Plants Respiration Fungi Mushrooms

by Daniel Juan

Unit 3 (part 3)

How plants respire

Like all living things, plants need evergy to live. To obtain this energy, they absorb oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide. This process is called respiration. Respiration takes place all the time, day and night. During the day, plants do not need to take in extra oxygen from the air to breathe. They use some of the oxygen produced during photosynthesis. At night, plants do not photosynthesis, so they take in the oxygen they need to respire from the air, and release carbon dioxide.

The exchange of gases in plants

The gases involved in both respiration and photosynthesis are oxygen and carbon dioxide. In algae, they enter and leave the plant dissolved in water. In more complex plants, they enter and leave the plant directly from the air

Fungi

Fungi are an important group of living things. This group includes mould and mushrooms. Fungi are different from animals and plants. Like animals, fungi feed on organic matter from other organisms. However, like plants, fungi cannot move from place to place. Fungi live in damp places. Most fungi feed on plant matter (like leaves and tree trunks) or animal matter. Some fungi are parasites. This means they feed on live plants and animals. One example is athlete’s food. This fungus lives between the toes of humans

What are fungi like?

* The main part of a fungus is made up of a dense network of thin microscopic filaments. This is called the mycelium. These filaments are usually several centimetres long. They sometimes measure over one metre. They penetrate the ground or plant and animal matter. We usually cannot see them. * Fungi feed by releasing digestive juices. These juices decompose the organic matter near the mycelium. The decomposed organic matter is then absorbed by the filaments of the mycelium. * Fungi mainly reproduce through spores. A new individual is formed from these cells.

Mushrooms

The mycelium of some fungi produces special reproductive structures. These are called mushrooms. Mushrooms are made of very dense filaments that grow upwards. The top of the mushroom is called the cap. It contains the spores for reproduction.