Nutrition

 Dill, like all other plants, is autotrophic meaning it makes its own food. It does this via photosynthesis. By harvesting light from the sun and taking in water through its roots, it can produce its own sugars.

Roots are important structures that are spread throughout the soil and function in water absorption and anchoring of the plant. Roots have tiny root hairs that have increased surface area which increase the efficiency of taking in ground water from the soil. From here the water moves to the rest of the roots and finally the rest of the plant via xylem. Xylem (made up of vessel members and tracheids) is a tissue in plants that is the main component involved in water uptake. Because xylem is dead at maturity, the cells are empty, allowing the water room to move easily through them. Water has special properties that allow its molecules to cohere to each other and adhere to the xylem, making it possible for the water to be "pulled" up the xylem and moved to the rest of the plant.

Phloem is another important tissue in plants. Phloem is the main component involved in moving nutrients throughout the plant. Unlike xylem, phloem is alive at maturity. However, some cells of the phloem (called sieve tube members) lose their nuclei at maturity in order to make room for the nutrients to move through them. Metabolism for these cells is taken up by companion cells that surround the these cells. The sugars that are synthesized in the leaves and stem of the plant are "pushed" to areas (referred to as sinks) that do not produce their own sugars, such as the roots and the flowers.


Chloroplasts are the cells in plants that are involved in photosynthesis; these cells, found in the leaves and stems of dill, contain chlorophyll which is a pigment that absorbs light energy.  When light hits the chloroplast, this provides energy to split water (H2O) molecules into two H+ ions and an oxygen atom. The oxygen pairs up to make O2 and is given off as a waste product through the stomata. This all occurs in what is called Photosystem II, located in the thylakoid membrane. Electrons, hydrogen ions, and ATP all move to the electron transport chain and Photosystem I, which are in the thylakoid membrane as well. In the final stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle, molecules of glucose are formed. This is a complicated process that involves the fixation of carbon. To learn about this process in greater detail, visit the Clinton College website.

Photosynthesis equation:
6 CO2 + 12 H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O




Learn about a major use of dill's energy: Reproduction!









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