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Plants must have adequate resources to complete their functions. If they do not have what they need, there are changes in the organism’s metabolism. What happens to the metabolism of a plant that does not have adequate sunlight? a. Photosynthesis slows and less glucose is produced for energy use. b. The plant switches to anaerobic metabolism. c. The plant goes into a dormant state until the sunlight returns. d. The plant flowers quickly to reproduce while it can.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Photosynthesis slows and less glucose is produced for energy use.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Plant Metabolism

Plants rely on photosynthesis to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. This glucose is used as a source of energy and as a building block for growth.
02

Identifying the Role of Sunlight

Sunlight is crucial for photosynthesis. Without adequate sunlight, the process of photosynthesis is hindered, meaning less glucose is produced.
03

Evaluating the Options

Review each of the given options to see which one accurately describes the consequence of inadequate sunlight on plant metabolism.
04

Analyzing Option A

Option a states that photosynthesis slows and less glucose is produced. This aligns with the idea that sunlight deficiency limits the plant’s ability to carry out photosynthesis effectively.
05

Considering Other Options

Option b suggests plants switch to anaerobic metabolism, which is not common for plants as they do not rely on such metabolism primarily, unlike some microorganisms or animal cells during low oxygen conditions. Option c indicates dormancy, which usually pertains to seasonal changes rather than light availability. Option d talks about flowering quickly, which is not a typical response to lack of sunlight.
06

Concluding the Answer

Having reviewed all the options, the most accurate answer is that the plant’s photosynthesis process slows down due to the lack of sunlight, resulting in reduced glucose production.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Through photosynthesis, plants take in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen. This process mainly takes place in the chloroplasts, which are specialized organelles within the plant cells. Chlorophyll, the green pigment, plays a vital role in capturing light energy.
Let's break it down into simpler steps:
  • Plants absorb sunlight using chlorophyll.
  • Water is taken up by the roots and transported to the leaves.
  • Carbon dioxide is taken in from the air through tiny openings called stomata.
  • In the chloroplasts, light energy converts water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
So, when a plant lacks adequate sunlight, the whole photosynthesis process is disrupted. This leads to less glucose production, which directly impacts the plant's energy levels and growth.
glucose production
Glucose is essential for plants because it serves as their primary energy source and a building block for creating other essential molecules. The food produced in photosynthesis, glucose, is used in several ways:
  • Energy Source: Immediately converted to energy through cellular respiration.
  • Storage: Stored as starch in various plant parts like roots and tubers for later use.
  • Building Blocks: Used to create cellulose, which makes up the plant's cell walls, ensuring structural integrity.
When there is not enough sunlight, the rate of glucose production decreases. This drop in glucose means there is less energy available for essential functions like growth, reproduction, and repair. Plants may show stunted growth, wilting, or even die if the condition persists.
energy conversion
Energy conversion in plants primarily takes place through photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In photosynthesis, light energy is converted into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules. Cellular respiration is the process by which the stored chemical energy in glucose is converted into a form of energy that plants can use for various activities.
Here's a simple outline:
  • In photosynthesis, energy from sunlight is captured and stored in glucose.
  • In cellular respiration, glucose is broken down, and the stored energy is released as ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
ATP is the usable form of energy for plants, powering everything from nutrient absorption to growth and reproduction. When sunlight is insufficient, resulting in decreased glucose production, the whole energy conversion chain is disrupted. This disruption means the plant can't generate enough ATP, leading to reduced metabolic activities and overall plant health.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Is the EA for ATP hydrolysis in cells likely relatively low or high compared to the EA for the combustion of gasoline in an internal combustion engine? 1\. Explain your reasoning in terms of the relative stabilities of ATP and gasoline compared to air in which no catalysts are present. 2\. Describe how the role of the enzyme ATPase in the hydrolysis of ATP in a cell differs from a spark in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine. 3\. Describe a strategy for collecting data that can be used to measure the energies of activation \(\left(\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{A}}\right)\) of each of these two processes with instruments that can measure concentrations of reactions produced in each system.

Energy transfers occur constantly in daily activities. Think of two scenarios: cooking on a stove and driving a car. For each scenario, describe the system and explain how the second law of thermodynamics applies to the system in terms of energy input and change in entropy

Does physical exercise involve anabolic processes, catabolic processes, or both? Give evidence for your answer. a. Physical exercise involves both catabolic and anabolic processes. Glucose is broken down into simpler compounds during physical activity. The simpler compounds are then used to provide energy to the muscles for contraction by the anabolic pathway. b. Physical exercise is just a catabolic process. Glucose is broken down into simpler compounds during physical activity and the simpler compounds are then used to provide energy to the muscles for contraction. c. Physical activity involves only anabolic processes. Glucose is broken down into simpler compounds during physical activity and the simpler compounds are then used to provide energy to the muscles for contraction by anabolic pathways. d. Physical exercise involves both anabolic and catabolic processes. Cellulose is broken down into simpler compounds during physical activity. The simpler compounds are then used to provide energy to the muscles for contraction by anabolic pathways.

DNA replication involves unwinding two strands of parent DNA, copying each strand to synthesize complementary strands and releasing the resulting two semi-conserved strands of DNA. Which of the following accurately describes this process? a. This is an anabolic process. b. This is a catabolic process. c. This is both an anabolic and a catabolic process. d. This is a metabolic process, but is neither anabolic nor catabolic.

What is an anabolic pathway? Which of these is an example of an anabolic pathway used by cells in their metabolism? a. Anabolic pathways involve the breakdown of nutrient molecules into usable forms. An example is the harvesting of amino acids from dietary proteins. b. Anabolic pathways involve the breakdown of nutrient molecules into useable forms. An example is the use of glycogen by the liver to maintain blood glucose levels. c. Anabolic pathways build new molecules out of the products of catabolic pathways. An example is the separation of fatty acids from triglycerides to satisfy energy needs. d. Anabolic pathways build new molecules out of the products of catabolic pathways. An example is the linkage of nucleotides to form a molecule of mRNA.

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