Nutrition in Green Plants

Autotrophic Nutrition

Green plants exhibit autotrophic nutrition

This means they can produce their food using simple inorganic substances like water and carbon dioxide. The process by which they do this is called photosynthesis

Organelles and Enzymes Involved

The primary organelle responsible for photosynthesis is the chloroplast . It contains chlorophyll, a green pigment that captures sunlight energy

Key enzymes involved in photosynthesis include:

• Rubisco: This enzyme catalyzes the first step of carbon fixation.
• NADP reductase: Involved in electron transport and energy production.
  (https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/nadp-reductase-enzyme-is-located-on/#:~:text=It%20helps%20in%20transfer%20of,Was%20this%20answer%20helpful%3F)
• ATP synthase: Produces ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

Checking if a Plant has Made Food

There are several ways to determine if a plant has produced food through photosynthesis:

1. Starch Test:

   • Collect a leaf from the plant.
   • Boil the leaf in alcohol to remove chlorophyll.
     (https://byjus.com/question-answer/why-do-we-boil-the-leaf-in-alcohol-when-we-are-testing-it-for-starch/#:~:text=When%20a%20leaf%20is%20boiled,green%20color%20of%20the%20leaves.)
   • Add iodine solution to the leaf.
     (https://practicalbiology.org/standard-techniques/testing-leaves-for-starch-the-technique)
   • A blue-black color indicates the presence of starch, a product of photosynthesis.
2. Oxygen Release:
   • Place an aquatic plant in a test tube filled with water and inverted in a water-filled beaker.
   • Expose the plant to sunlight.
3. Growth and Development:
   • Healthy growth and development of a plant are strong indicators of successful photosynthesis.