Active Absorption of Elements
Active absorption of mineral elements in plants involves the utilization of energy to transport ions against their concentration gradient, ensuring the uptake of essential nutrients even when they are scarce in the soil. This process is crucial for maintaining optimal levels of nutrients within the plant. Here’s how active absorption works:
- ATP-Dependent: Active absorption relies on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for energy, enabling carrier proteins to transport ions against their concentration gradient.
- Ion Channels and Pumps: Carrier proteins in the cell membrane facilitate selective transport of ions, ensuring only specific ions pass through.
- Uptake of Scarce Nutrients: Active absorption allows plants to absorb mineral ions from the soil even when their concentration is lower outside root cells.
- Controlled Process: The activity of carrier proteins is regulated by factors such as metabolic status, hormonal signals, and environmental conditions.
- Selective Uptake: Carrier proteins exhibit specificity for particular ions, allowing plants to absorb essential nutrients efficiently while excluding harmful ions.
Mechanism of Absorption of Elements
The mechanism of absorption of elements in plants involves the absorption of mineral elements from the soil and transporting them to different plant parts. This mechanism of absorption of elements or minerals by plants includes two phases: passive absorption and active absorption
The roots actively take up these minerals through specialized cells and translocate them to other plant parts. In this article, we will study the mechanism of absorption of elements in detail.
Table of Content
- Essential Elements and Mineral Absorption
- Mechanism of Absorption of Elements
- Passive Absorption of Elements
- Mass Flow Hypothesis
- Simple Diffusion Hypothesis
- Facilitated Diffusion
- Ion Exchange Hypothesis
- Contact Exchange Theory
- Carbonic Acid Exchange Theory
- Donnan Equilibrium
- Active Absorption
- Difference Between Passive and Active Absorption
- Factors Affecting Mechanism of Absorption of Elements