This document provides an overview of four chapters (36-39) that cover various topics related to plant biology: 1) Chapter 36 discusses transport mechanisms in plants including passive and active transport, water potential, transpiration, and translocation of nutrients. 2) Chapter 37 covers plant nutrition including essential nutrients, soil composition and properties, nitrogen fixation, and symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes. 3) Chapter 38 examines plant reproduction through sexual reproduction involving flowers, pollination, and seed/fruit development as well as asexual reproduction methods. It also discusses plant biotechnology applications. 4) Chapter 39 analyzes plant responses to internal and external signals such as hormones, light, gravity, touch

1. Unit 9 – Plants – Chapters 36, 37, 38, & 39
Chapter 36 – Transport in Plants
Objective questions:
An Overview of Transport Mechanisms in Plants
1. List three levels in which transport occurs in plants.
2. Compare the processes of passive and active transport. Distinguish between the two main categories of transport
proteins.
3. Describe the role and importance of proton pumps in transport across plant membranes.
4. Define cotransport and chemiosmosis.
5. Define osmosis and water potential. Explain how water potential is measured.
6. Explain how solutes and pressure affect water potential.
7. Explain how the physical properties of plant cells are changed when the plant is placed into solutions that have higher,
lower, or the same solute concentrations. Define flaccid, plasmolyze, turgor pressure and turgid.
8. Explain how aquaporins affect the rate of water transport across membranes.
9. Describe the three major compartments in vacuolated plant cells, noting their interrelationships.
10. Describe the three routes available for lateral transport in plants.
11. Define bulk flow and describe the different types of forces that generate pressure.
12. Relate the structure of sieve-tube cells, vessel cells and tracheids to their functions in bulk flow.
Absorption of Water and Minerals by Roots
13. Explain how the structure of root hairs promotes their functions. Explain how mycorrhizae facilitate the functions of
roots.
14. Explain how the endodermis functions as a selective barrier between the root cortex and vascular tissue.
Transport of Xylem Sap
15. Describe the potential and limits of root pressure to move xylem sap. Define root pressure, transpiration and guttation.
16. Explain how transpirational pull moves xyem sap up from the root tips to the leaves.
The Control of Transpiration
17. Describe the role of guard cells in photosynthesis-transpiration.
18. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the extensive inner surface area of a leaf.
19. Explain how the tranhspiration-to-photosynthesis ratio is calculated and what it indicates about a plant.
20. Explain how transpiration changes the temperatures of leaves and why this is adaptive. Explain how plants with low
transpiration rates compensate for higher temperatures.
21. Explain how and when stomata open and close.
22. Explain how xerophytes reduce transpiration.
Translocation of Phloem Sap
23. Define and describe the process of translocation. Trace the path of phloem sap from the primary sugar source to
common sugar sinks.
24. Describe the process of sugar loading and unloading.
25. Define pressure flow. Explain the significance of this process in angiosperms.
Key terms:
transport proteins selective channels proton pump cotransport
chemiosmosis osmosis water potential megapascal (MPa)
tension flaccid plasmolyze turgor pressure
turgid aquaporin tonoplast symplast
apoplast bulk flow mycorrhizae endodermis
Casparian strip transpiration root pressure guttation
transpiration-to-photosynthesis ratio circadian rhythm xerophytes
translocation sugar source sugar sink transfer cells

2. Chapter 37 – Plant Nutrition
Objective questions:
Nutritional Requirements of Plants
1. Describe the chemical composition of plants, including the
a. percent of wet weight as water
b. percent of dry weight as organic substances
c. percent of dry weight as inorganic materials.
2. Explain how hydroponic culture is used to determine which minerals are essential nutrients.
3. Distinguish between macronutrient and micronutrient.
4. Recall the nine macronutrients required by plants and describe their importance in normal plant structure and
metabolism.
5. List eight micronutrients required by plants and explain why plants need only minute quantities of these elements.
6. Explain how a nutrient’s role and mobility determine the symptoms of a mineral deficiency.
The Role of Soil in Plant Nutrition
7. Explain how soil is formed.
8. Explain what determines the texture of topsoil and list the type of soil particles from coarsest to smallest.
9. Describe the composition of loams and explain why they are the most fertile soils.
10. Explain how humus contributes to the texture and composition of soil.
11. Explain why plants cannot extract all of the water in soil.
12. Explain how the presence of clay in soil helps prevent the leaching of mineral cations.
13. Define cation exchange, explain shy it is necessary for plant nutrition, and describe how plants can stimulate the
process.
14. Explain why soil management is necessary in agricultural systems but not in natural ecosystems such as forests and
grasslands. Describe several examples of human mismanagement disasters.
15. List the three mineral elements that are most commonly deficient in farm soils.
16. Explain how soil pH determines the effectiveness of fertilizers and a plant’s ability to absorb specific mineral
nutrients.
17. Describe problems resulting from farm irrigation in arid regions and list several current approaches to solving these
problems.
18. Describe precautions that can reduce wind and water erosion.
19. Explain how phytoremediation can help improve polluted environments.
The Special Case of Nitrogen as a Plant Nutrition
20. Define nitrogen fixation and write the overall equation representing the conversion of gaseous nitrogen to ammonia.
21. Describe the important role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
22. Recall the forms of nitrogen that plants can absorb and describe how they are used by plants.
23. Explain why it is important to improve the protein yield of crops.
24. Describe the challenges of raising crops enriched with protein.
Nutritional Adaptations: Symbiosis of Plants and Soil Microbes
25. beginning with free-living rhizobial bacteria, describe the development of a root nodule.
26. Explain why the symbiosis between a legume and its nitrogen-fixing bacteria is considered to be mutualistic.
27. Recall the functions of leg hemoglobin and explain why its synthesis is evidence for coevolution.
28. Describe the basis for crop rotation.
29. Explain how a legume species recognizes a certain species of Rhizobium.
30. Define mycorrhizae and explain why they are considered examples of mutualism. Explain how mycorrhizae enhance
plant nutrition.
31. Explain the significance of mycorrhizae in the evolution of terrestrial plants.
32. Compare the structure and properties of ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.
33. Describe the agricultural importance of mycorrhizae.
34. Discuss the relationships between root nodule formation and mycorrhizae.
Nutritional Adaptations: Parasitism and Predation by Plants
35. Describe the modifications for nutrition that have evolved among plants, including parasitic plants, carnivorous plants,
and mycorrhizae.

3. Key terms:
mineral nutrient essential nutrient macronutrient micronutrient
topsoil humus horizons loams
cation exchange sustainable agriculture phytoremediation nitrogen-fixing bacteria
nitrogen fixation nitrogenase nodules bacteroids
mycorrhizae ectomycorrhizae endomycorrhizae
Chapter 38 – Plant Reproduction and Biotechnology
Objective questions:
Sexual reproduction
1. Outline the angiosperm life cycle.
2. List the four floral parts in their order from outside to inside the flower.
3. From a diagram of an idealized flower, correctly label the following:
a. sepals b. petals c. stamen (filament and anther) d. carpel ( style, ovary, ovule, and stigma)
4. Describe the sequence of events that lead from pollination to fruit formation and finally germination.
5. Distinguish between (a) complete and incomplete flowers, (b) bisexual and unisexual flowers and (c) monoecious and
dioecious plant species.
6. Explain by which generation, structure and process spores are produced.
7. Explain by which generation, structures, and processes gametes are produced.
8. Describe the development of an embryo sac and explain what happens to each of its cells.
9. Explain how pollen can be transferred between flowers.
10. Distinguish between pollination and fertilization.
11. Describe mechanisms that prevent self-pollination and explain how this contributes to genetic variation.
12. Outline the process of double fertilization and describe the function of endosperm.
13. Explain the adaptive advantage of double fertilization in angiosperms.
14. Explain how fertilization in animals is similar to that in plants.
15. Describe the fate of the ovule and ovary after double fertilization. Note where major nutrients are stored as the
embryo develops.
16. Describe the development and functions of the endosperm. Distinguish between liquid endosperm and solid
endosperm.
17. Describe the development of a plant embryo from the first mitotic division to the embryonic plant with rudimentary
organs.
18. From a diagram, identify the following structures of a seed and recall a function for each:
a. seed coat b. embryo c. hypocotyl d. radicle e. epocotyl
f. plumule g. endosperm h. cotyledons i. shoot apex
19. Explain how a monocot and dicot seed differ.
20. Explain how fruit forms and ripens. List the functions of fruit.
21. Explain how selective breeding by humans has changed fruit.
22. Explain how seed dormancy can be advantageous to a plant and describe some conditions for breaking dormancy.
23. Describe variations in the process of germination, including the fate of the radicle, shoot tip, hypocotyl, and
cotyledons.
Asexual Reproduction
24. Distinguish between sexual reproduction and vegetative reproduction.
25. Describe the natural mechanisms of vegetative reproduction in plants, including fragmentation and apomixis.
26. Explain the advantages of using both sexual and asexual reproduction.
27. Describe various methods that horticulturists use to vegetatively propagate plants from cuttings.
28. Explain how the technique of plant tissue culture can be used to clone and genetically engineer plants.
29. Describe the process of protoplast fusion and its potential agricultural impact.
Plant Biotechnology
30. Compare traditional plant-breeding techniques and genetic engineering, noting similarities and differences.
31. Explain why maize can be considered an unnatural monster.
32. Explain the need for increased crop yields within the next 20 years.
33. Describe current examples of the advantages of transgenic crops.
34. Describe some of the biological arguments for and against genetically modified crops.

4. Key terms
alternation of generations sporophyte gametophyte sepal
petal stamen carpel receptacle
anther ovary ovule pollen grains
embryo sac complete flower incomplete flower bisexual flower
unisexual flower monoecious dioecious microspore
megaspore self-incompatibility endosperm double fertilization
seed coat hypocotyls radicle epicotyl
scutellum coleorhizae coleoptile fruit
pericarp dormancy vegetative reproduction
fragmentation apomixis callus stock
scion protoplast fusion transgenic
Chapter 39 – Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals
Objective questions:
Signal Transduction and Plant Responses
1. Compare the growth of a plant in darkness to the characteristics of greening.
2. Describe the signal pathways associated with greening.
3. Describe the role of second messengers in the process of greening.
4. Describe the two main mechanisms by which a signaling pathway can activate an enzyme.
Plant responses to Hormones
5. For each of the following scientists, describe their hypothesis, experiments, and conclusions about the mechanism of
phototropism:
a. Charles Darwin b. Francis Darwin c. Peter Boysen-Jensen d. F.W. Went
6. List six classes of plant hormones, describe their major functions, and note where they are produced in the plant.
7. Explain how a hormone may cause its effect on plant growth and development.
8. Describe a possible mechanism for the polar transport of auxin.
9. According to the acid-growth hypothesis, explain how auxin can initiate cell elongation.
10. Explain why 2,4-D is widely used as a weed killer.
11. Explain how the ratio of cytokinin to auxin effects cell division and cell differentiatin.
12. Define apical dominance and describe the checks-and-balances control of lateral branching by auxins and cytokinins.
13. List several factors besides auxin from the terminal bud that may control apical dominance.
14. Describe how stem elongation and fruit growth depend on a synergism between auxin and gibberellins.
15. Explain the probable mechanism by which gibberellins trigger seed germination.
16. Describe how abscisic acid (ABA) helps prepare a plant for winter.
17. Describe the effects of ABA on seed dormancy and drought stress.
18. Describe the role of ethylene in the triple response to mechanical stress, apoptosis, leaf abscission, and fruit ripening.
19. Describe the functions of brassinosteroids in plants.
Plant Responses to Light
20. Define photomorphogenesis and note which colors are most important to this process.
21. Compare the roles of blue-light photoreceptors and phytochromes.
22. Define circadian rhythm and explain what happens when an organism is artificially maintained in a constant
environment.
23. List some common factors that entrain biological clocks.
24. Define photoperiodism.
25. Distinguish between short-day, long-day, and day-neutral plants. Explain why these names are misleading.
26. Explain how flowering might be controlled and what is necessary for flowering to occur.
Plant Responses to Environmental Stimuli Other than Light
27. Describe how plants apparently tell up from down. Explain why roots display positive gravitropism and shoots
exhibit negative gravitropism.
28. Distinguish between thigmotropism and thigmomorphogenesis.
29. Describe how motor organs can cause rapid leaf movements and sleep movements.
30. Provide a plausible explanation for how a stimulus that causes rapid leaf movement can be transmitted through the
plant.
31. Describe the challenges posed by, and the responses of plants to, the following environmental stresses: drought,

5. flooding, salt stress, heat stress, and cold stress.
Plant Defense: Responses to Herbivores and Pathogens
32. Explain how plants deter herbivores with physical and chemical defenses.
33. Describe the multiple ways that plants defend against pathogens.
Key terms:
greening second messenger hormone tropism
phototropism auxin expansins cytokinins
gibberellin abscisic acid (ABA) ethylene triple response
apoptosis brassinosteroids photomorphogenesis action spectrum
cryptochrome phototropin zeaxanthin circadian rhythm
photoperiodism short-day plant long-day plant day-neutral plant
gravitropism statolith thigmomorphogenesis thigmotropism
action potential heat-shock protein canavanine jasmonic acid
avirulent gene-for-gene recognition elicitors oligosaccharin
phytoalexin PR proteins hypersensitive response (HR)
systemic acquired resistance (SAR) salicylic acid