Nutrition in Plant – Diverse Modes and Adaptive Strategies

Plants exhibit diverse modes of nutrition in plants, reflecting their ability to harness energy from various sources. These diverse nutritional strategies highlight the adaptability of plants to their environments and their ability to utilize various resources for growth and development.

Nutrition in Plants: Providing Vital Nutrients for Life

• Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are called nutrients of food and are vital for the body, play a crucial role in nutrition in plant. 
• The nutrients enable living organisms to build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and provide the energy to carry out life processes.
  • These nutrients can be synthesized by plants as food but animals including humans cannot. 
  • Humans and animals are directly or indirectly dependent on plants for food and nutrition. 
  • Plants are the only organisms that can prepare food for themselves by using water, carbon dioxide and minerals.

Nutrition in Plants: Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Modes: 

• Nutrition in plant is the mode of taking food by an organism and its utilization by the body. 
• The mode of nutrition in plant in which organisms make food themselves from simple substances is called autotrophic (auto = self; trophos = nourishment) nutrition. 
  • Therefore, plants are called autotrophs. 
• Animals and most other organisms take in food prepared by plants. 
  • They are called heterotrophs (heteros = other).

The Magic of Photosynthesis: A Journey into Plant Nutrition in plant and Energy Production

• Leaves are the food factories of plants. 
• Water and minerals present in the soil are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. 
• Carbon dioxide from air is taken in through the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves called stomata. 
  • These pores are surrounded by guard cells.
• Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. 
  • They form a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to reach the leaf. 
• The leaves have a green pigment called chlorophyll. 
  • It helps leaves to capture the energy of the sunlight. 
• This energy is used to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water. 
• The leaves other than green leaves also have chlorophyll, they also undergo photosynthesis. Algae can also prepare their own food by photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis: 

• • The synthesis of food occurs in the presence of sunlight, it is called photosynthesis 
  • Chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are necessary to carry out the process of photosynthesis. 
    • It is a unique process on the earth.
    • In the absence of photosynthesis, life would be impossible on the earth.
  • The solar energy is captured by the leaves and stored in the plant in the form of food. 
    • Thus, the sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms.
    • Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis. 
  • During photosynthesis, chlorophyll containing cells of leaves in the presence of sunlight, use carbon dioxide and water to synthesize carbohydrates. 

• The process can be represented in an equation: 

• End Products: During this process oxygen is released. 
  • The presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis. Starch is also a carbohydrate.

Important Products:

• Carbohydrates: They are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. 
  • These are used to synthesize other components of food such as proteins and fats. 
• Proteins: They are nitrogenous substances and contain nitrogen.

Importance of Nitrogen for Plants: 

• The nitrogen is present in abundance in gaseous form in the air but plants cannot absorb nitrogen in this form. 
• Soil has certain bacteria that convert gaseous nitrogen into a usable form and release it into the soil (Nitrogen Fixation). 
• These are absorbed by the plants along with water. 
• Fertilizers are also rich in nitrogen, which is added to the soil by farmers. 

Other modes of Nutrition in plant (by Heterotrophs) 

• Plants that do not have chlorophyll cannot synthesize their own food. 
  • They depend on the food produced by other plants. 
  • They use the heterotrophic mode of nutrition in plant. 
• Cuscuta (Amarbel) does not have chlorophyll. 
  • It takes ready-made food from the plant on which it is climbing. 
  • The plant on which it climbs is called the host. 
  • Since it deprives the host of valuable nutrients, Cuscuta is called the parasite.
• A few plants can trap insects and digest them. One example is the pitcher plant. 
  • The pitcher-like or jug-like structure is the modified part of the leaf. 
  • The apex of the leaf forms a lid which can open and close the mouth of the pitcher.
  • Inside the pitcher there is hair. 
  • When an insect lands in the pitcher, the lid closes and the trapped insect gets entangled into the hair. 
  • The lid closes and the insect is trapped. 
  • The insect is digested by the digestive juices secreted in the pitcher and its nutrients are absorbed. 
• Such insect-eating plants are called insectivorous plants. 

Saprotrophs

• Fungi have a different mode of nutrition in plant. 
• They absorb the nutrients from dead and decaying matter. 
  • This mode of nutrition in plant is called saprotrophic nutrition. 
  • Such organisms with saprotrophic mode of nutrition in plants are called saprotrophs. 
• Fungi also grow on pickles, leather, clothes and other articles that are left in hot and humid weather for a long time.

Nurturing Bonds: Symbiotic Relationships in Nutrition in Plant  

• Some organisms live together and share both shelter and nutrients. 
  • This relationship is called symbiosis. 
• For example, certain fungi live inside the roots of plants. 
  • The plants provide nutrients to the fungus and, in return, the fungus provides water and certain nutrients. 
• In lichens, a chlorophyll-containing partner, which is an alga, and a fungus live together. 
  • The fungus provides shelter, water and minerals to the alga and, in return, the alga prepares and provides food to the fungus.

Boosting Soil Health: How Plants and Bacteria Work Together for Better Nutrition in plants

• The amount of minerals and nutrients from the soil decline as plants absorb these from the soil. 
  • These nutrients need to be added from time to time to enrich the soil. 
  • Farmers add fertilizers to replenish the soil with lacking nutrients. 
• Crop plants also absorb a lot of nitrogen and the soil becomes deficient in nitrogen. 
• They need nitrogen in a soluble form. 
  • The bacterium called rhizobium can take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a usable form. 
  • But Rhizobium cannot make its own food. 
  • So it often lives in the roots of gram, peas, moong, beans and other legumes and provides them with nitrogen. 
  • In return, the plants provide food and shelter to the bacteria. 
• Rhizobium and leguminous plants have a symbiotic relationship. 
  • This association is of great significance for the farmers. 
  • They can reduce the use of nitrogenous fertilizers where leguminous plants are grown. 
  • Most of the pulses (dals) are obtained from leguminous plants. 

Conclusion

In summary, understanding Nutrition in plants reveals the intricate processes that sustain life. Plant nutrition in plant is a dynamic interplay of symbiotic relationships and soil enrichment practices. Through Nutrition in Plant, we unlock the secrets to fostering sustainable growth and agricultural success.