BOT2603 Assignment 2 2026 Semester 1 (328472) Due 9 April 2026

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences



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BOT2603 ASSIGNMENT 02
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry — Semester 1, 2026


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Module Code: BOT2603

Module Name: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

Student Name: [Your Full Name]

Student Number: [Your Student Number]

Assignment No.: 02

Unique Number: 328472

Due Date: 9 April 2026

Semester: Semester 1, 2026




Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for BOT2603:
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
at the University of South Africa.

, UNISA | BOT2603 Assignment 02 — Semester 1, 2026



Contents


1 Question 1: Terminology, Mycorrhizae, and Humus 2

1.1 1.1 Key Terminology in Plant Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.1.1 1.1.1 Essential Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.1.2 1.1.2 Carbon Partitioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.1.3 1.1.3 Sink Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.1.4 1.1.4 Critical Concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.1.5 1.1.5 Mucigel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.2 1.2 Mycorrhizae: Definition, Classes, and Differences . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.3 1.3 Composition and Role of Humus in Soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5


2 Question 2: Mineral Nutrients, Membrane Transport, and Radial Water Move-
ment 7

2.1 2.1 Five Mineral Nutrients in Enzyme Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.2 2.2 Carrier Proteins, Channel Proteins, and ATPase Proton Pumps . . 8

2.3 2.3 Radial Transport of Water and Solutes Through the Root . . . . . . 9


3 Question 3: Chelating Agents and Sucrose Synthesis 11

3.1 3.1 Commercial Chelating Agents and Iron Deficiency in Limy Soils . . 11

3.2 3.2 The Cytosolic Sucrose Synthesis Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12


Reference List 14




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