Nutrition in Plants-I

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals are the most essential components of our diet, and they are collectively known as nutrients. Roughage refers to the fibrous part of our food like green leafy vegetables, salads, fruits, etc. Vitamins themselves are components of nutrients.   

Plants are photoautotrophs, which can make their own food by using carbon dioxide, water and minerals in the presence of sunlight and convert these inorganic substances into organic form.  

The process of having food and its utilization by the body is known as nutrition.
Digestion is the process of breaking down of complex nutrients into simpler absorbable form.
Assimilation refers to the process of using absorbed food nutrients to be incorporated (to build) into cytoplasm of the cell for its metabolism.
Egestion refers to the elimination of water and undigested materials from the body.

Photosynthesis is the process of formation of food by green plants using inorganic raw materials. The products formed during the process are carbohydrates, i.e. glucose along with the release of oxygen. 

Green plants prepare their own food by using inorganic raw materials. This process takes place in the leaves containing chlorophyll, which is required for photosynthesis. Flowers are the organs of reproduction, fruits are the source of seeds for the next crop and thorns are the reduced leaves to prevent transpiration.

Autotrophs are the living organisms, which make their own food by using inorganic raw materials. Heterotrophs are the organisms which depend on autotrophs for their nutrition requirements. Other organisms which use chemical energy are called chemoautotrophs. Host is that organism in/on the body of which another organism/parasite lives and draws its nutrition. 

Though plants act as a source of energy for all the heterotrophs, but even plants depend upon the energy of sun for the formation of their food. Therefore, sun is said to be the ultimate source of energy.

Autotrophs are the organisms, which make their own food by using inorganic raw materials. The word 'autotroph' is derived from two Greek words: autos means 'self' and trophe means 'nutrients/nourishment'.

Desert plants have leaves reduced to spines to prevent the excess loss of water by transpiration. So, the function of photosynthesis in them is taken up by the stem. Flower is the reproductive organ of the plant and roots, being underground, cannot receive sunlight and thus, cannot perform photosynthesis.

The nutrients obtained by living organisms help them to grow, to get energy for their daily activities and to repair the damaged tissues.

Nutrition is the sum total of the food requirements of the living organisms. Humans and animals cannot fulfill their nutritional requirements by making use of their surroundings. Even the aquatic animals depend upon plants as plants are the autotrophic organisms, which can prepare their food directly by using inorganic substances and surroundings. So, all the living organism directly or in directly depend on plants for nutrition. 

Autotrophic nutrition is the one in which an organism makes its own food from inorganic substances.

The roots of the plants have thin hair like structures, which absorb water along with the dissolved minerals from the soil.  

All green plants prepare their food using inorganic raw materials. The process is known as photosynthesis. Respiration is the process of release of energy with inhalation of oxygen and exhaling of carbon dioxide. Transpiration refers to the loss of water through stomata by leaves. Chemosynthesis refers to formation of organic substances from CO₂ or methane.

Photosynthesis refers to the formation of organic substances by using inorganic raw materials, like carbon dioxide and water, in the presence of green coloured pigment chlorophyll by using the sun's energy.

Stomata are small pore like structures present on a leaf’s surface from which water and gaseous exchange takes place. CO₂ required by plant for photosynthesis is also taken in through these stomatal pores, whereas pollen grains and anther are the male reproductive parts of the flower. 

Stomata are small apertures for which opening and closing is controlled by a pair of cells known as guard cells. Pollen grains and petals are parts of flower and mitochondria are cell organelles. 

Photosynthesis is the process of formation of food by green plants using inorganic raw materials and plants act as an energy source for all other living organisms. Without the same, neither the plants nor the plant dependents would be able to survive. 

Photosynthesis is the process of formation of food in the presence of light as the process cannot take place in the absence of sun's energy. So, the word photo means light only.

 The pigment is a substance, which gives a particular colour. The leaves are green due to the presence of chlorophyll, which helps in the process of photosynthesis by capturing solar energy.