WSU Biology 106 Final (Hellman&Carloye)
Exam Study Guide
Independent variable - ANSWER Value does not depend on another factor
Dependent variable - ANSWER Value depends on another factor
Controlled variable - ANSWER Kept the same throughout the experiment
What are the two key tissues that allow plants to transport water or organic nutrients,
respectively, over long distances? - ANSWER Xylem - water and minerals from roots to
shoots
Phloem - transports sugars from photosynthesis to where they are needed
In the root, plants need to take up more CO2 or O2? - ANSWER More O2
Is the need for CO2 and O2 in leaves the same when compared to roots? - ANSWER The
difference is because of what the plant needs at that certain spot. The CO2 is needed for
photosynthesis to make sugar for the plant
Why do you think there is/is not a difference in gas exchange when you compare roots
with leaves? - ANSWER
,If you look at the apoplast and the symplast, which of the following statements are true?
- ANSWER In the apoplastic route water and solute move along the continuum of cell
walls and extracellular spaces
If you add sugar to water does the water potential increase or decrease? - ANSWER
Decrease
How is osmosis defined? - ANSWER Diffusion of free water
What is a protoplast? - ANSWER Living part of the cell which includes plasma membrane
How would you define transpiration? - ANSWER Loss of water vapor through cells
The Casparian Strip is located in the endodermis. What is its function? - ANSWER Blocks
passive flow of materials into the root vascular tissue of the plant
What are rhizobia - ANSWER They can generate ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen
Why are rhizobacteria beneficial for plants? - ANSWER They promote growth through
chemicals they produce and they also produce antibodies that protect the roots from
disease. Absorb toxic metals
Why are rhizobacteria beneficial for agriculture? - ANSWER They can increase crop yield
and reduce the amount of fertilizer and pesticides needed
,What is a nodule and what is the reason why they appear sometimes reddish? - ANSWER
It is composed of plant cells that have been "infected" by Rhizobium. They appear
reddish because of a molecule named leghemoglobin, an iron containing protein that
binds reversibly to oxygen. Similar to the hemoglobin in humans red blood cells
What does the enzyme 'nitrogenase' catalyze? - ANSWER Atmospheric nitrogen to
ammonia
What is the difference between endo- and ectomycorrhizae? - ANSWER Ecto do not
penetrate the root cortex, whereas endo grow into the invaginations of the root cell
membranes called arbuscules
Do the mycorrhiaze have a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship - ANSWER Mutualistic
Why have some plants adapted to a carnivorous live style - ANSWER They lack some of
the minerals so they eat insects. Most of it is because of poor nitrogen in the soil
How many elements have been found in plants, and how many of these are considered
to be 'essential'? - ANSWER 17 and 9 are essential
Based on a plant's dry mass, what are the four most common macronutrients found in
plants? - ANSWER Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen
, How can you distinguish a plant that suffers from phosphorus deficiency versus a
nitrogen-deficient plants - ANSWER Phosphorus - reddish purple margins
Nitrogen - yellowing of plant at the tip and going towards the center of plant
What is 'humus' and why is it important for the plant? - ANSWER The remains of dead
organisms and other organic matter. It is important to the plant to fertilize it
What are 'loams', and why is it important for soil to be loamy? - ANSWER The most
fertile topsoil, it is important because in loams there is enough space to deliver oxygen
to the roots. Made up of sand silt and clay
Why is pH such an important factor for soil quality? - ANSWER It is important because if
the soil is to acidic then a molecule might bond to the soil to much causing the plant to
not be able to take in the nutrient
Why are cations difficult to get access to in the soil? - ANSWER They are difficult because
they bond tightly to the soil so another cation has to come break their bond
Clay is negatively charged and tightly bind to cations making it difficult to uptake from
soil
What does the term 'cation exchange' means? - ANSWER Process by which cations are
displaced from soil particle by other cations
Are anions also difficult to take up from the soil by plants? - ANSWER They are easier to
take up from the soil but harder to come by do to being lost during leaching because
Exam Study Guide
Independent variable - ANSWER Value does not depend on another factor
Dependent variable - ANSWER Value depends on another factor
Controlled variable - ANSWER Kept the same throughout the experiment
What are the two key tissues that allow plants to transport water or organic nutrients,
respectively, over long distances? - ANSWER Xylem - water and minerals from roots to
shoots
Phloem - transports sugars from photosynthesis to where they are needed
In the root, plants need to take up more CO2 or O2? - ANSWER More O2
Is the need for CO2 and O2 in leaves the same when compared to roots? - ANSWER The
difference is because of what the plant needs at that certain spot. The CO2 is needed for
photosynthesis to make sugar for the plant
Why do you think there is/is not a difference in gas exchange when you compare roots
with leaves? - ANSWER
,If you look at the apoplast and the symplast, which of the following statements are true?
- ANSWER In the apoplastic route water and solute move along the continuum of cell
walls and extracellular spaces
If you add sugar to water does the water potential increase or decrease? - ANSWER
Decrease
How is osmosis defined? - ANSWER Diffusion of free water
What is a protoplast? - ANSWER Living part of the cell which includes plasma membrane
How would you define transpiration? - ANSWER Loss of water vapor through cells
The Casparian Strip is located in the endodermis. What is its function? - ANSWER Blocks
passive flow of materials into the root vascular tissue of the plant
What are rhizobia - ANSWER They can generate ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen
Why are rhizobacteria beneficial for plants? - ANSWER They promote growth through
chemicals they produce and they also produce antibodies that protect the roots from
disease. Absorb toxic metals
Why are rhizobacteria beneficial for agriculture? - ANSWER They can increase crop yield
and reduce the amount of fertilizer and pesticides needed
,What is a nodule and what is the reason why they appear sometimes reddish? - ANSWER
It is composed of plant cells that have been "infected" by Rhizobium. They appear
reddish because of a molecule named leghemoglobin, an iron containing protein that
binds reversibly to oxygen. Similar to the hemoglobin in humans red blood cells
What does the enzyme 'nitrogenase' catalyze? - ANSWER Atmospheric nitrogen to
ammonia
What is the difference between endo- and ectomycorrhizae? - ANSWER Ecto do not
penetrate the root cortex, whereas endo grow into the invaginations of the root cell
membranes called arbuscules
Do the mycorrhiaze have a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship - ANSWER Mutualistic
Why have some plants adapted to a carnivorous live style - ANSWER They lack some of
the minerals so they eat insects. Most of it is because of poor nitrogen in the soil
How many elements have been found in plants, and how many of these are considered
to be 'essential'? - ANSWER 17 and 9 are essential
Based on a plant's dry mass, what are the four most common macronutrients found in
plants? - ANSWER Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen
, How can you distinguish a plant that suffers from phosphorus deficiency versus a
nitrogen-deficient plants - ANSWER Phosphorus - reddish purple margins
Nitrogen - yellowing of plant at the tip and going towards the center of plant
What is 'humus' and why is it important for the plant? - ANSWER The remains of dead
organisms and other organic matter. It is important to the plant to fertilize it
What are 'loams', and why is it important for soil to be loamy? - ANSWER The most
fertile topsoil, it is important because in loams there is enough space to deliver oxygen
to the roots. Made up of sand silt and clay
Why is pH such an important factor for soil quality? - ANSWER It is important because if
the soil is to acidic then a molecule might bond to the soil to much causing the plant to
not be able to take in the nutrient
Why are cations difficult to get access to in the soil? - ANSWER They are difficult because
they bond tightly to the soil so another cation has to come break their bond
Clay is negatively charged and tightly bind to cations making it difficult to uptake from
soil
What does the term 'cation exchange' means? - ANSWER Process by which cations are
displaced from soil particle by other cations
Are anions also difficult to take up from the soil by plants? - ANSWER They are easier to
take up from the soil but harder to come by do to being lost during leaching because
