It is given that green stems and green branches can also produce food along with leaves so do the green stems are also known as food factories of the plants?
Answers
Answer:
Plant Nutrition
Photosynthesis
The process of making of food by green plants in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll is known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the combination of two words- Photo + Synthesis. ‘Photo’ means light and ‘Synthesis’ means to make.
Process of food making in green plants:
Green plants make their food themselves. Green leaves make food from Carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
Leaves have several tiny pore-like structures on the lower surface. These pores are called stomata. Leaves absorb carbon dioxide from air, through these pores. Water is transported to leaves through very thin pipelines from the roots. These pipelines are present throughout the plant, i.e. from roots to branches and leaves. These pipelines are known as Xylem. Xylem is a type of tissue. You will learn about tissues in your higher classes. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that is found in green leaves. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and gives energy. Chlotrophyll is inside chloroplast. Chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis. At the end of photosynthesis, carbohydrate and oxygen are formed. Carbohydrate is used as food and oxygen is emitted out to the atmosphere. This whole process of making food by plants is called photosynthesis.
The reaction that takes place in the process of photosynthesis can be written as:
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
Carbohydrate is ultimately converted into starch and stored in leaves. From leaves, starch is transported to different parts of a plant. Starch is a type of carbohydrate.
Leaves are known as the kitchen or food factory of plants because photosynthesis takes place in leaves. Leaves look green because of the presence of chlorophyll.
Besides leaves, photosynthesis also takes place in other green parts of the plant, such as in green stems. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis, hence photosynthesis takes place only in green plants.
The leaves of plants that grow in desert areas are modified in spine like structure or scales to reduce the loss of water in the course of transpiration. In such plants photosynthesis takes place in green stems. Stem is modified into thick spongy leaf-like structures in such plants.
Photosynthesis helps to maintain a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis. Thus sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organism.
Our earth is the unique planet, where photosynthesis takes place. In the absence of photosynthesis life would not be possible on earth.