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Q7:
How are the minerals absorbed by the plants?
Solution :
1. Theoretical Foundation: The Soil-Root Interface
Mineral absorption in plants is a selective, energy-dependent, and multi-phasic process occurring primarily at the root hair zone. The process is bifurcated into two distinct phases: Apoplastic pathway (passive movement through cell walls) and Symplastic pathway (active movement through the cytoplasm via plasmodesmata) [Per the Cohesion-Tension Theory and Membrane Transport Dynamics].
2. Step-by-Step Mechanism of Mineral Absorption
Step 1: Passive Absorption (Initial Influx)
- Ions from the soil solution diffuse into the "apparent free space" (AFS) of the root cortex.
- This is a non-metabolic process driven by concentration gradients [Per Fick’s Law of Diffusion].
Step 2: Active Absorption (Ion Transport against Gradient)
- To maintain intracellular homeostasis, mineral ions must often be moved against their electrochemical gradient into the xylem.
- This requires metabolic energy in the form of $ATP$.
- Specific membrane proteins, known as transmembrane protein pumps and ion channels, act as selective gates.
Step 3: Translocation via Xylem
- Once ions reach the xylem vessels, they are carried upward along with the water stream driven by transpiration pull [Per the Transpiration-Cohesion-Adhesion-Tension mechanism].
3. Visual Representation: The Ion Transport Process
4. Comparative Table: Transport Modes
| Feature | Passive Absorption | Active Absorption |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Requirement | Not required | $ATP$ required |
| Gradient | With concentration gradient | Against concentration gradient |
| Selectivity | Low | High (Protein carriers) |
5. Physiological Regulation
The rate of mineral absorption is governed by several factors:
- Membrane Permeability: Regulated by phytohormones and external $pH$ levels.
- Respiration Rate: Active transport relies on cellular respiration; inhibitors (e.g., $DNP$) that hinder respiration reduce mineral uptake [Per the Metabolic Theory of Ion Absorption].
- Ion Concentration: The plant modulates the expression of specific transporter genes depending on the availability of nutrients in the rhizosphere.
Final Solution: Mineral absorption occurs via a two-stage process: an initial passive diffusion of ions into the root cortex (apoplast), followed by a highly selective, energy-dependent (active) transport of ions across the plasma membrane mediated by transmembrane proteins (symplast) to facilitate translocation through the xylem.
More Questions from Class 11 Biology Mineral Nutrition EXERCISES
- Q1: ‘All elements that are present in a plant need not be essential to its survival’. Comment.
- Q2: Why is purification of water and nutrient salts so important in studies involving mineral nutrition using hydroponics?
- Q3: Explain with examples: macronutrients, micronutrients, beneficial nutrients, toxic elements and essential elements.
- Q4: Name at least five different deficiency symptoms in plants. Describe them and correlate them with the concerned mineral deficiency.
- Q5: If a plant shows a symptom which could develop due to deficiency of more than one nutrient, how would you find out experimentally, the real deficient mineral element?
- Q6: Why is that in certain plants deficiency symptoms appear first in younger parts of the plant while in others they do so in mature organs?
- Q8: What are the conditions necessary for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by Rhizobium. What is their role in $N_2$-fixation?
- Q9: What are the steps involved in formation of a root nodule?
- Q10(a): Which of the following statements are true? If false, correct them: (a) Boron deficiency leads to stout axis.
- Q10(b): Which of the following statements are true? If false, correct them: (b) Every mineral element that is present in a cell is needed by the cell.
- Q10(c): Which of the following statements are true? If false, correct them: (c) Nitrogen as a nutrient element, is highly immobile in the plants.
- Q10(d): Which of the following statements are true? If false, correct them: (d) It is very easy to establish the essentiality of micronutrients because they are required only in trace quantities.
CBSE Solutions for Class 11 Biology Mineral Nutrition
Chapters in CBSE - Class 11 Biology
- The Living World
- Biological Classification
- Plant Kingdom
- Animal Kingdom
- Morphology of Flowering Plants
- Anatomy of Flowering Plants
- Structural Organisation in Animals
- Cell – The Unit of Life
- Biomolecules
- Cell Cycle and Division
- Transport in Plants
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration in Plants
- Plant Growth and Development
- Digestion and Absorption
- Breathing and Exchange of Gases
- Body Fluids and Circulation
- Excretory Products and Elimination
- Locomotion and Movement
- Neural Control and Coordination
- Chemical Coordination and Integration
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