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Ch. 36 - Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Chapter 36, Problem 4

Photosynthesis ceases when leaves wilt, mainly because a. the chlorophyll in wilting leaves is degraded. b. accumulation of CO2 in the leaf inhibits enzymes. c. stomata close, preventing CO2 from entering the leaf. d. photolysis, the water-splitting step of photosynthesis, cannot occur when there is a water deficiency.

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Hello everyone. And in today's video we have the following problem. What is the main cause for the loss of rigidity or wilting in non woody plants. And so were given a list of answer choices that pertain to these main causes. And so let's look at what each of these answer choices represents in terms of the plants, beginning by answer choice. A drop in oxygen supply. And so oxygen in these non woody plants or in any plant, it is used for energy just like us. They use it for respiration. And so the drop in oxygen supply is going to affect the ability of plants to produce energy or to inspire. But it's not going to affect the rigidity or the wilting of the plant so we can cancel it out. Moving on, we're going to option B escape of too much carbon dioxide in the leaves. Carbon dioxide is the main carbon source in photosynthesis. So it's also going to affect the energy production in the plant. So this is also not going to affect rigidity or wilting so we can cancel it out as well. Moving on, we're going to answer choice D which is going to be insufficient, insufficient water supply. Water implants is also using photosynthesis as a main proton donor. And it's also used in rigidity. So it does have something to do with the rigidity or the wilting of the plant. So we're not going to cancel it out. We're just going to leave it there and move on to answer choice C. Which is a drop in the target pressure. Now this tiger pressure is a very important force that helps maintain the cell membranes of the cells of the plant against the cell wall so it maintains, or it helps maintain the rigidity of the cell membrane. And so this is the main force that using water helps maintain the rigidity or the wilting in non woody plants. And so although option D. Is partially correct option, C. Is the main cause for the loss of rigidity or wilting in non woody plants. And so that is going to be our final answer. Thank you very much for sticking around until the end of this video, and I really hope it helped you.
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