Nutrition in Plants – Lecture Summary with Key Concepts of Photosynthesis

Nutrition in Plants

1. Introduction
 All living organisms need basic life processes:
 Nutrition, Respiration, Growth, Reproduction
 Energy requirement: Every organism requires daily energy, supplied by food.
 Nutrients: Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals
o Functions:
 Build and repair the body
 Provide energy for life processes




2. Nutrition
 Definition: Nutrition is the process of taking food by an organism and its digestion,
absorption, and utilization by the body.
 Plants and animals both need nutrients to survive.




3. Modes of Nutrition in Plants
There are two main types:

1. Autotrophic Nutrition
2. Heterotrophic Nutrition



3.1 Autotrophic Nutrition

 Definition: The mode of nutrition in which an organism can prepare its own food from
simple inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight
and chlorophyll is called autotrophic nutrition.
 Organisms: All green plants and some bacteria
 Such organisms are called: Autotrophs

Photosynthesis

 Term Origin: Charles Reid Barnes, 1893
o Photo = light, Synthesis = to build → building up by light