Forms and Functions in Plants – Key
Notes
1. Introduction:
• Plants have various forms and
structures adapted for growth, survival,
and reproduction.
• Unlike animals, plants are autotrophic
and stationary, so their structures
reflect their needs (e.g., transport,
support, photosynthesis).
2. Tissue Systems in Plants:
A) Meristematic Tissues (Growth
Tissues):
• Apical Meristem: Present at root and
shoot tips; causes primary growth.
• Lateral Meristem: Increases thickness
(e.g., vascular cambium).
• Intercalary Meristem: Found at the
base of leaves and internodes.
B) Permanent Tissues (Differentiated
Cells):
• Simple Tissues:
• Parenchyma: Thin-walled, living,
involved in storage and photosynthesis.
• Collenchyma: Provides flexibility,
thickened at corners.
• Sclerenchyma: Dead, thick lignified
walls for strength.
• Complex Tissues:
• Xylem: Conducts water (vessels,
tracheids, xylem parenchyma).
• Phloem: Transports food (sieve tubes,
companion cells, phloem parenchyma).
3. Plant Organs and Functions:
A) Root:
• Functions: Anchorage, water and
mineral absorption.
• Modifications:
• Storage roots (e.g., carrot, beet),
• Prop roots (e.g., banyan),
• Pneumatophores (e.g., mangrove for
gas exchange).
B) Stem:
• Functions: Supports branches/leaves,
conducts substances.
• Modifications:
• Tubers (e.g., potato),
• Runners (e.g., grass),
• Climbers (e.g., grapevine).
C) Leaf:
• Primary site for photosynthesis, gas
exchange, and transpiration.
• Modifications:
• Tendrils (climbing),
• Spines (protection),
• Succulent leaves (water storage).
D) Flower:
• Reproductive part of the plant.
• Contains:
• Stamens (male),
• Carpels (female),
• Petals and sepals (accessory organs).
E) Fruit and Seed:
• Fruit: Formed from the ovary after
fertilization.
• Seed: Contains embryo, cotyledon,
and stored nutrients for germination.
4. Plant Transport Systems:
A) Water and Mineral Transport
(Xylem):
• Mechanisms: Transpiration pull,
cohesion, adhesion, root pressure.
B) Food Transport (Phloem):
• Source-to-sink movement of sugars.
• Explained by the Pressure Flow
Hypothesis.
5. Transpiration:
• Evaporation of water from plant
surfaces (mainly leaves).
• Types:
• Stomatal (most common),
• Cuticular,
• Lenticular.
• Regulated by stomata (guard cells).
6. Photosynthesis:
• Conversion of CO₂ and H₂O into
glucose using sunlight and chlorophyll.
• Takes place in chloroplasts.
• Equation:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
7. Respiration in Plants:
• Energy (ATP) production from
glucose breakdown.
• Types:
• Aerobic (with O₂),
• Anaerobic (without O₂, e.g., in
germinating seeds).
8. Growth and Hormonal Control:
• Growth involves cell division,
elongation, and differentiation.
• Plant Hormones:
• Auxins – cell elongation,
• Gibberellins – stem elongation,
• Cytokinins – cell division,
• Abscisic acid (ABA) – dormancy,
• Ethylene – ripening and senescence.
9. Plant Movements:
• Tropic Movements: Directional
(towards or away from stimuli).
• Examples: Phototropism, Geotropism.
• Nastic Movements: Non-directional,
e.g., touch response in Mimosa.
MCQS:
1. Which tissue is responsible for
primary growth in plants?
A) Lateral meristem
B) Apical meristem
C) Intercalary meristem
D) Collenchyma
2. The main function of xylem is:
A) Transport of food
B) Photosynthesis
C) Transport of water and minerals
D) Transport of hormones
3. Collenchyma cells are:
A) Dead at maturity
B) Living and flexible
C) Thick-walled and dead
D) Thin-walled and dead
4. Which plant organ is primarily
responsible for absorption of water?
A) Stem
B) Leaf
C) Flower
D) Root
5. The vascular tissue which transports
food is:
A) Xylem
B) Cambium
C) Phloem
D) Parenchyma
6. Storage roots are found in:
A) Onion
B) Carrot
C) Wheat
D) Pea
7. Which type of movement is shown by
a sunflower bending towards sunlight?
A) Nastic
B) Turgor
C) Phototropism
D) Chemotropism
8. Which of the following is a complex
permanent tissue?
A) Collenchyma
B) Parenchyma
C) Xylem
D) Sclerenchyma
9. The tissue that provides strength to
mature plants is:
A) Parenchyma
B) Collenchyma
C) Sclerenchyma
D) Phloem
10. The food prepared during
photosynthesis is transported through:
A) Xylem
B) Phloem
C) Cortex
D) Cambium
11. What is the primary photosynthetic
organ in most plants?
A) Root
B) Flower
C) Leaf
D) Stem
12. Which hormone is responsible for
ripening of fruits?
A) Auxin
B) Cytokinin
C) Ethylene
D) Gibberellin
13. The movement of water through
xylem is mainly due to:
A) Root pressure
B) Capillarity
C) Transpiration pull
D) Osmosis
14. Which of the following is a stem
modification?
A) Tuber
B) Tap root
C) Adventitious root
D) Storage root
15. The guard cells regulate:
A) Photosynthesis
B) Water absorption
C) Guttation
D) Opening and closing of stomata
16. Which cell organelle is responsible
for photosynthesis?
A) Mitochondria
B) Ribosome
C) Chloroplast
D) Golgi body
17. Nastic movements are:
A) Directional
B) Non-directional
C) Caused by light
D) Growth-related
18. The sugar produced in
photosynthesis is:
A) Glucose
B) Sucrose
C) Fructose
D) Cellulose
19. Which part of the flower forms the
fruit?
A) Stigma
B) Ovule
C) Ovary
D) Anther
20. Cytokinin promotes:
A) Cell elongation
B) Fruit ripening
C) Dormancy
D) Cell division
21. Which part of the root absorbs
water?
A) Root cap
B) Epidermis
C) Cortex
D) Root hairs
22. Which plant hormone inhibits
growth?
A) Ethylene
B) Cytokinin
C) Abscisic acid
D) Gibberellin
23. The evaporation of water from plant
leaves is known as:
A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Transpiration
D) Diffusion
24. Which of these is not a type of
meristem?
A) Lateral
B) Apical
C) Intercalary
D) Sclerenchyma
25. Pneumatophores are:
A) Roots that store food
B) Underground stems
C) Roots for gaseous exchange
D) Reproductive structures
26. A fruit develops from the:
A) Ovule
B) Ovary
C) Petal
D) Sepal
27. The pressure flow hypothesis
explains:
A) Water movement
B) Transpiration
C) Food transport in phloem
D) Growth regulation
28. Stomatal transpiration mainly
occurs during:
A) Day
B) Night
C) Both
D) Never
29. Which cells are dead at maturity and
provide mechanical support?
A) Parenchyma
B) Collenchyma
C) Sclerenchyma
D) Phloem
30. Which movement is shown by
Mimosa pudica when touched?
A) Geotropism
B) Thigmonasty
C) Hydrotropism
D) Chemotropism
Answer Key:
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. C
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. C
10. B
11. C
12. C
13. C
14. A
15. D
16. C
17. B
18. A
19. C
20. D
21. D
22. C
23. C
24. D
25. C
26. B
27. C
28. A
29. C
30. B
