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Plants are the backbone of our ecosystem, and also the primary producers in the food chain. They can transform light energy into chemical energy, through photosynthesis. Plants also require nutrition for their survival, growth, and development. They require 16 essential elements for functioning.
What is a Chloroplast?
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are among these elements, obtained from the atmosphere and soil water, respectively. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their food using sunlight. This happens mostly in their leaves, where there are tiny parts called chloroplasts.
Inside the chloroplasts lies the chlorophyll, which captures sunlight. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green and helps them turn sunlight into energy, creating food for the plant. In this article, we will cover the modes of nutrition in plants in detail.
What Is The Mode Of Nutrition In Plants?
Nutrition can be defined as the process of obtaining food and using it to develop, repair any damaged bodily parts, and maintain health. Plant nutrition involves photosynthetic processes since they make food by absorbing basic elements from their surroundings.
These include minerals, carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. There are two modes by which it gains its nutrition and is discussed below.
- Heterotrophic Nutrition – Some plants that cannot make their food, get it from other sources. Venus flytraps and pitcher plants capture and digest insects to obtain nutrition.
- Autotrophic Nutrition – Mostly, plants make their food through the process of photosynthesis, with the help of sunlight, water, and CO2.
Moving further, let us discuss the nutrients required by plants for functioning, growth, and development.
What Nutrients are Required For Growth in Plants?
Plants require photosynthesis for functioning and making food, but also require nutrients for growth. The nutrients are classified into two forms – macronutrients and micronutrients. Let us discuss the nutrients below.
Macronutrients
These are the nutrients that plants require in large amounts to grow and develop. These nutrients are required for processes such as developing strong stems, producing leaves, and producing energy through photosynthesis. The list mentioned below are the macronutrients in brief.
- Nitrogen (N) – It is an important component of amino acid. They are the building blocks of proteins, found in DNA and RNA. This macronutrient is responsible for the growth of stems and leaves.
- Phosphorus (P) – This is important for plants because it helps them generate and use energy. It also helps plants grow strong roots, produce flowers, and develop fruits.
- Calcium (Ca) – This macronutrient provides structural support to the cell membranes. It also acts as a secondary messenger in signal transduction pathways.
- Magnesium (Mg) – Helps in enzyme activation plants, as well as stabilizing ribosomes for protein synthesis.
- Potassium (K) – It is responsible for stomatal opening and closing. This stomatal opening helps in the exchange of gases and water.
Micronutrients
As the name suggests, the micronutrients are required by the plants in less quantity as compared to macronutrients. Yet, they play an important role in plant functioning and growth. Micronutrients required by the plants are listed below.
- Iron (Fe) – It is responsible for respiration and photosynthesis in plants. Its role is also in the formation of chlorophyll.
- Manganese (Mn) – It contributes to photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen absorption. It is absorbed as manganese ions.
- Zinc (Zn) – Zinc is involved in the production of auxins, a type of plant hormone that regulates growth. It also promotes enzyme function and protein synthesis.
- Copper (Cu) – The role of copper is in lignin synthesis, which strengthens plant cell walls.
- Boron (B) – This micronutrient is responsible for cell wall formation, and membrane integrity. It is also helpful in reproductive development.
What Is The Mechanism Of Nutrient Uptake In Plants?
The nutrient uptake in plants is possible by the root system of the plants. The roots absorb nutrients from their root hairs from the soil. Root hairs are fine, hair-like structures that increase the surface area for absorption.
Then, the nutrient uptake takes place from the root hair system through two pathways – active and passive transport. Mentioned below are the briefs of both the transport system.
- Active transport – During this action, nutrients are transported against the concentration gradient. The transport occurs from low concentrations in the soil to high concentrations in root cells. This requires energy in the form of ATP.
- Passive transport – In this, there is the transfer of nutrients down a concentration gradient.
It occurs from higher concentrations in the soil to lower concentrations in the root cells. Passive transportation does not require energy.
After nutrients enter the plant’s roots, they move to different parts of the plant using a system called the vascular system. This system has two main parts xylem and phloem. The xylem is responsible for carrying water and minerals from the roots up to the leaves.
Whereas, the phloem is responsible for moving the food made in the leaves like glucose, to the rest of the plant.
Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants
Plants go through deficiencies of certain nutrients and disease henceforth, if there is a lack of proper nutrients in them. Excessive presence of nutrients also degrades the growth and development of the plants, leading to toxicity of plants. Mentioned below are the diseases and toxicity related to plants due to various nutrients.
- Yellowing of leaves – This occurs when there is a lack of Nitrogen in the plants, and leads to stunted growth.
- Poor root growth – This is observed in plants when there is a deficiency of phosphorus. It also leads to the turning of leaves green or purplish.
- Rotting tips on fruits – This occurs due to calcium deficiency and leads to soft and weak stems as well.
- Small leaves – A deficiency of zinc leads to the growth of small and distorted leaves. Also, there is yellowing of veins observed in plants.
- Yellow spots on leaves – This occurs when there is a nutrient deficiency of manganese.
- Delayed flowering – This occurs when there is nitrogen toxicity in plants, leading to excessive leafy growth.
- Leaf tips turn brown – Excessive boron in the plants leads to leaf tips turning brown and hence dying.
FAQs on Nutrition in Plants
What are the two main types of nutrition in plants?
There are two forms of nutrition: autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition. Autotrophic nutrition, in which plants produce their food. Whereas, in heterotrophic nutrition, in which some plants rely on external sources for nutrients.
What are macronutrients in plants?
Macronutrients are nutrients that plants require in huge quantities, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and are essential for their development and growth.
What happens when a plant has a nutrient deficiency?
A nutritional low can result in fading leaves, reduced development, and poor flowering or fruiting
How do plants absorb nutrients?
Plants take nutrients from the soil through their roots, which then distribute them throughout the plant through the xylem and phloem.
What is the role of phosphorus in plants?
Energy transfer, root development, and flower and fruit production all require phosphorus to function well.
