Introduction to Plant Systems

1. Introduction to Plant Systems Introduction to Agriculture Plant Science Unit

2. Plants are the basis for all agriculture Plant: a living thing that cannot move voluntarily, has no sense organs, and synthesizes food from CO2

3. Functions of Plants • Plants provide food • Plants covert energy from the sun and soil into energy for animals in the form of food • Plants provide food for humans either from direct or indirect sources • Direct sources: fruits, vegetables, grains • Indirect sources (food of animal origin): meats, mild, cheese, fish (raised on food of animal origin) • Plants manufacture and store food nutrients for use by the plant, and those nutrients are stored in various plant parts that are consumed • Leaves (i.e. lettuce, spinach, cabbage) • Stems (i.e. celery, rhubarb) • Roots (i.e. carrots, turnips) • Fruit/seed (i.e. apples, corn)

4. Functions of Plants • Plants stabilize the soil • Prevent erosion • Keeps soil on hillsides and mountains in place • Provide cover/food for wildlife living on hills/mountains • Plants replenish the Earth’s O2 supply • Plants give off oxygen and use carbon dioxide • Animals use oxygen and give off carbon dioxide • Through the oxygen cycle the correct balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is maintained in the atmosphere • Concern over loss of the world’s forests centers around the large-scale destruction of plants compromising air supply

5. The Oxygen Cycle

6. Functions of Plants • Plants have aesthetic value • Provide color and beauty • Springtime greens • Color of autumn • Vibrance of flowers

7. Functions of Plants • Landscaping is a multimillion dollar industry • One of Arizona’s fastest growing industries is the nursery business

8. Functions of Plants • Plants have systems that serve to allow plants to live, grow, and reproduce • Three main vegetative systems • Leaves • Stems • Roots • Flowers: reproductive systems