RESPIRATION

RESPIRATION IN PLANTS
Respiration in plants is similar to that in animal, however unlike animals, plants have no special
respiratory organs. Oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is given out, through openings in
their leaves and stems called stomata and lenticels respectively.
During the day when the guard cells are open, oxygen and other gases of the atmosphere diffuse
through the stomata into the sub-stomatal air space inside the leaf, and into the inter-cellular
spaces inside the leaf. There the gases come in contact with the cells of the leaf. The surfaces of
these cells within the leaf are the respiratory surfaces. They are moist and through them
oxygen diffuses into the cells, while carbon dioxide diffuses out. High temperature, which brings
with it excessive evaporation and loss of turgor of the guard cells, will cause the stomata to close
(Darkness also brings about a similar effect to high temperatures).
Lenticels do not open and close like stomata; they remain open all the time. The structure of
lenticel is such that the opening is filled with loose cork-cells, which reduce the loss of water
from the cell through the lenticel. Gases from the air diffuse into the stem through the lenticels.
Inside the plant they come in contact with the living cells. Oxygen diffuses into the cells carbon
dioxide diffuses out.
TYPES OF RESPIRATION
There are two types of respiration:
(1) Aerobic and;
(2) Anaerobic Respiration.
Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic respiration occurs in two stages: external (breathing) and internal (cellular/ tissue)
stages. The external stage involves the use of the body organs to facilitate gaseous exchange
while the internal occurs inside the cells. The respiratory system carries out the function of
taking oxygen into the body and giving out carbon dioxide and water vapour.
In aerobic respiration, oxygen is required to breakdown glucose into water, carbon dioxide
and energy (ATP).
Cellular respiration
Cellular respiration involves the activities of the cells in which glucose is broken down by a
series of reactions controlled by enzymes to release energy. The energy so released is stored
in Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the form in which energy is carried, stored and used
by all living cells for the various metabolic processes.
These reactions are very complex but are usually represented by these two simple equation:
Glycolysis (splitting of glucose)

Glycolysis is the series of reactions in respiration by which glucose is broken down to
pyruvic acid in the cytoplasm. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of living cells and very
little energy is released during glycolysis. A net formation of 2ATPs are produced from
complete oxidation of one glucose molecule during glycolysis. Oxygen is needed to further
breakdown the pyruvic acid produced. Glucose goes through glycolysis, whether the
respiration is aerobic or anaerobic.
This process is represented by the following equation:
glucose pyruvic acid
C6H12O6 → 2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 + Energy
After glycolysis, the pattern of the second half of tissue respiration depends on whether the
respiration is aerobic or anaerobic (that is, what happens to the pyruvic acid depends on
whether oxygen is present or not).
In aerobic respiration, pyruvic acid goes through a series of reactions known as Kreb’s cycle or
tricarboxylic acid cycle. These reactions take place in the mitochondria which are found in the
cytoplasm of the cells.
Hydrogen ions which are released at various points along the Kreb’s cycle are passed through the
electron transport chain. The reaction produces large amount of energy, which is stored in the
form of ATP. Unlike glycolysis, which yields a net ATPs of two, Kreb’s cycle alone
produces a net ATPs of 36 (36 ATP molecules). The hydrogen ions are finally combined
chemically with oxygen and water.
2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 + 3O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O +

Energy
Aerobic respiration (including the initial Glycolysis stage) can be summarized as follows:
Glucose oxygen carbon dioxide water energy

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 2880 kJ
The total ATP output from one molecule of glucose is 38 ATP molecules.
Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration is the type of respiration which does not require the presence of
oxygen to provide energy. When oxygen is absent, the pattern of anaerobic respiration, after
glycolysis, depends on the organism involved. For example:
a) Fermentation
Fermentation is the anaerobic breakdown of sugary liquids to alcohol and a little energy by
micro-organisms such as yeast, with the evolution of carbon dioxide gas. This is a special case of
anaerobic respiration.
2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + Energy
Anaerobic respiration leading to fermentation (including the initial Glycolysis stage) can be
summarized as follows:
glucose ethanol carbon dioxide energy
C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + 210 kJ
b) Lactic acid formation

This occurs in some bacteria which live in anaerobic habitats such as the bottom of ponds and
seas. It also occurs in the muscles of man during strenuous exercises. During such exercises,
enough oxygen is not supplied to the exercising muscles for the complete oxidation of
glucose to release carbon dioxide, water and energy. Instead, lactic acid and a little energy
are released. As the lactic acid accumulates, the increase in the level of acidity in the
muscles causes muscle fatigue and cramps.
These processes can be summarized as follows:
2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 → 2C2H5OCOOH + Energy
Anaerobic respiration leading to lactic acid formation (including the initial Glycolysis stage) can
be summarized as follows:
glucose lactic acid energy

C6H12O6 → 2C3H6O3 + 150 kJ
Lactic acid is a mild poison in our muscles and must be gotten rid of. This is done by breaking it
down into carbon dioxide and water. Oxygen is needed for this, and that is why we pant
immediately after a race. The oxygen required to get rid of the lactic acid is called the oxygen
debt.
Note that only about 2 molecules of ATP are released from the breakdown of one glucose
molecule during anaerobic respiration.
Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
Oxygen is essential Oxygen is not essential
More energy is released than in anaerobic Less energy is released than in aerobic respiration
respiration
Waste products are carbon dioxide and water Waste products are ethanol and carbon dioxide in
plant cells, lactic acid in animal cells
It takes place in the mitochondria. It takes place in the cytoplasm.

RESPIRATION

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RESPIRATION IN PLANTS

Glycolysis (splitting of glucose)

2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 + 3O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O +

Glucose oxygen carbon dioxide water energy

2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + Energy

b) Lactic acid formation

2C2H3OCOOH + 2H2 → 2C2H5OCOOH + Energy

glucose lactic acid energy

Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic respiration

It takes place in the mitochondria. It takes place in the cytoplasm.

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