BASIC LEVEL: INTRODUCTION TO PLANT BIOLOGY

Plants are essential to life on Earth, providing food, oxygen, and resources for all living organisms. At their core, plants are made up of specialised structures and perform important processes that allow them to grow and reproduce.

Roots anchor the plant into the soil, preventing it from being blown over. They also absorb water and nutrients that the plant needs to survive. The root tip, which includes the root meristem, is responsible for growth. Roots can have specialised structures, like root hairs, that increase surface area for absorption.

The stem serves as the main support of the plant, allowing leaves to reach sunlight. It also houses vascular tissues, including the xylem and phloem, which transport water, minerals, and sugars throughout the plant.

Leaves are the main sites of photosynthesis in a plant. The green pigment called chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, which the plant uses to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of sugar that serves as the plant's food.

Flowers are the reproductive organs of angiosperms (flowering plants). They contain male (stamens) and female (pistils) reproductive structures that, through pollination, produce seeds. The seeds, when dispersed, grow into new plants.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create glucose and release oxygen. This process occurs primarily in the leaves, inside structures called chloroplasts.

Respiration occurs in all parts of the plant and involves the breakdown of glucose to release energy for growth and development. This process occurs in the mitochondria of plant cells.

Plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction involves the fertilization of an egg cell by pollen, leading to the formation of seeds. Asexual reproduction can occur through processes like budding or vegetative propagation, where new plants grow from parts of the parent plant.

Transpiration is the process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their stomata, tiny pores on the surface of leaves.

Germination refers to the growth of a new plant from a seed, requiring moisture, warmth, and oxygen.

BASIC LEVEL: INTRODUCTION TO PLANT BIOLOGY