An Explanation on the Mode of Nutrition in Plant

There are many different modes of nutrition in plants. The mode of nutrition in a plant is determined by how it obtains its food. There are three main modes of nutrition in plants: autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic. In this blog post, we will discuss the mode of nutrition in a pitcher plant. Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that obtain their nutrients from insects that they capture and digest. We will also discuss other modes of nutrition in plants, including parasitic and saprophytic modes of nutrition.

Understanding modes of nutrition in Plants:

There are three modes of nutrition in plants-, mixotrophic, autotrophic and heterotrophic. Autotrophic nutrition is when the plant produces its own food from simple inorganic molecules while heterotrophic nutrition is when the plant cannot produce its own food and gets its nutrients from other organisms. Mixotrophic nutrition is a combination of both autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition. The most common mode of nutrition in plants is autotrophic but there are some plants that are heterotrophic or mixotrophic.

 Autotrophic nutrition in Plants:

Under this comes photosynthesis. This is the process that most plants use to create their own food. They do this by using sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose. This sugar is then used in a process called cellular respiration, which produces energy for the plant to grow and perform other functions.

Photosynthesis requirements:

– Sunlight

– Chlorophyll

– Carbon dioxide

– Water

The light energy releases electrons from water molecules which combine with CO to form carbohydrates. The process of photosynthesis can be represented using the following equation:

CO₂ + H₂O (light energy)→ C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂

Heterotrophic nutrition in Plants:

There are some plants which are not able to prepare their own food. They depend on other organisms for their food. Such plants are called heterotrophic plants or parasitic plants. Under this comes parasitic nutrition, saprophytic nutrition and myco-heterotrophic nutrition.

Parasitic Nutrition: When a plant lives on another plant or an animal for its entire or partial nutrient requirements, it is called parasitic nutrition. Example: Cuscuta, Loranthus, Viscum (mistletoe), Orobanche etc. Plants like Cuscuta and Loranthus are called stem parasites as they grow on the stems of other plants. Mistletoe grows on the branches of trees. Flowers of Orobanche are yellow or cream coloured and they do not have chlorophyll.

Saprophytic Nutrition: When a plant lives on dead and decaying organic matter for its entire or partial nutrient requirements, it is called saprophytic nutrition. Example: Rhizopus, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor etc. Fungi like Rhizopus and Penicillium grow on bread and other decaying organic matter.

Myco-heterotrophic Nutrition: When a plant lives on fungi for its entire or partial nutrient requirements, it is called myco-heterotrophic nutrition. Example: Monotropa, Arceuthobium, Epifagus etc. Plants like Monotropa and Arceuthobium are found in areas of low sunlight intensity e.g., in forests. They cannot prepare their own food as they do not have chlorophyll. Epifagus is a flowering plant that lives on the roots of the Beech tree.

Mode of nutrition in pitcher plant:

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that get their nutrients from digesting insects and other small animals. They do this by trapping the animal in a pitcher-shaped leaf, where it will eventually die and decompose. The pitcher plant then absorbs the nutrients from the decomposing animal.

Pitcher plants are found in habitats with poor quality soils that lack the necessary nutrients for plant growth. By digesting animals, pitcher plants are able to get the nutrients they need to survive.

Pitcher plants are an example of a plant that uses heterotrophic nutrition. These plants get their nutrients from insects that they trap in their pitcher-shaped leaves.

Conclusion

All in all, there are three modes of nutrition in plants: autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic. Each mode has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s up to the plant to decide which one is best for it. The pitcher plant is a great example of how mixotrophy can be advantageous; by being able to absorb nutrients from both the soil and insects, it can survive in nutrient-poor environments. So, the next time you’re looking at a plant, take a moment to think about how it’s getting its nutrition. Do you have any questions about the modes of nutrition in plants? Let us know in the comments below!