Chapter 1-Introduction to Plant Biology
Photosynthesis
3,900 species of plants
are parasitic
Dodder growing on a goldenrod plant.
Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose
,
Many cyanobacteria are photosynthetic, but
these microscopic organisms have a much
simpler structure than plants.
Most algae are photosynthetic.
Plants are defined as organisms that:
All groups of land plants possess an embryo.
Embryophytes
Botany, the study of plants, includes the study of fungi,
bacteria, and protists-especially photosynthetic algae.
Microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protists
are closely tied to the ecology and history of plants.
What important roles do plants have in the biosphere?
Plants help lower the level of the CO2 in the atmosphere.
Many bacteria and fungi help break down organic compounds.
Plants benefit from close associations with other organisms
Lichens are examples of
symbiotic relationships
(mutualism)
among fungi, algae and
photosynthetic bacteria
A butterfly feeding on nectar
produced by the milkweed
plant (Asclepias) is an example of
coevolution.
Plants, protists, fungi, and bacteria are important in human affairs
Study outline for Chapter 1-Introduction to Plant Biology
-How are plants defined in the textbook? (Know 4 criteria)
-Understand how fungi, algae, and bacteria are similar to plants, and why these groups are not included as
plant life.
-Which groups of plants are included in the embryophytes? Know examples for each.
-Know terms-embryophyte, embryo
-Understand the different roles that plants have in the biosphere. Know examples
1) maintain Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and climate
2) plants benefit from close associations with other organisms
3) important in human affairs