Plants and Photosynthesis

• autotroph


  self feeder
• autotroph


  it uses inorganic substances such as water and carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds
• heterotroph


  the opposite of autotroph
• heterotroph


  an organism that obtains carbon by consuming pre-existing organic molecules
• The main parts of a plant includes: Roots, Stem, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits
• Roots


  the essential and underground part of a plant, which are collectively called the root system
• Stem


  part of a plant that is found above the ground
• Stem


  it forms the basis of the shoot system and bear leaves, fruits and flowers
• node


  the region where leaves arise
• internode


  the region between the nodes
• Leaves


  they contain chlorophyl that helps the plants to prepare food using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water
• The leaf consists of three main parts: petiole, leaf base, lamina
• Flowers


  the reproductive part of a plant
• Fruits


  it is an ovary that develops after fertilization
• parthenocarpy 


  this is the term used when some fruits are developed without fertilization
• Parts of flower: Petals, sepals, stamens, pistil
• petals


  it is the colourful part of a flower that attracts insects and birds
• sepals


  are green leafy parts present under petals and protect the flower buds from damage
• stamens


  the male part of the flower
• stamens consist of anther and filament
• pistil


  the female part of the flower
• pistil consist of stigma, style, ovary
• Leaves has three main fuctions
• Photosynthesis


  it is the process where green leaves prepare food for plants by using water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight
• transpiration


  in is the process where the leaves play a crucial role in the removal of excess water from plants through tiny pores called stomata
• Reproduction


  it is the process where the leaves help in the reproduction of the plants
• Photosynthesis converts kinetic energy in light to potential energy in the bonds of carbohydrates
• photons with the shortest wavelengths carry the most energy
• Photons


  it moves in waves
• the pigment molecules that capture light energy: chlorophyll a, accessory pigments, chlorophyll b, carotenoids
• chlorophyll a

  a green photosynthetic pigment in plants, algae and cyanobacteria
• accessory pigments


  energy capturing pigment molecules that absorbs wavelengths of light chlorophyll a cannot absorb
• chlorophyll b and carotenoids 


  accessory pigments in plants
• stomata


  it is the pores where plants exchange gases with the environment
• leaf mesophyll cells


  it contains abundant chloroplasts
• grana


  it is surrounded by stroma
• grana


  stacks of pancake-shaped thylakoid membranes
• photosynthetic pigments 


  embedded in the thylakoid membranes
• photosystem consists of proteins, antenna pigments, and a reaction center
• ATP

  adenosine triphosphate