Biology Notes

Unit 3: Transport Systems in Plants

Plants are organisms that can make their own food through photosynthesis- need water, air,
sunlight- and mostly soil.
Classification of Plants:

Vascular: (tracheophyte) Non-Vascular: (seedless)

 plants that have systems of tubes  likely found growing on rocks, rotting wood,
 which includes xylem and phloem trees or on the ground.
 xylem: carries nutrients and  do not extend much more than a few inches
water from roots to leaves above the surface and are anchored to the
 phloem: carry glucose plant surface they’re growing on
food made in photosynthesis  not capable of water intake- water is
from leaves to different parts of absorbed through the plant body
the plant  reproduce through spores
 no well-developed system for transporting
Gymnosperm: Flower like structure food and water.
 lack of true roots, stems and leaves.
 nutrients must be obtained directly from
environment: osmosis/diffusion
Spore-producing: horsetails, ferns and Liverworts
club mosses (resemble mosses but have Hornworts
vascular tissue) Mosses
Seed-producing: most familiar
 Flowering:
 Non-Flowering: conifer, cycad,
ginkgo
Meristematic Tissue:
 Apical Meristem: growth- height
thin walled, arranged immature cells that can to
divide and form new cells.
located at the growing tips of stems and roots;
produces growth in length of root and stem
 Intercalary Meristem: growth of branches
and leaves
found at base of internodes
promote growth of plants by lengthening nodes
and internodes present at the leaves and stems.
area of growth of new branch
 Lateral Meristem: growth- thickness/diameter of stem
present on sides of stem and root of a plant
promote growth by increasing thickness or girth of stem
IMPORTANT:
nodes are critical areas from which leaves, branches, and aerial
roots grow from the stem, while internodes are the intervals
between the nodes.
Permanent Tissue:
Aid in transport and preparation of food, while providing support for
the plant.
They are meristematic tissues that mature and become differentiated to form different types f
tissues.

Permanent Tissue
Simple: similar types of cells that have a Complex: consist of 2 kinds of cells.
common origin and function.
Sclerenchyma:  Phloem: sends prepared food from
present in stems, leaves and hard, fibrous leaves to other parts of the plant.
covering of seeds and nuts. sieve tubes
Mechanical support companion cells
Collenchyma: phloem parenchyma
provide elasticity and mechanical support phloem fibers
found in cortex of stems and leaves.  Xylem: sends nutrients and water from
Parenchyma: roots to other plant parts.
aid in photosynthesis, storage and help tracheids
aquatic plants float. vessels (tracheae)
Aerenchyma xylem parenchyma
a spongy tissue that forms spaces/air xylem fibers
channels in the leaves, stems, and roots of
aquatic plants
Chlorenchyma
consisting of parenchyma cells that contain
chlorophyll, promotes photosynthesis.
Epidermis
Secretes waxy cuticle, protective barrier,
repels fungi and bacteria, prevention of
water loss

Diffusion in Non-vascular Plants

Diffusion results from the random motion of molecules by which there is a flow of matter from a
region of high to low concentration, across a concentration gradient- particles spread out from
each other.
Carbon Dioxide diffuses from stomata to leaves and cells. During transpiration, the water and
oxygen diffuse from the leaves into the environment.
 No expenditure of energy.
 Slow Process
 Mainly in Gases and Liquids
Stomata: pores on leaves
Two guard cells regulate opening and closing of stomata. it opens during the daytime to intake
CO2 when light is available for photosynthesis, and closes at night to limit transpiration save
water
The opening and close ng of stomata is due to the change in turgor pressure of the guard
cell.
 example: High Concentration of CO2 in the environment to Low Concentration of CO2 in
the leaves
perfume sprayed by me -> the particles of the perfume slowly spread out across the room
and the scent can be smelt throughout the room: fan is on -> speed of particles increases,
spread increases
-> when room door is open -> surface area increases, particles continue moving and
spread out more till a state of equilibrium is achieved
 example: water rising from the roots to the leaves, find their way out of the stomata. As
long as there are more water molecules in the leaf as compared to the air, the water
molecules will continue to diffuse out of the leaf by the process of evaporation.
note- during day light diffusion increases, but at night it decreases due to closing of stomata.
Example of Diffusion- ink spreading in water (initially HC then LC), scent of food (initially HC
then LC)
HC- amount of solute is high
LC- amount of solute is low

Osmosis
Movement of water from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water
concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
Only solvent can move, because semi-permeable membrane is present in osmosis, through
which only small molecules can pass.
note- diffusion and osmosis both require a cell membrane.
example- there are 2 cells, one with more water and one with less, with a semi-permeable
membrane between both cells. The water molecules from the cell with more water will move to
the cell with less water, till the concentration is balanced or equal in both cells.
example- movement of water from soil (HC) to plant roots (LC)
Endosmosis
Occurs when cell is placed in a hypotonic solution- very watery solution with less solute content.
The water moves inside the cell to maintain equilibrium. Due to this the cell swells.
example: movement of water from soil into the roots.
Exosmosis
Occurs when cell is placed in a hypertonic solution- highly concentrated solution with less water
content. The cell’s water moves outward to maintain equilibrium. Due to this the cell’s size
shrinks.
Example: when grapes are placed in salt solution they shrink.

Hypotonic Higher solute concentration Cell swells- turgidity

inside the cell than outside-
diluted
Isotonic equal concentration of solutes Cell size remains the same
on either side of the
membrane
Hypertonic Higher solute concentration Cell shrinks- plasmolysis
outside the cell than inside-
highly concentrated
Types of Transport
Active Transport
Movement of molecules from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration
against the concentration gradient with the use of external energy. A protein pump makes use of
stored energy in the form of ATP, to move molecules.
IMPORTANT: it is the opposite of diffusion and osmosis because it is not moving in the natural
direction.

The substance binds to the protein carrier on the low concentration side using ATP. The protein
carrier releases the substance on the other side of the cell membrane where it is already at a
high concentration.
Since transportation is not happening in the natural direction excessive energy is required to
perform it.

Primary Active Transport Secondary Active Transport

Uses breakdown of external energy like ATP Uses electrochemical energy.
Transport molecules across the membrane Occurs across a biological membrane
against a concentration gradient. A transporter protein couples the movement
Example: sodium-potassium pump: most of an electrochemical ion down its
important pump in animal cell- sodium ions electrochemical gradient to the upward
are moved to the outside of the cell and movement of another molecule or an ion
potassium ions are moved to the inside of the against an electrochemical gradient.
cell The two molecules move either in the same
root hair cells: take in mineral ions from the direction(both into the cell) or in the opposite
soil. directions(one into and one out of the cell).
IMPORTANT:
 Allows molecules to pass the cell membrane disrupting the equilibrium established by the
diffusion
 Ions, large proteins complex sugars and cells are transported.
 Required for the entrance of large, insoluble molecules into the cell
Passive Transport
 Movement of a solute from a region of high concentration one side of the cell membrane
to a region of low concentration on the opposite side.
 Without utilization of external energy- naturally occurring process
 Types: osmosis, diffusion, facilitated diffusion
Xylem VS Phloem

IMPORTANT: xylem doesn’t contain cytoplasm since cells are dead, but phloem does
Membranes

Transpiration
Plants constantly absorb water from soil, but not all water absorbed is utilized by the plants,
instead excess water evaporated from ariel parts of plants, mostly through the stomata which
are placed on the undersides of the leaves.
how is water sent up? evaporation of water from leaves results in a suction force- called
transpiration pull or capillary action, which pulls water up the xylem vessels.
Factors Affecting Rate of Transpiration
(depends on evaporation, hence factors correlate)
 Humidity: if outside air is dry, water will diffuse rapidly, hence transpiration increases,
when air is humid or damp, evaporation is limited.
 Temperature: rising temperature in the surroundings can increase evaporation thus
increasing rate of transpiration
 Wind Velocity/Strength: when air is still, transpiration makes air around the leaves
moist, thus causing water vapor to build up and increase air humidity, hence reducing
transpiration. Higher wind velocity- higher rate of transpiration, however if wind is too
strong, the stomata may close because the guard cells might lose too much water.
 Light: affects size of stomatal opening on the leaf, thus affecting rate of transpiration;
night time- stomata closes; day time- stomata opens.
Cohesion and Adhesion in Transpiration
Cohesion when water sticks to other water molecules- via hydrogen bonds.
Adhesion when water sticks to non-water molecules- via hydrogen bonds.
example- water adhering to a plant molecule.
Cohesion and Adhesion play a vital role in transpiration of plants- when water is moving up from
the roots to the plants, through the xylem:
 the water molecules cohesively stick to each other, so when one water molecule moves
upwards, the next is pulled upwards as well, causing the water to move as a column.
 the water molecules adhere to sides of the xylem, allowing water and minerals to be
absorbed by the tissues of the plant.
Sap is a fluid transported in xylem tubes or phloem cells of a plant, which carries certain
nutrients, sugar, etc.
Types of Pressure
Turgor pressure: pressure of cell contents against cell wall in plant cells- when cell is filled with
water/cell sap.
Wall pressure: pressure exerted by the cell wall on the cell content.
Root pressure: positive hydrostatic pressure created by the cells of the roots as a result of
which the cell sap rises upward through the stem. it is created due to endosmosis in root hair
cells when water moves into the cell from surrounding soil particles.
 Guttation: drops of water appear along leaf margins due to excessive root pressure.
 Bleeding: loss of cell sap through a cut stem due to high root pressure.
Ascent of Sap
Specialized Plant Cells: xylem cells, phloem cells and root hair cells
Root Hair Cells: specialized cells which are long and thin, providing a large surface area for
uptake of water and minerals.

Lenticles: Permit the exchange of gases between the environment and the internal tissue
spaces of the organs
IMPORTANT: Stomata mainly occur in the lower epidermis of leaves, whereas lenticels occur in
the periderm of the woody trunk or stems.
Hydathodes: a type of pore in the epidermis or leaf margin, through which water is secreted,
typically at the tip of a serration- causes guttation.
Mesophytes
A plant which requires only a moderate amount of water- neither adapted to particularly dry nor
particularly wet environments.
Adaptation of Mesophytes:
 The stem is generally straight and branched.
 The leaves are generally broad and thin.
 Extensive fibrous root system to absorb water.
 The presence of waxy cuticle in leaves traps the moisture and lessens water loss.
 Leaves have stomata which close in extreme heat and wind to prevent transpiration.
 Ability to develop perennating organs such as corms and bulbs to store food and water.
Hydrophytes
Plants growing in or near water are called hydrophytes.
Adaptation of Hydrophytes:
 Roots are poorly developed or absent.
 Plant body is greatly reduced.
  Submerged leaves are narrow or finely divided.
 Floating leaves have long leaf stalks to enable the leaves move up and down in response
to changes in water level.
 Air chambers provide buoyancy and mechanical support to plants.
Xerophytes
Plants that grow in dry habitat
Adaptations of Xerophytes
 They have well developed roots- roots grow very deep and reach the layers where water is
available.
 They store water in succulent water storing parenchymatous tissues.
 They have small sized leaves with waxy coating, to lessen water loss (in some plants,
leaves are modified into spines).
 Some of the xerophytes complete their life cycle within a very short period when sufficient
moisture is available.
Translocation
A process which mainly involves the transfer of food from one part of the plant to another
through the phloem. In general, this happens between where these substances are made
(the sources) and where they are used or stored (the sinks).
The food (sugar) made in leaves is loaded into sieve tubes of phloem tissue by using the energy
derived from ATP. As a result, the osmotic pressure in the tissue increases, causing the water to
move into it. This process is helpful in moving the food materials according to the needs of the
plant.
Continuation of Xylem & Phloem
Xylem: moving water and solutes from roots to leaves.
Phloem: moving glucose (a result of photosynthesis) and amino acids to the rest of the plant.

Stem Root
The xylem and phloem are found in groups called vascular bundles- the position of these bundles
changes for different parts of the plant.
The xylem and phloem are made up of rows of cells that form a continuous tube, running the
whole length of the plant.
Xylem vessels comprise of elongated dead cells that are impermeable to water and have walls
containing lignin (a woody material)- hence vascular bundles in the roots are in the center to
prevent the plant from being pulled out of the ground and ensure that they are more protected
in the center.
Since the stem has to resist being squashed and bent, it has the vascular bundles nearer to the
edge to give the stem strength and support.
IMPORTANT: phloem transports sucrose and amino acids up and down the plant depending on
it’s requirement, where as in the xylem the movement is one way, which is upwards.
Pathways to Transport Water through Plant Root Cells:

Opening and Closing of Stomata:

Transpiration occurs when stomata are open, and stops when they are closed.
Opened Stomata:
 Turgid (swollen) guard cells: Water content in guard cells is high, hence stomata open
to transpire, and ensure that some water content is lost.
 Stoma is Open.
 The thin outer wall is pushed outside since the guard cells are turgid, this pulls the thick
inner wall outside as well, causing the stomata top open.
 During the day, stomata open in response to light, to facilitate gas exchange between the
plant and the atmosphere, which is necessary for photosynthesis and water uptake. As a
result of this the guard cells swell during the day, since water uptake in the plant
increases.
Closed Stomata:
 Flaccid (shrunken) guard cells: Water content in guard cells is less, hence stomata
closes to prevent further loss of water.
 Stoma is Closed.
 The thick inner wall of guard cells goes back towards the stomata, causing stomata to
close.
 During the night, or on a shady day, the stomata closes, since photosynthesis is limited
without sunlight. Henceforth, the stomata closes to limit transpiration and save water.