(a) Leaves of a healthy potted plant were coated with vaseline to block the stomata. Will this plant remain healthy for long? State three reasons for your answer.
(b) State any two differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition.
(a) No, this plant will not remain healthy for long. The plant will begin to die because
(i) Gaseous exchange will not take place.
(ii) No absorption of CO2, hence no photosynthesis.
(iii) Transpiration will not occur; hence no transportation of water.
Autotrophic nutrition:
(i) In this nutrition, the organisms make their food from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
(ii) All green plants are autotrophic and use light as a source of energy for photosynthesis.
Heterotrophic nutrition:
(i) In this nutrition, the organisms derive their food or nutrients from other living organisms.
(ii) The energy is derived from the intake and digestion of the organic substances.