Lesson: Nutrition in Plants

Organisms which prepare food for themselves using simple naturally available raw materials are referred to as:

(a) Heterotrophs

(b) Autotrophs

(c) Parasites

(d) Saprophytes

(b) Autotrophs

In the absence of which of the following will photosynthesis not occur in leaves?

(a) Guard cells

(b) Chlorophyll

(c) Vacuole

(d) Space between cells

(b) Chlorophyll

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(i) All green plants can prepare their own food.

(ii) Most animals are autotrophs.

(iii) Carbon dioxide is not required for photosynthesis.

(iv) Oxygen is liberated during photosynthesis.

Choose the correct answer from the options below:

(a) (i) and (iv)

(b) (ii) only

(c) (ii) and (iii)

(d) (i) and (ii)

(a) (i) and (iv)

Pitcher plant traps insects because it

(a) Is a heterotroph.

(b) Grows in soils which lack in nitrogen.

(c) Does not have chlorophyll.

(d) Has a digestive system like human beings.

(b) Grows in soils which lack in nitrogen

The term that is used for the mode of nutrition in yeast, mushroom and bread-mould is:

(a) Autotrophic

(b) Insectivorous

(c) Saprophytic

(d) Parasitic

(c) Saprophytic

When we observe the lower surface of a leaf through a magnifying lens, we see numerous small openings. Which of the following is the term given to such openings?

(a) Stomata

(b) Lamina

(c) Midrib

(d) Veins

(a)        Stomata

Two organisms are good friends and live together. One provides shelter, water, and nutrients while the other prepares and provides food. Such an association of organisms is termed as:

(a) Saprophyte

(b) Parasite

(c) Autotroph

(d) Symbiosis

(d) Symbiosis

Which of the following raw material is available in the air for photosynthesis?

(a) Oxygen

(b) Carbon dioxide

(c) Nitrogen

(d) Hydrogen

(b) Carbon dioxide

Potato and ginger are both underground parts that store food. Where is the food prepared in these plants?

In both potato and ginger, the leaves and stems (shoot system) are above the soil. The food is prepared in the shoot system through photosynthesis as it contains the chlorophyll, and it is then transported to the underground parts for storage. Potato is a modified underground stem which stores food and is known as tuber, while ginger which is also an underground modified stem used for food storage is known as rhizome.

Photosynthesis requires chlorophyll, and a few other raw materials. Add the missing raw materials to the list given below:

Water, minerals,

(a)   _____________,

(b)   ______________.

(a) Sunlight or light energy

(b) Carbon dioxide

A goat eats away all the leaves of a small plant (balsam). However, in a few days, new leaves could be seen sprouting in the plant again. How did the plant survive without leaves?

Photosynthesis also occurs in other green parts of the plant, such as, green branches and stems. So, when the goat eats away all the leaves of the balsam plant, photosynthesis goes on in the stems and branches, the plant gets its food and survives, producing new leaves.

Unscramble the following to form terms related to modes of nutrition.

(i) RASPAEIT

(ii) ROPEHYTSAP

(iii) TOROPHAUT

(iv) SIBIOMSYS

(i)             Parasite

(ii)           Saprophyte

(iii)        Autotroph

(iv)         Symbiosis

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth. But farmers who cultivate pulse crops like green gram, bengal gram, black gram, etc. do not apply nitrogenous fertilizers during cultivation. Why? 

Roots of pulses, such as green gram, bengal gram, black gram, etc. (leguminous plants), have a type of bacterium in their roots known as Rhizobium. This bacterium is in a symbiotic association with the roots and form nodules that can fix nitrogen from the soil. Hence, farmers do not have to add nitrogenous fertilizers to the soil while growing leguminous plants.

Wheat dough if left in the open, after a few days, starts to emit a foul smell and becomes unfit for use. Give reason.

Presence of carbohydrates in the dough when left in the open for few days, allows the growth of fungi, such as, yeast. The fungi break down the carbohydrate, leading to the emission of foul smell, and owing to presence of fungi, the dough becomes unfit for use.

Sunlight, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide, water and minerals are raw materials essential for photosynthesis. Do you know where they are available? Fill in the blanks with the appropriate raw materials.

(a) Available in the plant: _______________

(b) Available in the soil: _______________, _______________

(c) Available in the air: _______________

(d) Available during day: _______________

(a) Chlorophyll

(b) Water, minerals

(c) Carbon dioxide

(d) Sunlight

Observe the diagram below and label the following terms given in the box.

Stomatal opening, guard cell

Match the organisms given in Column I with their mode of nutrition given in Column II.

(a) Mango tree $–$ Autotroph

(b)Mushroom $–$ Saprophyte

(c) Pitcher plant - Insectivorous plant

(d) Cuscuta- Parasitic

(e) Elephant- Heterotroph

Wild animals like tiger, wolf, lion and leopard do not eat plants.

Does this mean that they can survive without plants? Can you provide a suitable explanation?

Wild animals like tiger, wolf, lion, and leopard do not eat plants. However, they eat deer, bison, cattle, zebra, and other herbivorous animals that eat plants as food. If there are no plants, then these herbivorous animals will not be able to live, and in turn carnivorous animals such as tiger, wolf, lion and leopard will have no food, causing their deaths. Thus, these animals even though they do not directly eat plants, are completely dependent on the later for their survival.

Fill in the blanks of the paragraph given below with the words provided in the box.

chlorophyll, energy, food, carbon dioxide, water, photosynthesis

Note: A word can be used more than once.

Leaves have a green pigment called ___________ which captures ______________ from sunlight. This __________________ is used in the process of ________________ and along with other raw materials like ______________ and _______________ synthesize __________________.

(a)         Chlorophyll

(b)         Energy

(c)         Energy

(d)         Photosynthesis

(e)         Carbon dioxide

(f)          Water

(g)         Food/ Carbohydrate (glucose)

Spot as many organisms as possible in the puzzle below by encircling them as shown. Write the names on a sheet of paper and categorise them into autotrophs and heterotrophs. Classify the heterotrophs into herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and saprophytes.

Autotrophs$–$ Banyan, Mango, Rose, Tulsi, Bhindi, Carrot, Yam, Ginger.

Heterotrophs$–$ Elephant, Fox, Owl, Tiger, Mice, Yeast, Ant, Mushroom, Cow, Rabbit, Crow, Fish, Bee

Herbivores$–$ Cow, Elephant, Bee, Rabbit

Carnivores$–$ Fox, Tiger

Omnivores$–$ Crow, Owl, Mice, Ant, Fish

Saprophytes$–$ Yeast, Mushroom

Can you give me a name?

Solve each of the following riddles by writing the name of the organism and its mode of nutrition. One riddle is solved to help you.

(a) I am tall but I cannot move. I am green and can prepare my own food. Tree, autotroph

(b) I live in water; people keep me in an aquarium and feed me. _______________ , ___________.

(c) I am small and I can fly. I disturb your sleep, bite you and suck your blood which is my food. __________ , ______________.

(d) I am white and soft. I grow well in the rainy season.

Children pluck me from the ground and admire me. I absorb nutrients from decomposed dead parts of plants and animals in the soil. ______________ , ________________.

(b) Fish and heterotroph

(c) Mosquito and parasite

(d) Mushroom and saprophyte