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AUTOTROPHISM IN PLANTS
INDEX
1. Int roduct ion
2. Aut ot rophismand it s Need
3. Phot osynt hesis – TheCoreof Aut ot rophism
4 . Raw Mat erial s and Condit ions Required
5. St ruct ureof Leaf and St omat a
6. Mechanismof Phot osynt hesis (Light and Dark React ions)
7. Experiment s Rel at ed t o Phot osynt hesis
8. Import ancein Food Chain and Ecosyst em
9. Aut ot rophs vs Het erot rophs
10. Summary & Bibl iography
1. Introduction
Nut rit ion is essent ial for t hesurvival of al l l iving organisms. It is t heprocess by
which an organismobt ains and ut il izes food t o carry out l ifeprocesses such as
growt h, repair, met abol ism, and energy product ion.
In t hepl ant kingdom, aut ot rophismpl ays a vit al rol eas it hel ps green pl ant s
preparet heir own food. This process not onl y ensures t heir survival but al so
support s al l higher organisms, making pl ant s t hefoundat ion of t hefood chain.
2. Autotrophism and its Need
Aut ot rophismis a modeof nut rit ion whereorganisms producet heir own food from
simpl einorganic subst ances. Theword is derived from:
- Aut o = sel f
- Troph = nourishment
Pl ant s, al gae, and somebact eria (l ikecyanobact eria) areexampl es of aut ot rophs.
Theseorganisms do not depend on ot hers for food; inst ead, t hey synt hesizeorganic
nut rient s using sunl ight t hrough a process cal l ed phot osynt hesis.
Why Do Pl ant s Need Aut ot rophism?
- They areimmobil eand cannot hunt l ikeanimal s.
- Thefood produced is st ored as st arch, used during non- phot osynt het ic periods
(e.g., night t ime).
- They rel easeoxygen during t his process, vit al for al l aerobic organisms.
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3. Photosynthesis – The Core of Autotrophism
Phot osynt hesis is t heprocess by which green pl ant s usesunl ight , carbon dioxide,
and wat er t o producegl ucoseand rel easeoxygen.
Chemical Equat ion:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
This equat ion shows t hat carbon dioxideand wat er, in t hepresenceof sunl ight and
chl orophyl l , producegl ucoseand oxygen.
This process occurs in chl oropl ast s, which cont ain chl orophyl l , t hegreen pigment
t hat capt ures l ight energy.
4. Raw Material s and Conditions Required
a) Carbon Dioxide: Ent ers t hel eaf t hrough st omat a fromt heat mosphere.
b) Wat er: Absorbed by root s and t ransport ed t o l eaves via xyl em.
c) Sunl ight : Provides t heenergy needed for phot osynt hesis.
d) Chl orophyl l : Traps sol ar energy and init iat es t hechemical react ion.
Ot her Condit ions: Proper t emperat ure, heal t hy chl oropl ast s, and open st omat a are
necessary for efficient phot osynt hesis.
5. Structure of Leaf and Stomata
Leaves havea l argesurfacearea and aret hin, al l owing for efficient l ight capt ure
and gas exchange.
St omat a aret iny openings mainl y found on t heundersideof l eaves. They are
surrounded by guard cel l s t hat regul at et heir opening and cl osing.
Funct ions of St omat a: Int akeof CO₂, rel easeof O₂, and t ranspirat ion (l oss of
wat er vapor).
6. Mechanism of Photosynthesis (Light and Dark Reactions)
Light React ion: Occurs in t het hyl akoid membranes, invol ves t hephot ol ysis of
wat er, product ion of ATP and NADPH.
Dark React ion (Cal vin Cycl e): Occurs in t hest roma of t hechl oropl ast , uses ATP
and NADPH t o fix CO₂ int o gl ucose.
This dual - phasemechanismensures cont inuous food product ion in pl ant s.
7. Experiments Rel ated to Photosynthesis
1. St arch Test : A l eaf boil ed in al cohol , t est ed wit h iodine, shows bl ue- bl ack col or
if st arch is present .
2. Sunl ight Requirement : A l eaf part ial l y covered fromsunl ight wil l onl y
phot osynt hesizein t heexposed part .
3. CO₂ Requirement : If CO₂ is absorbed using KOH in a fl ask set up, phot osynt hesis
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doesn't occur.
8. Importance in Food Chain and Ecosystem
Aut ot rophs aret heprimary producers in every ecosyst em. They convert sol ar energy
int o chemical energy st ored in food.
Oxygen, a by- product of phot osynt hesis, is vit al for aerobic respirat ion in animal s
and humans.
Aut ot rophismal so hel ps in reducing CO₂ l evel s and prevent s cl imat eimbal ance.
9. Autotrophs vs Heterotrophs
Aut ot rophs maket heir own food using sunl ight , wat er, and CO₂. Het erot rophs
depend on ot her organisms for food.
Exampl es of Aut ot rophs: Green pl ant s, al gae, cyanobact eria.
Exampl es of Het erot rophs: Humans, animal s, fungi.
10. Summary & Bibl iography
Summary: Aut ot rophismis a crucial process for l ifeon Eart h. Through
phot osynt hesis, aut ot rophs producefood and oxygen, forming t hebaseof t hefood
chain.
They pl ay a maj or rol ein maint aining ecol ogical bal anceand support ing
biodiversit y.
Bibl iography:
- NCERT ScienceCl ass 10
- www.l earncbse.in
- www.t oppr.com
- S. Chand Biol ogy Book
- www.sciencedirect .com
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