Plant Physiology (101)

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Lecture 10 Contents

1 Plant cell structure and physiology Function

2 Water-Plant relation

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Plant cell structure and physiology Function

Notice the internal organelles are not easily distinguishable

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Cell membrane or Plasma membrane

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Models of Membrane Structure

In electron micrographs, all cell membranes have similar structure: an extremely thin sheet (~5-7 nm) with "railroad track" appearance All models of membrane structure built around idea of lipid bilayer. Phospholipids spontaneously form bilayers. Similar to soap bubbles: thin, flexible, fluid, not very durable or strong. Biological membranes include proteins; provide structural integrity, variety of functions.
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Cell membrane Phospholipids

Phospholipids are amphipathic molecule. They have hydrophilic and hydrophobic characters in the same molecule. This basic structure makes the membrane a barrier to hydrophilic molecules. The interior of the membrane is fluid, with a viscosity about equal to olive oil.

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Cell membrane Proteins

Proteins of membranes are divided into two general classes: Integral membrane proteins embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. Peripheral membrane proteins lack hydrophobic regions.

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Cell membranes are selectively permeable

1. Simple Diffusion
Lipophilic solutes cross the membrane freely by dissolving in the lipid bilayer. This is passive diffusion. Examples: ethanol, fatty acids, glycerol, steroids, etc. Also nonpolar gases like O=O (O2)

2. Passive transport (Facilitated Diffusion)

Selective transport by channel protein and protein carriers = "permeases". Polar or ionic small solutes may be transported across membranes if specific protein carriers are in the membrane. Examples: sugars, amino acids, ions.

3- Active Transporters
Specific receptor in the membrane require energy (ATP or other form of energy). Will move solute against a concentration gradient, so can concentrate material even if diffusion would favour opposite direction of flow.

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Transport System
(I) Active transport
ATP-powered pumps (ATPases) couple the splitting, or hydrolysis, of ATP with the movement of ions across a membrane against a concentration gradient. ATP is hydrolyzed directly to ADP and inorganic phosphate, and the energy released is used to move one or more ions across the cell membrane. As much as 25% of a cell's ATP reserves may be spent in such ion transport.
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Transport System
(II) Passive transport Passive transport can involve uniport, symport, or antiport

Uniports, simply move solutes from one side to another. Symport, in which the solutes are sent in the same direction Antiport, in which they are sent in opposite directions.

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Cell Wall
The plant cell wall is a tough, rigid structure that may consist of: (1) the primary cell wall A thin layer, flexible and extensible layer composed of cellulose, pectin and hemicellulose. the physiological functions:- structural and mechanical support, maintain and determine cell shape, resist internal turgor pressure of cell, control rate and direction of growth, regulate diffusion of material through the apoplast, carbohydrate storage -, protect against pathogens, dehydration, and other environmental factors.

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Cell Wall
2) a secondary cell wall which is a thick layer composed predominantly of cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose (xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, or glucomannan).
the physiological functions:- Support and mechanical strength (allows plants to get tall, hold out thin leaves to obtain light).

3) Middle lamella In between the primary walls is a middle lamella which is a pectin-rich intercellular material that glues the adjacent cells together.

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The nucleus
The nucleus is one the most obvious organelle in any plant cell, it is about 10% of the cell's volume. The plant cell has only one nucleus.

Physiological functions: - Storage of hereditary material, the genes in the form of DNA - Nucleus is a site for transcription produce mRNA for the protein synthesis. - During the cell division, chromatins are arranged into chromosomes. - Production of ribosomes (protein factories). - Selective transportation of regulatory factors through nuclear pores.

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Ribosomes (Protein manufactory)

There are three binding sites on a ribosome:-

- the aminoacyl binding site for a tRNA molecule

attached to the next amino acid in the protein - the peptidyl binding site for the central tRNA molecule containing the growing peptide chain - the exit binding site to discharge used tRNA molecules from the ribosome.

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Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

The ER membrane is all interconnected and continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. The ER comes in two types:

*Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) Engaged in protein synthesis by transform it from liner to 3D form *Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Synthesis lipids of most membranes of the cell made off (plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus, nuclear envelope and mitochondria) Synthesis steroid (hormone) and secreted Serving as transport vesicles for the transport of protein to the Golgi apparatus

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Golgi apparatus
Golgi Complexes, as shown, are flattened stacks of membrane-bound sacs.
Italian biologist Camillo Golgi discovered these structures in the late 1890s Golgi function as a packaging plant, modifying proteins and lipids transported by the rough endoplasmic reticulum
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Mitochondria & Plastid & Vacuole

Mitochondria

Vacuole
Physiological Function

storing wastes
storing foods (e.g., proteins in seeds) storing malic acid in CAM plants storing various ions (e.g., calcium, sodium, iron) which, among other functions, helps to maintain turgor in the cell.

Green Plastid

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Water-Plants relation
Water mobility
Apoplast pathway the movement of water molecules through cell wall. The cortex of the root does not oppose such movement of the water. Symplast pathway the movement of water molecules is from cell to cell through the plasmodesmata
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Water-Plants relation
Osmosis is movement of water molecules higher diffusion pressure to lower diffusion pressure across a semipermeable membrane

Endosmosis water moves into the cell during the osmosis. Exosmosis when the water starts moving out of the cell.

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Water-Plants relation
Diffusion is the migration of any substance from its place of high concentration to its place of low concentration. Osmotic pressure is the pressure which is developed in a solution in which solution and water is separated by semi-permeable membrane The turgor pressure is counter balanced by an equal and opposite pressure of the cell wall on the enclosed solution Diffusion pressure deficit (DPD) or Suction pressure (SP) This is the amount of that pressure by which water is sucked into the cell or expels out side the cell which determines the direction of osmosis and the power of absorption of the cell. Imbibation Adsorption of undisolved liquid by the any hydrophilic colloids

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TYPES OF SOLUTIONS
(i) ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS : In such type of solution is either endosmosis or exosmosis occurs and the cell become flaccid. (ii) HYPOTONIC SOLUTION : The endosmosis takes place as a results, a cell swells up (Turgid). (iii) HYPERTONIC SOLUTION : The exosmosis takes place and resulting in the cell becoming plasmolyzed.

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Mechanism of Water Absorption

Active absorption (root pressure)
(A) Osmotic water absorption (B) Non osmotic water absorption (C) Physical Force (imbibation) Passive absorption (transpiration) (A) Transpiration pull Factors affecting water Absorption (1) Available soil water (2) Soil temperature (3) Soil Air (4) Soil salt (5) Transpiration

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The Transpiration
Types of Process of Transpiration in Plants (1) Stomatal transpiration (2) Cuticular transpiration (3) Lenticular transpiration
Stomata Function of Stomata (i) Gaseous exchange during photosynthesis and respiration (ii) Transpiration the phenomenon of loss of water in the form of vapour from opening stomata

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Mechanism of Opening and Closing of Stomata

(1) Theory of Photosynthetic product (2) Starch sugar inter conversion theory (1923) (3) Modification by Steward (1964) (4) Active Proton (K+) Transport Theory

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