Page 1 Nutrition in Plants 1 I n Class VI you learnt that food is essential for all living organisms. You also learnt that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are components of food. These components of food are called nutrients and are necessary for our body. All living organisms require food. Plants can synthesise food for themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants. 1.1 MODE OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals. The raw materials are present in their surroundings. The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other). Boojho wants to know how plants prepare their own food. Now we may ask where the food factories of plants are located: whether food is made in all parts of a plant or only in certain parts? How do plants obtain the raw materials from the surroundings? How do they transport them to the food factories of plants? 1.2 PHOTOSYNTHESIS — FOOD MAKING PROCESS IN PLANTS Leaves are the food factories of plants. Therefore, all the raw materials must reach the leaf. Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from air is taken in Paheli wants to know why our body cannot make food from carbon dioxide, water and minerals like plants do. 2020-21 Page 2 Nutrition in Plants 1 I n Class VI you learnt that food is essential for all living organisms. You also learnt that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are components of food. These components of food are called nutrients and are necessary for our body. All living organisms require food. Plants can synthesise food for themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants. 1.1 MODE OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals. The raw materials are present in their surroundings. The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other). Boojho wants to know how plants prepare their own food. Now we may ask where the food factories of plants are located: whether food is made in all parts of a plant or only in certain parts? How do plants obtain the raw materials from the surroundings? How do they transport them to the food factories of plants? 1.2 PHOTOSYNTHESIS — FOOD MAKING PROCESS IN PLANTS Leaves are the food factories of plants. Therefore, all the raw materials must reach the leaf. Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from air is taken in Paheli wants to know why our body cannot make food from carbon dioxide, water and minerals like plants do. 2020-21 SCIENCE 2 Paheli wants to know what is so special about the leaves that they can synthesise food but other parts of the plant cannot. Cells through the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves. These pores are surrounded by ‘guard cells’. Such pores are called stomata [Fig. 1.2 (c)]. Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run like pipes throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. They form a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to reach the leaf. They are called vessels. You will learn more about transport of materials in plants in Chapter 11. The leaves have a green pigment called chlorophyll. It helps leaves to capture the energy of the sunlight. This energy is used to synthesise (prepare) food from carbon dioxide and water. Since the synthesis of food occurs in the presence of sunlight, it is called photosynthesis (Photo: light; synthesis : to combine). So we find that chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are necessary to carry out the process of photosynthesis. It is a unique process on the earth. The solar energy is captured by the leaves and stored in the plant in the form of food. Thus, sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms. Can you imagine life on earth in the absence of photosynthesis! In the absence of photosynthesis there would not be any food. The survival of almost all living organisms directly or indirectly depends upon the food made by the plants. Besides, oxygen which is essential for the survival You have seen that buildings are made of bricks. Similarly, the bodies of living organisms are made of tiny units called cells. Cells can be seen only under the microscope. Some organisms are made of only one cell. The cell is enclosed by a thin outer boundary, called the cell membrane. Most cells have a distinct, centrally located spherical structure called the nucleus (Fig. 1.1). The nucleus is surrounded by a jelly-like substance called cytoplasm. Cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus Fig. 1.1 Cell Boojho wants to know how water and minerals absorbed by roots reach the leaves. 2020-21 Page 3 Nutrition in Plants 1 I n Class VI you learnt that food is essential for all living organisms. You also learnt that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are components of food. These components of food are called nutrients and are necessary for our body. All living organisms require food. Plants can synthesise food for themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants. 1.1 MODE OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals. The raw materials are present in their surroundings. The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other). Boojho wants to know how plants prepare their own food. Now we may ask where the food factories of plants are located: whether food is made in all parts of a plant or only in certain parts? How do plants obtain the raw materials from the surroundings? How do they transport them to the food factories of plants? 1.2 PHOTOSYNTHESIS — FOOD MAKING PROCESS IN PLANTS Leaves are the food factories of plants. Therefore, all the raw materials must reach the leaf. Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from air is taken in Paheli wants to know why our body cannot make food from carbon dioxide, water and minerals like plants do. 2020-21 SCIENCE 2 Paheli wants to know what is so special about the leaves that they can synthesise food but other parts of the plant cannot. Cells through the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves. These pores are surrounded by ‘guard cells’. Such pores are called stomata [Fig. 1.2 (c)]. Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run like pipes throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. They form a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to reach the leaf. They are called vessels. You will learn more about transport of materials in plants in Chapter 11. The leaves have a green pigment called chlorophyll. It helps leaves to capture the energy of the sunlight. This energy is used to synthesise (prepare) food from carbon dioxide and water. Since the synthesis of food occurs in the presence of sunlight, it is called photosynthesis (Photo: light; synthesis : to combine). So we find that chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are necessary to carry out the process of photosynthesis. It is a unique process on the earth. The solar energy is captured by the leaves and stored in the plant in the form of food. Thus, sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms. Can you imagine life on earth in the absence of photosynthesis! In the absence of photosynthesis there would not be any food. The survival of almost all living organisms directly or indirectly depends upon the food made by the plants. Besides, oxygen which is essential for the survival You have seen that buildings are made of bricks. Similarly, the bodies of living organisms are made of tiny units called cells. Cells can be seen only under the microscope. Some organisms are made of only one cell. The cell is enclosed by a thin outer boundary, called the cell membrane. Most cells have a distinct, centrally located spherical structure called the nucleus (Fig. 1.1). The nucleus is surrounded by a jelly-like substance called cytoplasm. Cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus Fig. 1.1 Cell Boojho wants to know how water and minerals absorbed by roots reach the leaves. 2020-21 NUTRITION IN PLANTS 3 Besides leaves, photosynthesis also takes place in other green parts of the plant — in green stems and green branches. The desert plants have scale- or spine-like leaves to reduce loss of water by transpiration. These plants have green stems which carry out photosynthesis. of all organisms is produced during photosynthesis. In the absence of photosynthesis, life would be impossible on the earth. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll containing cells of leaves (Fig. 1.2), in the presence of sunlight, use carbon dioxide and water to synthesise carbohydrates (Fig. 1.3). The process can be represented in an equation: During the process oxygen is released. The presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis. Starch is also a carbohydrate. + ?????? ? + sunlight chlorophyll Carbon dioxide water Carbohydrate oxygen Boojho has observed some plants with deep red, violet or brown leaves. He wants to know whether these leaves also carry out photosynthesis. Activity 1.1 Take two potted plants of the same kind. Keep one in the dark (or in a black box) for 72 hours and the other in sunlight. Fig. 1.2 (a) Leaf Guard cells (c) Stoma Stomatal opening (b) Section of a leaf Fig. 1.3 Diagram showing photosynthesis Light energy Carbon dioxide Oxygen Chlorophyll in leaf Water and minerals Stoma Guard Cells Chlorophyll 2020-21 Page 4 Nutrition in Plants 1 I n Class VI you learnt that food is essential for all living organisms. You also learnt that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are components of food. These components of food are called nutrients and are necessary for our body. All living organisms require food. Plants can synthesise food for themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants. 1.1 MODE OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals. The raw materials are present in their surroundings. The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other). Boojho wants to know how plants prepare their own food. Now we may ask where the food factories of plants are located: whether food is made in all parts of a plant or only in certain parts? How do plants obtain the raw materials from the surroundings? How do they transport them to the food factories of plants? 1.2 PHOTOSYNTHESIS — FOOD MAKING PROCESS IN PLANTS Leaves are the food factories of plants. Therefore, all the raw materials must reach the leaf. Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from air is taken in Paheli wants to know why our body cannot make food from carbon dioxide, water and minerals like plants do. 2020-21 SCIENCE 2 Paheli wants to know what is so special about the leaves that they can synthesise food but other parts of the plant cannot. Cells through the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves. These pores are surrounded by ‘guard cells’. Such pores are called stomata [Fig. 1.2 (c)]. Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run like pipes throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. They form a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to reach the leaf. They are called vessels. You will learn more about transport of materials in plants in Chapter 11. The leaves have a green pigment called chlorophyll. It helps leaves to capture the energy of the sunlight. This energy is used to synthesise (prepare) food from carbon dioxide and water. Since the synthesis of food occurs in the presence of sunlight, it is called photosynthesis (Photo: light; synthesis : to combine). So we find that chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are necessary to carry out the process of photosynthesis. It is a unique process on the earth. The solar energy is captured by the leaves and stored in the plant in the form of food. Thus, sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms. Can you imagine life on earth in the absence of photosynthesis! In the absence of photosynthesis there would not be any food. The survival of almost all living organisms directly or indirectly depends upon the food made by the plants. Besides, oxygen which is essential for the survival You have seen that buildings are made of bricks. Similarly, the bodies of living organisms are made of tiny units called cells. Cells can be seen only under the microscope. Some organisms are made of only one cell. The cell is enclosed by a thin outer boundary, called the cell membrane. Most cells have a distinct, centrally located spherical structure called the nucleus (Fig. 1.1). The nucleus is surrounded by a jelly-like substance called cytoplasm. Cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus Fig. 1.1 Cell Boojho wants to know how water and minerals absorbed by roots reach the leaves. 2020-21 NUTRITION IN PLANTS 3 Besides leaves, photosynthesis also takes place in other green parts of the plant — in green stems and green branches. The desert plants have scale- or spine-like leaves to reduce loss of water by transpiration. These plants have green stems which carry out photosynthesis. of all organisms is produced during photosynthesis. In the absence of photosynthesis, life would be impossible on the earth. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll containing cells of leaves (Fig. 1.2), in the presence of sunlight, use carbon dioxide and water to synthesise carbohydrates (Fig. 1.3). The process can be represented in an equation: During the process oxygen is released. The presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis. Starch is also a carbohydrate. + ?????? ? + sunlight chlorophyll Carbon dioxide water Carbohydrate oxygen Boojho has observed some plants with deep red, violet or brown leaves. He wants to know whether these leaves also carry out photosynthesis. Activity 1.1 Take two potted plants of the same kind. Keep one in the dark (or in a black box) for 72 hours and the other in sunlight. Fig. 1.2 (a) Leaf Guard cells (c) Stoma Stomatal opening (b) Section of a leaf Fig. 1.3 Diagram showing photosynthesis Light energy Carbon dioxide Oxygen Chlorophyll in leaf Water and minerals Stoma Guard Cells Chlorophyll 2020-21 SCIENCE 4 Fig. 1.4 Leaves of various colours carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These are used to synthesise other components of food such as proteins and fats. But proteins are nitrogenous substances which contain nitrogen. From where do the plants obtain nitrogen? Recall that nitrogen is present in abundance in gaseous form in the air. However, plants cannot absorb nitrogen in this form. Soil has certain bacteria that convert gaseous nitrogen into a usable form and release it into the soil. These are absorbed by the plants along with water. Also, you might have seen farmers adding fertilisers rich in nitrogen to the soil. In this way the plants fulfil their requirements of nitrogen along with the other constituents. Plants can then synthesise proteins and vitamins. 1.3 OTHER MODES OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS There are some plants which do not have chlorophyll. They cannot synthesise food. How do they survive and from where do they derive nutrition? Like humans and animals such plants depend on the food produced by other plants. They use the heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Look at Fig. 1.5. Do you see a yellow wiry branched structure twining around the stem and branches of a tree? This is a plant called Cuscuta (Amarbel). It does not have chlorophyll. It takes readymade food from the plant on which it is climbing. The plant on which it climbs is called the host. Since it deprives the host of valuable nutrients, You often see slimy, green patches in ponds or stagnant water bodies. These are generally formed by the growth of organisms called algae. Can you guess why algae are green in colour? They contain chlorophyll which gives them the green colour. Algae can also prepare their own food by photosynthesis. Synthesis of plant food other than carbohydrates You have just learnt that plants synthesise carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. The Perform iodine test with the leaves of both the plants as you did in Class VI. Record your results. Now leave the pot which was earlier kept in the dark, in the sunlight for 3 – 4 days and perform the iodine test again on its leaves. Record your observations in your notebook. The leaves other than green also have chlorophyll. The large amount of red, brown and other pigments mask the green colour (Fig. 1.4). Photosynthesis takes place in these leaves also. 2020-21 Page 5 Nutrition in Plants 1 I n Class VI you learnt that food is essential for all living organisms. You also learnt that carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are components of food. These components of food are called nutrients and are necessary for our body. All living organisms require food. Plants can synthesise food for themselves but animals including humans cannot. They get it from plants or animals that eat plants. Thus, humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants. 1.1 MODE OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals. The raw materials are present in their surroundings. The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other). Boojho wants to know how plants prepare their own food. Now we may ask where the food factories of plants are located: whether food is made in all parts of a plant or only in certain parts? How do plants obtain the raw materials from the surroundings? How do they transport them to the food factories of plants? 1.2 PHOTOSYNTHESIS — FOOD MAKING PROCESS IN PLANTS Leaves are the food factories of plants. Therefore, all the raw materials must reach the leaf. Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from air is taken in Paheli wants to know why our body cannot make food from carbon dioxide, water and minerals like plants do. 2020-21 SCIENCE 2 Paheli wants to know what is so special about the leaves that they can synthesise food but other parts of the plant cannot. Cells through the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves. These pores are surrounded by ‘guard cells’. Such pores are called stomata [Fig. 1.2 (c)]. Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run like pipes throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. They form a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to reach the leaf. They are called vessels. You will learn more about transport of materials in plants in Chapter 11. The leaves have a green pigment called chlorophyll. It helps leaves to capture the energy of the sunlight. This energy is used to synthesise (prepare) food from carbon dioxide and water. Since the synthesis of food occurs in the presence of sunlight, it is called photosynthesis (Photo: light; synthesis : to combine). So we find that chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are necessary to carry out the process of photosynthesis. It is a unique process on the earth. The solar energy is captured by the leaves and stored in the plant in the form of food. Thus, sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms. Can you imagine life on earth in the absence of photosynthesis! In the absence of photosynthesis there would not be any food. The survival of almost all living organisms directly or indirectly depends upon the food made by the plants. Besides, oxygen which is essential for the survival You have seen that buildings are made of bricks. Similarly, the bodies of living organisms are made of tiny units called cells. Cells can be seen only under the microscope. Some organisms are made of only one cell. The cell is enclosed by a thin outer boundary, called the cell membrane. Most cells have a distinct, centrally located spherical structure called the nucleus (Fig. 1.1). The nucleus is surrounded by a jelly-like substance called cytoplasm. Cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus Fig. 1.1 Cell Boojho wants to know how water and minerals absorbed by roots reach the leaves. 2020-21 NUTRITION IN PLANTS 3 Besides leaves, photosynthesis also takes place in other green parts of the plant — in green stems and green branches. The desert plants have scale- or spine-like leaves to reduce loss of water by transpiration. These plants have green stems which carry out photosynthesis. of all organisms is produced during photosynthesis. In the absence of photosynthesis, life would be impossible on the earth. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll containing cells of leaves (Fig. 1.2), in the presence of sunlight, use carbon dioxide and water to synthesise carbohydrates (Fig. 1.3). The process can be represented in an equation: During the process oxygen is released. The presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis. Starch is also a carbohydrate. + ?????? ? + sunlight chlorophyll Carbon dioxide water Carbohydrate oxygen Boojho has observed some plants with deep red, violet or brown leaves. He wants to know whether these leaves also carry out photosynthesis. Activity 1.1 Take two potted plants of the same kind. Keep one in the dark (or in a black box) for 72 hours and the other in sunlight. Fig. 1.2 (a) Leaf Guard cells (c) Stoma Stomatal opening (b) Section of a leaf Fig. 1.3 Diagram showing photosynthesis Light energy Carbon dioxide Oxygen Chlorophyll in leaf Water and minerals Stoma Guard Cells Chlorophyll 2020-21 SCIENCE 4 Fig. 1.4 Leaves of various colours carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These are used to synthesise other components of food such as proteins and fats. But proteins are nitrogenous substances which contain nitrogen. From where do the plants obtain nitrogen? Recall that nitrogen is present in abundance in gaseous form in the air. However, plants cannot absorb nitrogen in this form. Soil has certain bacteria that convert gaseous nitrogen into a usable form and release it into the soil. These are absorbed by the plants along with water. Also, you might have seen farmers adding fertilisers rich in nitrogen to the soil. In this way the plants fulfil their requirements of nitrogen along with the other constituents. Plants can then synthesise proteins and vitamins. 1.3 OTHER MODES OF NUTRITION IN PLANTS There are some plants which do not have chlorophyll. They cannot synthesise food. How do they survive and from where do they derive nutrition? Like humans and animals such plants depend on the food produced by other plants. They use the heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Look at Fig. 1.5. Do you see a yellow wiry branched structure twining around the stem and branches of a tree? This is a plant called Cuscuta (Amarbel). It does not have chlorophyll. It takes readymade food from the plant on which it is climbing. The plant on which it climbs is called the host. Since it deprives the host of valuable nutrients, You often see slimy, green patches in ponds or stagnant water bodies. These are generally formed by the growth of organisms called algae. Can you guess why algae are green in colour? They contain chlorophyll which gives them the green colour. Algae can also prepare their own food by photosynthesis. Synthesis of plant food other than carbohydrates You have just learnt that plants synthesise carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. The Perform iodine test with the leaves of both the plants as you did in Class VI. Record your results. Now leave the pot which was earlier kept in the dark, in the sunlight for 3 – 4 days and perform the iodine test again on its leaves. Record your observations in your notebook. The leaves other than green also have chlorophyll. The large amount of red, brown and other pigments mask the green colour (Fig. 1.4). Photosynthesis takes place in these leaves also. 2020-21 NUTRITION IN PLANTS 5 Cuscuta is called the parasite. Are we and other animals also a kind of parasites? You should think about it and discuss with your teacher. hair which are directed downwards. When an insect lands in the pitcher, the lid closes and the trapped insect gets entangled into the hair. The lid closes and the insect is trapped. The insect is digested by the digestive juices secreted in the pitcher and its nutrients are absorbed. Such insect-eating plants are called insectivorous plants. Is it possible that such plants do not get all the required nutrients from the soil in which they grow? Fig. 1.5 Cuscuta (Amarbel) on host plant Paheli wants to know whether mosquitoes, bed bugs, lice and leeches that suck our blood are also parasites. Fig. 1.6 Pitcher plant showing lid and pitcher Leaf modified into pitcher Lid Boojho is confused. If the pitcher plant is green and carries out photosynthesis, then why does it feed on insects? Have you seen or heard of plants that can eat animals? There are a few plants which can trap insects and digest them. Is it not amazing? Such plants may be green or of some other colour. Look at the plant in Fig. 1.6. The pitcher-like or jug-like structure is the modified part of leaf. The apex of the leaf forms a lid which can open and close the mouth of the pitcher. Inside the pitcher there are 1.4 SAPROTROPHS You might have seen packets of mushrooms sold in the vegetable 2020-21Read More
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