Grade 8 Science: Main Biological Processes in Plants - Part 1

Plants can be cited as living things and they play a role of paramount significance in the sustenance of the environment. Plants help the existence of other living organisms in the environment by ensuring the environmental balance. Several biological processes that are essential for the existence of plants such as

Photosynthesis, Transportation, Transpiration and Guttation take place within them  Photosynthesis

Plants are able to produce their own food and therefore they are autotrophic in nature. This helps the existence of all the other living components in the environment as well. The plant leaf is the main organ that produces food. 

There are many factors that are required for the process of Photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere enters the leaf through its stomata. Water enters the plant through the roots that absorb it and it is transported to the leaf through the xylem. Chlorophyll that helps to absorb the necessary sunlight is the green colored pigment present in the chloroplast in cells. Light energy from sun light that falls on the leaf is absorbed by chloroplast. Eventually, food is produced within the chloroplasts found in plant cells. 

Thus, photosynthesis can be cited as the process of producing food in the plant cells that contain chlorophyll, with the use of carbon dioxide, water and light energy from sunlight. The products of this process are glucose and oxygen, where glucose is converted into starch in the leaves. Following this, starch is converted to sucrose that is transported to the required areas like the growing parts and the storage organs of the plant.  In order to experiment the production of glucose and oxygen during photosynthesis you can carry out the required experiments in the laboratory and get a better understanding of the process.

 

 

 

Photosynthesis is essential for the survival of living things in the world. Hence, its global importance can be shown under the following points.

• Supply of food for living beings. (food is a basic need required for their survival)
• Supply of oxygen for the respiration of living beings in the environment.
• Absorption of carbon dioxide and controls global warming. 
• Absorption of carbon dioxide and reduction of its percentage in the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Mekhala Egodawele

Photo source : Internet