Nutrition in plants
Define nutrition
The process of intake of food and its proper utilization in the body is termed as nutrition
Define nutrients
Components such as carbohydrates , proteins , vitamins and minerals are nutrients
The 2 modes of nutrition in plants
Heterotropic ( means other feeding )
Autotrophic ( Self feeding )
Autotrophic mode of nutrition
The mode of nutrition in which plants synthesize their own food using simple substances is
known as Autotrophic mode of nutrition. Organisms that exhibit this mode of nutrition are known
as autotrophs . The green plants are autotrophs as they prepare food using carbon dioxide , water
and minerals and sunlight . They are also known as producers as they produce food for other
living organisms
Heterotrophic mode of nutrition
Some living organisms depend on other living organisms for food . These organisms have a
Heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Organisms that exhibit this mode of nutrition are known as
heterotrophs. All animals including humans and the plants that cannot carry out photosynthesis
are heterotrophs. Some examples are Monotropa and Cuscuta are the examples of heterophic
plants
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants prepare their own food is known as photosynthesis. It is process by
which plants produce glucose by utilizing carbon dioxide , water and sunlight ( solar energy)
Chlorophyll
The leaves of the plants contain a green pigment called chlorophyll . This pigment imparts green
color to the plant and traps solar energy. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the surrounding air.
Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots and transported to the site of photosynthesis . leaves
are the main site of photosynthesis `
Xylem
Water and minerals are absorbed by the soil with the help of root hair and transported to the leaf
through a tissue called xylem
Where do plants get nitrogen from?
This nitrogen is obtained by plants from the soil. The nitrogen present in the air cannot by the
plant there are certain bacteria which convert this gaseous nitrogen into a form which can be
easily used by the plant Such bacteria are known as nitrogen fixing bacteria also known as
Rhizobium
Parasitic Plants
These heterotrophic plants have a parasitic mode of nutrition. In this mode of nutrition , a plant
lives on another living plant and derives its nutrients from the latter. The plant that derives
nutrition is called a parasite . The plant from which the parasite derives its nutrition is called the
host
Some examples of parasitic plants are Cuscuta ( or dodder ) and Rafflesia
Cuscuta is a pale yellow twinning plant often seen on tree tops. It twins over the host and absorbs
its nutrients using certain special roots.
Rafflesia is a parasitic plant found in the forest of Malaysia. It is the biggest and heaviest flower
Insectivorous plants
These plants feed on insects by trapping and digesting them. Some examples of insectivorous
plants are pitcher plant , Venus fly trap , sundew and bladderwort. Most of these plants are found
in the environment where nitrogen is not readily available. They use insect protein as a source of
nitrogen. This is a kind of holozoic nutrition.
The leaves of the pitcher plant are modified into a pitcher-like structure. The tip of the leaf forms
a lid to the pitcher. The insect trapped in the pitcher plant is directed down by the hair in the
pitcher. There the insect is digested by the enzymes present in the juices inside the pitcher
Saprophytic plants
Some plants derive nutrition from dead decaying organic matter ( dead plants and animals ). Such
plants are called saprophytes and this mode of nutrition is called saprophytic mode of nutrition.
For example, saprophytes are Monotropa, mushrooms and bread molds. The saprophytes release
digestive juices on the dead and decaying matter. These juices act upon and convert organic
matter into liquid form ( simpler substances ). These organisms then again absorb this liquid and
obtain nutrients from it.
Symbiotic plants
Symbiotic relationship is the coles association of two different organisms. In this
association, two organisms may mutually benefit from each other. They actually get
nourishment from each other. An example of such reIS Lichen, which is an association
between algae and fungi. Algae, being an autotroph, synthesizes food. Fungi, being
saprophytic, absorb water and minerals and supply to the algal partner along with the
shelter . Symbiotic association is extremely useful to the farmers
