In: Anatomy and Physiology
a. Photosynthesis involves the
reduction of CO2 to carbohydrate using assimilatory energy (ATP and
NADPH) captured from the sun light.
6CO2 + 12 H2O -------> C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2
CO2 and H2O are the substrates for photosyntehsis.
Photosynthesis is responsible for the biomass production in
plants.
The photosynthetic rate is directly proportional to the crop
productivity.
Transpiration refers to the loss of
water in the form of water vapor through stomata.
It is essential for the ascent of sap through xylem.
However, excess transpiration leads to wilting of the plant.
The stomata allow loss of water via
transpiration. At the same time, they also allow the netry of CO2
into the leaf. So, the transpiration rate is regulated in such a
way that photosynthesis is optimized.
The transpiration rate is inversely proportional to the crop
productivity.
b. The maturation zone of root contains unicellular root hairs that
increase the absorption surface area. Root hairs active uptake
mineral ions to generate a hypertonic condition. Water from the
soil solution enters root hairs cells by passive diffusion. Water
continues to enter root hair cells as long as the cytoplasm of the
root hair cell is hypertonic to the soil solution.
The absorbed water creates positive hydrostatic pressure that
pushes water upwards through the root. This positive hydrostatic
pressure is known as root pressure. It is smaller in magnitude and
can only account for xylem transport in small herbs.