Question

Match the terms with the best description. mesophyll potato cotyledons parallel veins vascular cylinder wood transpiration sieve plate taproot a. separates cells in phloem tubes b. photosynthetic parenchyma c. evaporation from stomata d. characteristic of monocot leaves e. only one in a monocot seed f. only in eudicots g. stem structure h. mass of secondary xylem i. central column in roots

Short answer

1-b, 3-e, 4-d, 5-i, 6-h, 7-c, 8-a, 9-f. Potato doesn't have a direct match.

Step-by-step solution

Match 'mesophyll'

The mesophyll is the part of the leaf where photosynthesis occurs, made up of photosynthetic tissue. Thus, the best description for 'mesophyll' is 'b. photosynthetic parenchyma'.

Match 'potato'

A potato is a type of stem that stores nutrients. While it might seem related to roots, its primary characteristic isn't unique to either monocots or eudicots. None of these options specifically describe a potato's structure, so no direct match is made in this step.

Match 'cotyledons'

In seeds, cotyledons are the first leaves of the embryo. In monocots, there's typically only one cotyledon. Therefore, 'cotyledons' matches with 'e. only one in a monocot seed'.

Match 'parallel veins'

This characteristic is typical of monocotyledons, whose leaves have veins that run parallel to each other. Thus, 'parallel veins' matches with 'd. characteristic of monocot leaves'.

Match 'vascular cylinder'

The vascular cylinder is a central column found in roots, containing both the xylem and the phloem. Therefore, 'vascular cylinder' fits with 'i. central column in roots'.

Match 'wood'

Wood is made up of accumulated layers of secondary xylem. This aligns closely with 'h. mass of secondary xylem' for 'wood'.

Match 'transpiration'

Transpiration involves the evaporation of water from the plant, primarily through the pores on leaves called stomata. Hence, 'transpiration' matches with 'c. evaporation from stomata'.

Match 'sieve plate'

Sieve plates separate the cells in phloem tubes and facilitate the transport of nutrients. This means 'sieve plate' corresponds to 'a. separates cells in phloem tubes'.

Match 'taproot'

A taproot system is characteristic of eudicots and involves a primary central root with smaller lateral branches. Thus, 'taproot' matches with 'f. only in eudicots'.

Key concepts

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, typically from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This process primarily occurs in the leaves of plants, especially within the mesophyll, a layer rich in chloroplasts.
The basic formula for photosynthesis is: \[ \text{6CO}_2 + \text{6H}_2\text{O} + \text{light} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{6O}_2 \]The inputs for this process are carbon dioxide (\text{CO}_2) and water (\text{H}_2\text{O}), while the outputs are glucose (\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6) and oxygen (\text{O}_2).

• Light Absorption: Occurs in chloroplasts where pigments like chlorophyll capture light energy.
• Conversion to Chemical Energy: Light energy is transformed into ATP and NADPH, which are used in the Calvin cycle.
• Glucose Production: The Calvin cycle uses ATP and NADPH to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

This process is vital not just for the plants themselves, but for life on Earth, as it is one of the primary sources of oxygen and plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.

Monocots

Monocots, short for monocotyledons, are one of the two major groups of flowering plants. They are characterized by having a single cotyledon, or seed leaf, within their seeds. This is contrasted with eudicots, which generally have two. Here are some distinctive features of monocots:

• Leaf Venation: Leaves often have parallel veins, meaning the veins run side by side without converging.
• Flower Parts: The floral organs, such as petals, often appear in multiples of three.
• Root System: Typically features a fibrous root system rather than a taproot.
• Vascular Structure: The vascular bundles, including xylem and phloem, are scattered throughout the stem.

Common monocot plants include grasses, lilies, and orchids, many of which are incredibly important in agriculture, such as cereal grains like wheat and corn.

Eudicots

Eudicots, or eudicotyledons, represent the largest group of flowering plants. They are characterized by having two cotyledons in their seeds, contributing to their name. These plants share several common features:

• Leaf Venation: Leaves typically exhibit a net-like pattern of veins, unlike the parallel veins of monocots.
• Flower Parts: Usually have floral organs in multiples of four or five.
• Root System: Predominantly possess a taproot system, where a primary root grows downward and smaller lateral roots branch off.
• Vascular Structure: The vascular bundles are arranged in a ring in the stem.

Eudicots include a wide variety of plants such as roses, sunflowers, and most trees. They are crucial to ecosystems and contribute significantly to the diversity of the plant kingdom.

Xylem

Xylem is the plant tissue responsible for the conduction of water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. It plays a key role in ensuring that essential nutrients and water reach all parts of the plant, supporting various physiological processes.
Key features of xylem include:

• Structure: Composed of various cell types such as tracheids and vessel elements, which are usually lignified to provide structural support.
• Function: Functions predominantly in one direction—from roots to leaves.
• Role in Wood: In trees, xylem contributes to the formation of wood, specifically secondary xylem, which adds to the girth of the plant.

Xylem's ability to transport water is a critical factor in processes like photosynthesis and transpiration, making it vital to plant survival and health.

Phloem

Phloem is the vascular tissue in charge of transporting sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves. Unlike xylem, which primarily conducts in one direction, phloem can transport in multiple directions to distribute nutrients where they are needed.
Important characteristics of phloem include:

• Structure: Comprised of sieve tube elements and companion cells. Sieve plates facilitate the flow between cells.
• Function: Translocates the products of photosynthesis, like sucrose, from the leaves to other parts of the plant, including growing regions and storage organs.
• Role in Sieve Plates: Sieve plates allow the passage of materials through the phloem tubes, efficiently distributing nutrients.

This system plays a crucial role in ensuring that energy captured during photosynthesis is used efficiently throughout the plant.