Question 1

If a pitcher plant is grown in an insect-free environment, what would you expect to happen?

Accepted Answer

Pitcher plants are carnivorous and rely on insects as a source of nutrients, particularly nitrogen. In an insect-free environment, they may limit their growth due to nutrient deficiency.

Question 2

A horticultural student is performing a study utilizing both banana trees from the tropical rain forest and cacti from the desert. The student has been provided with soils of different particle sizes as follows: soil A = 0.08 mm, soil B = 0.008 mm, and soil C = 0.001 mm. The student places one banana tree and one cactus in each soil type and monitors their condition. Note that all samples receive the same amount of water. In which soil would the banana tree receive the most appropriate amount of water for its needs?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A horticultural student is performing a study...

Question 3

As much as 50 percent of a soil's volume is

Accepted Answer

Soil is composed of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Air can make up a significant portion of the soil's volume, often around 25-50%.

Question 4

How could a plant adapt to reduced sunlight in a dense forest?

Accepted Answer

Plants in dense forests adapt to reduced sunlight by growing upward to reach light (climbing trees) and developing broader leaves to maximize light absorption.

Question 5

Plants switch to anaerobic respiration when __________ is in poor supply.

Accepted Answer

Plants switch to anaerobic respiration when oxygen is in poor supply, as oxygen is required for aerobic respiration to occur.

Question 6

The production of chlorophyll molecules requires most plants to obtain __________ from the soil.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The production of chlorophyll molecules requires most...

Question 7

One would expect the concentration of sugar in __________ to be greater than in __________.

Accepted Answer

Sugar is synthesized in the leaves of plants through the process of photosynthesis, and while some of it is used immediately for energy or stored in the leaves, a significant portion is transported to other parts of the plant, including the roots, for storage or further use. Therefore, the concentration of sugar is generally greater in the leaves where it is produced.

Question 8

A horticultural student is performing a study utilizing both banana trees from the tropical rain forest and cacti from the desert. The student has been provided with soils of different particle sizes as follows: soil A = 0.08 mm, soil B = 0.008 mm, and soil C = 0.001 mm. The student places one banana tree and one cactus in each soil type and monitors their condition. Note that all samples receive the same amount of water. In which soil would the cactus receive the most appropriate amount of water for its needs?

Accepted Answer

Soil A, with a particle size of 0.08 mm, would likely drain water more efficiently than the finer soils B and C, making it more suitable for a cactus that requires well-drained conditions typical of its desert habitat.

Question 9

A plant that undergoes temporal separation of the steps of photosynthesis is administered a drug that prevents the stomata from opening at night. What effect will this have on the plant?

Accepted Answer

Plants that undergo temporal separation of photosynthesis, such as those using the CAM pathway, open their stomata at night to fix CO2. If a drug prevents the stomata from opening at night, the plant cannot fix CO2, which is necessary for the Calvin cycle to occur during the day. However, the light reactions do not directly require CO2 and can still occur as long as light is available.

Question 10

A horticultural student is performing a study utilizing both banana trees from the tropical rain forest and cacti from the desert. The student has been provided with soils of different particle sizes as follows: soil A = 0.08 mm, soil B = 0.008 mm, and soil C = 0.001 mm. The student places one banana tree and one cactus in each soil type and monitors their condition. Note that all samples receive the same amount of water. In which soil would the banana tree do the poorest?

Accepted Answer

Banana trees from tropical rain forests prefer well-draining soils, which are typically coarser. Soil A, with the largest particle size, would drain better than the finer soils B and C. Therefore, the banana tree would do the poorest in soil C, which has the smallest particle size and retains water, potentially leading to poor drainage and root rot.

Question 11

Plants open their stomata to obtain

Accepted Answer

Plants open their stomata primarily to obtain carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis.

Question 12

Water moves upward in a tree due to

Accepted Answer

Water moves upward in a tree primarily due to the cohesive nature of water molecules, which allows them to stick together and form a continuous column in the xylem, and transpiration, which creates a negative pressure that pulls water from the roots to the leaves.

Question 13

If you entirely cover all of a plant's leaves with a very thick wax, which processes would be affected?

Accepted Answer

Covering a plant's leaves with a thick layer of wax would block the stomata, preventing gas exchange necessary for photosynthesis and also hinder water vapor from escaping, affecting transpiration.

Question 14

Both stages of photosynthesis occur in the daytime in _____ percent of plants.

Accepted Answer

90 percent of plants perform both stages of photosynthesis during the daytime. This includes the light-dependent reactions, which directly require light, and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle), which do not directly require light but are typically conducted in the day when the products of the light-dependent reactions are available.

Question 15

The two macronutrients necessary for the production of ATP are

Accepted Answer

Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential macronutrients in the production of ATP. Phosphorus is a key component of ATP molecules themselves, while nitrogen is crucial for the synthesis of amino acids, which are necessary for the production and function of enzymes involved in ATP production.

Question 16

There are many examples of unusual plants, such as the pitcher plant that you have studied in Chapter 13. Another highly unique plant is the Hydnora africana , which is indigenous to deserts in southern Africa. The only portion of this plant that is visible above ground is a fairly large fleshy orange and brown flower. There are no leaves or stems evident, but it has an extensive root system that intertwines with the roots of another type of plant. Explain the unusual lifestyle of this species. In addition, name a macronutrient that would not be needed by this plant as much as it would in a traditional plant.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are many examples of unusual plants,...

Quiz 13: Plants Functioning in Their Habitat