O while sunlight can penetrate deeper as there are no chloroplasts at the surface. Chloroplasts remain flat, allowing for exposure to more sunlight, and vascular bundles stay near the mesophyll layer to supply water to chloroplasts. The process of photosynthesis leads to the production of glucose, which plants use in various ways, such as respiration that generates new energy and helps in making and rebuilding plant parts. Additionally, glucose plays a role in synthesizing chlorophyll in a plant.

3) The purpose is to transform any lipid into a source for seed storage. 4) Cellulose is produced from glucose and utilized in the construction of cell walls. 5) Starch stores glucose in the roots until it is needed when photosynthesis is not possible.

The process of photosynthesis involves the conversion of glucose and nitrates from the soil into amino acids, which are further transformed into proteins. However, the present rate of photosynthesis compared to respiration is concerning, largely due to deforestation. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between plants and humans mirrors a continuous life cycle.

According to the CGP biology guide, the rate of CO2 is increasing due to a decrease in plants and an increase in animals. The guide suggests that if there is an excess of "animal" compared to "plant," it can cause a rise in CO2 levels. It should be noted that plants not only perform photosynthesis but also respire. During nighttime, the plant respiration will use up oxygen resulting in its level falling since none is being produced at

night. However, plants require light for photosynthesis as it acts as a limiting factor at night. Our investigation aims to determine which factors affect photosynthesis and whether a plant needs one of these four factors.

Plants require four key elements for growth: Water, Carbon-Dioxide, Light, and Temperature. Maintaining proper hydration is crucial to avoid harming the plant. Not enough water can result in weak palisade cells and reduced chlorophyll levels in leaves, which leads to lower photosynthesis rates and eventual death. Conversely, excessive watering can also be detrimental to plants. Light is vital as it is absorbed by chloroplasts during photosynthesis.

Plants rely on light energy, carbon dioxide, and water for photosynthesis. However, due to the low concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere (0.03%), it is not easily absorbed compared to water. As a result, the rate of photosynthesis is limited by the available amount of CO2. When enough carbon dioxide is attained, one of the other products becomes limiting. In addition to this, warm temperatures are crucial for chlorophyll to function efficiently as an enzyme; unsuitable conditions include excessively hot or cold environments.

My aim is to examine the effects of weak light on plant growth and photosynthesis. My theory suggests that enhancing the amount of light directed towards plants will yield higher levels of photosynthesis. This is due to optimal chlorophyll performance just before temperatures surpass 45 degrees, as well as inadequate function under low temperature circumstances. With sufficient energy from light, chlorophyll can expedite glucose production by combining carbon dioxide and water, resulting in a faster photosynthetic response.

Decreased light intensity causes a reduction in plant reaction, as chlorophyll energy levels decrease. This results in less

efficient conversion of water to carbon dioxide, leading to reduced glucose production. To conduct the experiment, one requires Elodea, a glass beaker, 10g of bicarbonate of soda, a small measuring cylinder, a glass funnel, water, a ruler and a lamp.