Lesson PLANT AND ANIMAL NUTRITION

3
OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the learners shall be able to:
K- define nutrient and cite the nutritional requirements
of plants and animals;
S- trace the pathway of food processing in plants and
animals; and
A- recognize the importance of acquiring the right
nutrition for plants and animals.

LEARNING COMPETENCY

Compare and contrast the following processes in plants

and animals: reproduction, development, and nutrition
(STEM_BIO11/12-Iva-h-1)

I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST
Questions:

1. What are some of the important activities for the maintenance of life?

2. What are the kinds of nutrients that organisms may obtain from food?

A. Plant Nutrition

The basic photosynthetic reaction combines carbon dioxide with water

in two stages to yield glucose and oxygen. Glucose contains the elements
carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen – the only elements occurring in complex
sugars and in
most fats. Thus, the carbohydrates and fats occurring in plants can be made
from water and carbon dioxide alone. However, plants do also require
various other inorganic nutrients. Biosynthesis of compounds such as amino
acids, phospholipids, nucleic acids, and ATP requires the elements phosphorus,
nitrogen, and sulfur.

Often the very nutrients a plant requires in modest amounts can poison
it when present in excess. Overuse of fertilizer, for instance, can make the
soil hypertonic to the plant, resulting in osmotic stress that injures or kills the
plant. Plants like animals, have optimum ranges in which nutrients are
present in concentrations that best promote their health and growth.
The uptake of nutrients by a plant: a review. From CO2, O2, H20, and minerals,
the plant produces all of its own organic materials.

Figure 1: Plant Nutrition

https://www.simply.science/index.php/biology/plant-form-and-function/nutrition-in-plants/nutrition-plant-
growth

Plant Nutrient Requirements

Nutrient – refers to any substance required for the growth and

maintenance of an organism. The two types of organisms based on the
mode of nutrition are:
A. autotrophs – organisms that obtain energy from sunlight and
chemicals to produce their own food.
Example: plants
B. heterotrophs – organisms that cannot make their own food
and obtain their energy from other organism.
Example: fungi
THE MACRONUTRIENTS
Macronutrients are those nutrients needed by all plants in relatively large
amounts. The following list of required nutrients should be considered as of more
than passing interest, for our lives depend upon them.
A. Nitrogen. Nitrogen was one of the first nutrients to be discovered.
Although it can be provided in the form of nitrate or ammonia, it is usually
absorbed in the form of nitrate. Nitrogen is needed for proper leaf growth
and development. A deficiency may produce yellowing of older leaves or a
general lightening of all the green parts of the plant, combined with a stunting of
growth. An excess produces hypertrophy of foliage and suppresses fruit
production. Nitrogen is mainly important as a component of proteins and nucleic
acids.
B.Potassium. Potassium, another early known plant nutrient, is
traditionally added to the soil in the form of wood ash. The main intracellular
cation, potassium, is probably most important for maintaining the membrane
potential of pant cells, and perhaps their turgidity as well (especially in the guard
cells of the stomata). Deficiency produces general symptoms of poor health,
which can include localized chlorosis (low chlorophyll content), or mottling of
leaves with small spots of dead tissue at the tips and between the veins of lower
leaves.
C. Phosphorus. Deficient in a great many soils, phosphorus is essential for the
production of such vital compounds as the nucleic acids and ATP. It is needed for
flowering, fruiting, and root development. Deficiency results in small dark green
leaves over the entire plant and the abnormal presence of red and purple colors
in the leaves and stalks.
D. Sulfur. Sulfur is an essential component of protein because of its
occurrence in the amino acids cysteine and methionine. Deficiency produces
chlorosis in new leaves and buds, usually without spotting, and poor root
development. Sulfur cannot be absorbed in elemental form but must be present
as sulfate.
E.Calcium. Calcium deficiency results in abnormal growth and cell division,
since calcium is an important component of the middle lamella of cell walls
(along with pectin). Typically, the terminal bud dies, following a period of in
which small leaves with dried-up tips are produced. Calcium has a multitude of
cellular functions in the plant body.
F.Magnesium. Magnesium is required for the action of many enzymes and
is needed also in the synthesis of chlorophyll, which contains it. Deficiency,
therefore, produces mottled chlorosis.

THE MICRONUTRIENTS
Micronutrients are as vital as macronutrients but are required only in
extremely small amounts. The following elements in trace amounts are now
known to have a significant role in maintaining plant health.
A. Iron. Iron is needed in several of the electron transport substances of
the cell (ferredoxin, cytochromes), and in some other materials (e.g.,
phytochrome). It is also required for chlorophyll synthesis. Deficiency in iron
absorption can occur in soils with high or low pH. If there is a deficiency, it results to
interveinal chlorosis characterized by yellowing of the leaf along the veins, that
is confined to the youngest leaves.
 B.Boron. The function of Boron is unknown. Deficiency results in
abnormally dark foliage, growth abnormalities, and malformations. Root tip
elongation also shows.
C. Zinc. Zinc is required for the production of amino acid tryptophan. Since
auxins are derived from tryptophan, zinc is indirectly required for the production
of auxins as well; it is also required as a cofactor for some of the DNA
polymerase enzymes. Deficiency produces small leaves and stunted stems
owing to short internodes. In excess, zinc is poisonous to plants.
D. Manganese. Manganese is required as a cofactor for enzymes in
oxidative metabolism and in photosynthetic oxygen production. Its deficiency
produces a mottled, characteristic form of chlorotic leaf yellowing.
E. Chlorine. Probably required for ionic balance and maintenance of
cellular membrane potentials, chlorine (in the form of chloride) is apparently also
needed for oxygen production in photosynthesis. Its deficiency results in very
small leaves and slow growth. Leaves become wilted, chlorotic, or even
necrotic and may eventually become bronze-colored.
F. Molybdenum. Molybdenum is needed as part of the denitrifying and
nitrogen-fixing enzymes of microorganisms. Molybdenum is also needed by the
nitrate reductase enzyme present in most plant roots. Plants must utilize this
enzyme if they are to employ nitrate as a nitrogen source. However, plants that
absorb ammonia as a nitrogen source do not need molybdenum.
Low productivity was related to molybdenum deficiency.
G. Copper. Copper is a component of some enzymes and cytochromes. Its
deficiency results in a lowered rate of protein synthesis and sometimes in
chlorosis. Young leaves may be dark green and twisted, with dead spots.

Figure 2: The most common minerals deficiency

http://www.sliderbase.com/spitem-1620-4.html
Specialized Absorptive Structures

A. root hairs – slender extensions of specialized epidermal cells that

greatly increase the surface area available for absorption.

B.root nodules – localized swellings in roots of certain plants where

bacterial cells exist symbiotically with the plant. The bacteria help the plant fix
nitrogen and in turn, the bacteria are able to utilize some organic compounds
provided by the plant.

C. mycorrhizae (singular, mycorrhiza) – a symbiotic interaction between a

young root and a fungus. The fungus obtains sugars and nitrogen-containing
compounds from root cells while the plant is able to get some scarce
minerals that the fungus is better able to absorb from the soil.

Routes for the Absorption of Water and Minerals Across Plant Roots:

A. Symplast route – through plasmodesmata

B.Apoplast route – along cell walls

Figure 3: Routes for the Absorption of Water and Minerals Across Plant Roots:

https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-apoplast-and-vs-symplast/

Note that the water and minerals from the soil need to reach the conducting
tissues of plants, specifically the xylem.

Nutritional Adaptation by Plants

A. Symbiosis of plants and soil microbe

Nitrogen Fixation: Root and Bacteria Interactions

Nitrogen is an important macronutrient because it is part of

nucleic acids and proteins. Atmospheric nitrogen, which is the diatomic
molecule
N2, or dinitrogen, is the largest pool of nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems.
However, plants cannot take advantage of this nitrogen because they
do not have the necessary enzymes to convert it into biologically useful
forms. However, nitrogen can be “fixed.” It can be converted to
ammonia (NH3) through biological, physical, or chemical processes.
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen
(N2) into ammonia (NH3), is exclusively carried out by prokaryotes, such
as soil bacteria or cyanobacteria. Biological processes contribute 65
percent of the nitrogen used in agriculture.

The most important source of BNF is the symbiotic interaction

between soil bacteria and legume plants, including many crops important
to humans. The NH3 resulting from fixation can be transported into
plant tissue and incorporated into amino acids, which are then made
into plant proteins. Some legume seeds, such as soybeans and peanuts,
contain high levels of protein and are among the most important
agricultural sources of protein in the world.

Diagram of the Nitrogen Cycle.

Figure 4: Diagram of the Nitrogen Cycle

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/nutritional-adaptations-of-plants/

Mycorrhizae: The Symbiotic Relationship between Fungi and Roots

A nutrient depletion zone can develop when there is rapid soil

solution uptake, low nutrient concentration, low diffusion rate, or low
soil moisture. These conditions are very common; therefore, most plants
rely on
 fungi to facilitate the uptake of minerals from the soil. Mycorrhizae, known
as root fungi, form symbiotic associations with plant roots. In these
associations, the fungi are actually integrated into the physical structure of
the root. The fungi colonize the living root tissue during active plant
growth.

Through mycorrhization, the plant obtains phosphate and other

minerals, such as zinc and copper, from the soil. The fungus obtains
nutrients, such as sugars, from the plant root. Mycorrhizae help increase
the surface area of the plant root system because hyphae, which are
narrow, can spread beyond the nutrient depletion zone. Hyphae are long
extensions of the fungus, which can grow into small soil pores that
allow access to phosphorus otherwise unavailable to the plant. The
beneficial effect on the plant is best observed in poor soils. The benefit
to fungi is that they can obtain up to 20 percent of the total carbon
accessed by plants. Mycorrhizae function as a physical barrier to
pathogens. They also provides an induction of generalized host defense
mechanisms, which sometimes involves the production of antibiotic
compounds by the fungi. Fungi have also been found to have a
protective role for plants rooted in soils with high metal concentrations,
such as acidic and contaminated soils.

Figure 5: Mycorrhizae

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/nutritional-adaptations-of-plants/

Plant Parasites

A parasitic plant depends on its host for survival. Some parasitic

plants have no leaves. An example of this is the dodder, which has a
weak, cylindrical stem that coils around the host and forms suckers. From
these suckers, cells invade the host stem and grow to connect with the
vascular
 bundles of the host. The parasitic plant obtains water and nutrients
through these connections. The plant is a total parasite (a holoparasite)
because it is completely dependent on its host. Other parasitic plants,
called hemiparasites, are fully photosynthetic and only use the host for
water and minerals. There are about 4,100 species of parasitic plants.

B. Animal Nutrition

According to Johnson and Raven, Calorie is a unit of energy that indicates

the amount of energy contained in food. It specifically refers to the amount
of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg (2.2 lb.) of water by
1oC (1.8oF). And so, the greater the number of Calories in a quantity of food,
the greater energy it contains.

Nutritional Requirements of Animals

1.Carbohydrates – serve as a major energy source for the cells in

the body. These are usually obtained from grains, cereals, breads,
fruits and vegetables. On average, carbohydrates contain 4 Calories per
gram.

2. Proteins – can also be used as an energy source but the body

mainly uses these as building materials for cell structures and as enzymes,
hormones, parts of muscles, and bones. Proteins come from dairy
products, poultry, fish, meat, and grains. Like carbohydrates, proteins also
contain 4 Calories per gram.

3. Fats – are used to build cell membranes, steroid hormones,

and other cellular structures; also used to insulate nervous tissue., and
also serve as an energy source. Fats also contain certain fat-soluble
vitamins that are important for good health. Fats are obtained from oils,
margarine, butter, fried foods, meat, and processed snack foods. They
contain a higher amount of energy per gram than carbohydrates and
proteins, about 9 Calories per gram.

Essential Nutrients

These include substances that animals can only get from the
foods they eat because they could not be synthesized inside the body.
These include:

1. Essential amino acids – needed for synthesis of proteins and

enzymes; among the 20 amino acids, eight could not be synthesized
by humans: lysine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine,
leucine, isoleucine and valine.
 2. Essential fatty acids – used for making special membrane lipids;
an example is linoleic acid in humans.

3.Vitamins – organic molecules required in small amounts for

normal metabolism; examples include fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E, K, and
water- soluble Vitamins B, B2, B3, B12, and C.

4.Trace elements or minerals – inorganic nutrients needed by the

body in minute amounts, these form part of enzymes, body tissues, and
body fluids; examples include: iodine, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum,
manganese, selenium.
Food Uptake in Cells via the Three Types of Endocytosis

1. Phagocytosis – engulfment of organic fragments or big particles,

e.g. pseudopod formation in Amoeba.

2. Pinocytosis – uptake of extracellular fluid by a cell using small

vesicles derived from the plasma membrane.

3. Receptor-mediated endocytosis – this relies on membrane receptor

recognition of specific solutes which are then taken up by the cell via
receptor-coated pits.

Types of animals based on feeding mechanisms

1.substrate-feeders – animals that live in or on their food source.

Examples: earthworms that feed through the soil where they live
in; caterpillars that eat through the leaves where they live on

2.filter-feeders – include many aquatic animals which draw in water and

strain small organisms and food particles present in the medium.
Examples: whales and coelenterates

3.fluid-feeders – suck fluids containing nutrients from a living host.

Examples: mosquitoes, leeches, head lice, aphids

4.bulk-feeders – eat relatively large chunks of food and have adaptations

like jaws, teeth, tentacles, claws, pincers, etc. that help in securing the
food and tearing it to pieces.

Different kinds of digestive compartments in animals

1. Food vacuoles in unicellular organisms – these fuse with lysosomes that

contain hydrolytic enzymes.
Example: food vacuole in a protozoa like Paramecium
 2. Gastrovascular cavity or incomplete digestive system – composed of
a single opening through which the food is taken in and where wastes
are disposed of. It is a sac-like body cavity.
Examples: cnidarian Hydra and flatworm Planaria

3. Complete digestive system – essentially like a tube with an opening

at one end for taking in food (mouth) and an opening at the outer end
where unabsorbed waste materials are eliminated (anus). In between the
mouth and anus, are specialized organs that carry out transport,
processing, and absorption of digested nutrients.

Figure 5: The Digestive System

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works

Accessory organs for digestion in a complete digestive system

1.liver – secretes bile for emulsifying fats.

2.gallbladder – stores bile produced by the liver.
3.pancreas – secretes enzymes that break down all major food
molecules; secretes buffers against HCl from the stomach; secretes
the hormone insulin for control of glucose metabolism.

Activity 2:

Cite atlease 2 importance of acquiring the right nutrition for plants and animals.
III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
ACTIVITY:

TIME TO DRAW:
A. Use red ball pen to trace the symplast route, and a blue ball pen to trace the
apoplast route for the movement of water from the soil to the xylem. Do this in
your notebook.

B.Trace the pathway of food processing in a mammalian/human digestive

system.

Rubrics: Composition 5 pts.

Cohesiveness 5 pts.
Craftmanship and Quality----------------5 pts.

Total 15 pts
POST TEST
Instruction: Fill in the blanks with the correct word/words to
complete the sentence. Write your answers in your notebook.
1. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and potassium are examples of
for plants.
2. The nutrition of some plants depends on a root-fungus association
known as
.
3. is a localized swelling in roots of certain plants where
bacterial cells exist symbiotically with the plant.
4. Of the 20 amino acids used to make proteins in the human
body, ____ must be obtained through the consumption of
food.
5. The two main groups of vitamins include those soluble in and in
.
6. refer to inorganic nutrients
needed by the body in minute amounts.
7. Cells take up food via the process of .
8. In terms of feeding mechanisms, earthworms are considered .
9. 1 gram of carbohydrate = Calories
10.1 gram of protein = Calories
11.1 gram of fat = Calories
12. can also be used as an energy source but the body
mainly uses these as building materials for cell structures and as
enzymes, hormones, parts of muscles, and bones.
13. serve as a major energy source for the cells in the body.
14. slender extensions of specialized epidermal cells that
greatly increase the surface area available for absorption.
15. organisms that obtain energy from sunlight
and chemicals to produce their own food.