NUTRITION IN PLANTS
leaves is due to the presence of chlorophyll. It
CONTENTS is usually present in special cell organelle
called chloroplast. Chlorophyll captures
Mechanism of Photosynthesis solar energy during photosynthesis.
Site of Photosynthesis Sunlight : Sunlight comes from the sun. It is
essential as it provides the energy required for
Nutrition in non green plants the reaction.
Water and Minerals : Roots of the plants
Plants play role of producers in nature. are absorb water along with minerals from the
producers, which produce food for all living soil and transport them to the leaves for
organic. They utilize sun's radiant energy & photosynthesis.
convert into chemical energy. In this way, they
also plays role of converter. Plants use sunlight in
photosynthesis. During photosynthesis in the
presence of sunlight CO2 & H2O convert in to Photosynthesis occurs in the chlorophyll of leaves
carbohydrate & O2 molecules. & sometimes in the stem which are green in
colour.
Importance of photosynthesis :
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 It is primary source of food production for all
other living organisms.
Steps of photosynthesis : It maintain balance oxygen & CO2 in the
Chlorophyll traps the sunlight. atmosphere.
CO2 & water molecule used as raw material.
Now the chlorophyll convert the raw material Non green plants like bacteria & fungi do not
into carbohydrate. contain chlorophyll. So they cannot prepare their
Oxygen is generated as a by product in this food by photosynthesis. These types of plants are
process. heterotrophic plants.
Green plants need the following things to prepare
their own food :
(1) Parasites : Plants which depends on other living
Carbon Dioxide : Plants take up carbon organism for their nutritional requirement known
dioxide from the atmospheric air through as parasitic plants. Dodder (Amarbel) is a plant
stomata present on the undersurface of the parasite which produces special sucking roots
leaves. Guard cells around stomata regulate called haustoria. For absorption of food from the
their opening and closing. host plant.
Chlorophyll : It is the green pigment (2) Saprophytes : Plants which depends on dead
presents in the leaf. The green colour of organic matter for their nutrition, known as
saprophytic plants. For example – Bacteria &
fungi.
(3) Carnivorous & insectivorous plants : Some
Animals and non-green plants like fungi, etc.
plants also take food just like animals. Their food
cannot manufacture their own food. For their
consists of small insects. For example – Pitcher
food, they depend upon green plants, directly or
plants.
indirectly. Therefore, they are called heterotopous
In a pitcher plant leaf is modified into a pitcher and their mode of nutrition is known as
like structure when any insects sits on it, the lid is heterotrophic nutrition.
closed & the insect is trapped in pitcher. It is then
digested by the secretion of enzymes. All animals are divided into three categories on
the basis of their eating habits :
Herbivorous Animals : Animals which feed
directly on plants are called herbivorous
animals or herbivores. Examples are cow,
buffalo, goat, etc.
Carnivorous Animals : Animals which eat
the flesh of other animals are called
carnivorous animals or carnivores. Examples
are lion, tiger, etc.
Omnivorous Animals : Animals which eat
both plants and flesh of other animals are
called omnivorous animals or omnivorous.
Examples are human beings, pig, crow,
cockroach, etc.
(4) Symbiosis : It is a partnership between two
organisms in which both partner get benefited
from each other.
For example : Lichen.
Lichen is a combination of an alga & a fungus. In
which, the fungus provides water & minerals to
the alga whereas the alga supplies organic food to
fungus.
EXERCISE # 1
Q.13 The living organism from which parasitic
derives its food called host. (True/False)
Q.1 The plant that feeds & traps on insects is -
(A) Drosera (B) Sunflower
(C) Cuscuta (D) Mango
Q.14 Column A Column B
Q.2 The green pigment in the leaves is called -
(a) Amarbel (i) Saprophytes
(A) Chlorophyll (B) Anthocyanin
(b) Rhizobium (ii) Insectivorous
(C) Chloroplast (D) None
(c) Mushroom (iii) Autotrophs
Q.3 Which one of the following is a parasite ? (d) Drosera (iv) Stomata
(A) Mushroom (B) Fungi (e) Green plants (v) Symbiosis
(C) Dodder (D) Pitcher's plant (vi) Parasite
Q.4 Rhizobium is a good example of -
(A) insectivorous (B) symbiosis
(C) parasitic (D) none of these Q.15 ____________ & ____________ are
insectivorous plants.
Q.5 Cuscuta is an example of -
(A) autotroph (B) parasite Q.16 Green plants use _________, ___________ &
(C) saprophyte (D) host ____________ to make food.
Q.6 Autotrophic nutrition found only in - Q.17 Lichen is the mutual combination of
(A) plants (B) animals _____________ & ___________.
(C) both (D) none
Q.18 Doddar is an example of ______________ .
Q.7 The plant that feeds and traps on insects is -
(A) venus-fly trap (B) cuscuta
(C) sunflower (D) none of these
Q.8 Association of two different organisms in
which both are benefited is called -
(A) symbiosis (B) nutrition
(C) saprophytic (D) parasitic
Q.9 CO2 & O2 balance in atmosphere is due to -
(A) Photorespiration (B) Photosynthesis
(C) Respiration (D) Leaf anatomy
Q.10 Animals & plants do not depend on plant for
their food. (True/False)
Q.11 Omnivorous eats only flesh. (True/False)
Q.12 Sucking roots are called haustoria. (True/False)
EXERCISE # 2
Q.1 What is the meaning of autotrophic nutrition ?
Q.2 What is symbiotic relationship ? Q.15 Describe symbiotic mode of nutrition with an
example ?
Q.3 What are producers ?
Q.16 How dodder takes their nutrients from the
Q.4 Which type of nutrition is found in Doddar ? host ?
Q.5 Write down the equation of photo synthesis ? Q.17 Describe the methods of nutrition in non
green plants ?
Q.6 What is the meaning of 'nutrition' ?
Q.7 How do algae & fungi benefit each other ?
Q.8 What are insectivores ? Name an
insectivorous plant ?
Q.9 What is photosynthesis ?
Q.10 What factors are essential for photosynthesis ?
Q.11 How do plants exchange gases with the
atmosphere ?
Q.12 Name the 3 groups of animals on the basis of
their eating habits ?
Q.13 Write the meaning of following terms–
herbivores, carnivores & omnivores.
Q.14 How do you show that chlorophyll is
necessary for photosynthesis ?
