Adaptations of the leaf for photosynthesis and gaseous exchange
Leaves are adapted for A chemical process used by plants to make glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water, using light energy. Oxygen is produced as a by-product of photosynthesis. Algae subsumed within plants and some bacteria are also photosynthetic. and gaseous exchange.
They are adapted for photosynthesis by having a large surface area, and contain openings, called Tiny holes in the epidermis (skin) of a leaf. They control gas exchange by opening and closing and are involved in loss of water from leaves. Singular is stoma. to allow carbon dioxide into the leaf and oxygen out. Although these design features are good for photosynthesis, they can result in the leaf losing a lot of water. The cells inside the leaf have water on their surface. Some of this water evaporates, and the water vapour can then escape from inside the leaf.
When water evaporates from the leaves, resulting in more water being drawn up from the roots, it is called The loss of water from leaves by evaporation through the stomata..
To reduce water loss the leaf is coated in a waxy cuticle to stop the water vapour escaping through the epidermis. Leaves usually have fewer stomata on their top surface to reduce this water loss.
Leaves enable photosynthesis to occur. Photosynthesis is the process by which leaves absorb light and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (food) for plants to grow. Leaves are adapted to perform their function, eg they have a large surface area to absorb sunlight.
Plants have two different types of 'transport' tissue, Narrow, hollow, dead tubes with lignin, responsible for the transport of water and minerals in plants. and The tissue in plants that transports the products of photosynthesis, including sugars and amino acids.. These specialised tissues move substances in and around the plant.
Functions of leaves
The function of a leaf is photosynthesis - to absorb light and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (food). The equation for photosynthesis is:
\(\text{carbon dioxide and water} \rightarrow \text{glucose and oxygen}\)
Leaves are also involved in gas exchange. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf and oxygen and water vapour leave the plant through the stomata. Leaves are adapted in several ways to help them perform their functions.
Features of leaves
| Adaption | Purpose |
| Large surface area | To absorb more light |
| Thin | Short distance for carbon dioxide to diffuse into leaf cells |
| Chlorophyll | Absorbs sunlight to transfer energy into chemicals |
| Network of veins | To support the leaf and transport water, mineral ions and sucrose (sugar) |
| Stomata | Allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf and oxygen to diffuse out |
| Adaption | Large surface area |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To absorb more light |
| Adaption | Thin |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Short distance for carbon dioxide to diffuse into leaf cells |
| Adaption | Chlorophyll |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Absorbs sunlight to transfer energy into chemicals |
| Adaption | Network of veins |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To support the leaf and transport water, mineral ions and sucrose (sugar) |
| Adaption | Stomata |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf and oxygen to diffuse out |
Structure of a leaf
The internal structure of the leaf is also adapted to promote efficient photosynthesis.
Functions of tissues of the leaf
| Adaption | Purpose |
| Epidermis is thin and transparent | To allow more light to reach the palisade cells |
| Thin cuticle made of wax | To protect the leaf from infection and prevent water loss without blocking out light |
| Palisade cell layer at top of leaf | To absorb more light and increase the rate of photosynthesis |
| Spongy layer | Air spaces allow gases to diffuse through the leaf |
| Palisade cells contain many chloroplasts | To absorb all the available light |
| Adaption | Epidermis is thin and transparent |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To allow more light to reach the palisade cells |
| Adaption | Thin cuticle made of wax |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To protect the leaf from infection and prevent water loss without blocking out light |
| Adaption | Palisade cell layer at top of leaf |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To absorb more light and increase the rate of photosynthesis |
| Adaption | Spongy layer |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Air spaces allow gases to diffuse through the leaf |
| Adaption | Palisade cells contain many chloroplasts |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To absorb all the available light |
Gas exchange
When a plant is carrying out photosynthesis carbon dioxide needs to move from the air into the leaf. It does this by diffusing through small pores called stomata.
At the same time oxygen moves out of the leaf through the stomata. This movement of gases in opposite directions is called gas exchange.
Water vapour also diffuses out of the stomata. The stomata are surrounded by guard cells, which control their opening and closing. Cells in the leaf are loosely packed.
Absorbing light energy
Light absorption happens in the Plant tissue containing closely packed cells in the upper layer of a leaf. tissue of the leaf. Palisade cells are column shaped and packed with many Contains the green pigment chlorophyll; the site of photosynthesis.. They are arranged closely together so that a lot of light energy can be absorbed.