Chapter 6: Plants – Preparing and Storing Food
1. Plant Nutrition (पौधों का पोषण)
Definition
Plant nutrition is the process by which plants prepare and use their own food.
Hindi:
पौधों द्वारा अपना भोजन बनाने और उपयोग करने की प्रक्रिया को पौधों का पोषण कहते हैं।
Example
Green plants make food using sunlight.
2. Chlorophyll (क्लोरोफिल)
Definition
Chlorophyll is the green pigment present in leaves. It helps plants prepare food.
Hindi:
पत्तियों में पाया जाने वाला हरा रंगद्रव्य क्लोरोफिल कहलाता है।
Example
Mango leaves contain chlorophyll.
3. Photosynthesis (प्रकाश संश्लेषण)
Definition
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants prepare food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll.
Hindi:
सूर्य के प्रकाश, जल, कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड और क्लोरोफिल की सहायता से पौधे भोजन बनाते हैं। इसे प्रकाश संश्लेषण कहते हैं।
Formula
Carbon dioxide + Water + Sunlight + Chlorophyll → Food (Glucose) + Oxygen
Example
Green leaves prepare food during daytime.
4. Stomata (रंध्र)
Definition
Stomata are tiny pores present on the lower surface of leaves.
Hindi:
पत्तियों की निचली सतह पर पाए जाने वाले छोटे-छोटे छिद्र रंध्र (Stomata) कहलाते हैं।
Functions
Take in carbon dioxide.
Release oxygen.
Remove excess water vapour.
Example
Stomata are visible under a microscope.
5. Midrib (मध्य शिरा)
Definition
The thick main vein in the middle of a leaf is called the midrib.
Hindi:
पत्ती के बीच की मोटी मुख्य शिरा मध्य शिरा (Midrib) कहलाती है।
Example
Mango leaf has a clear midrib.
6. Veins (शिराएँ)
Definition
The thin branches arising from the midrib are called veins.
Hindi:
मध्य शिरा से निकलने वाली पतली शाखाओं को शिराएँ कहते हैं।
Functions
Carry water and minerals.
Transport prepared food.
Example
Peepal leaf has many veins.
7. Food Storage (भोजन का संचय)
Definition
Plants store extra food in the form of starch.
Hindi:
पौधे अतिरिक्त भोजन को स्टार्च के रूप में संग्रहित करते हैं।
Stored In
Root – Carrot, Radish
Stem – Potato, Sugarcane
Leaves – Spinach
Seeds – Peas
Fruits – Mango
8. Starch (स्टार्च)
Definition
Starch is the stored form of food in plants.
Hindi:
पौधों में संग्रहित भोजन स्टार्च कहलाता है।
Example
Potato stores starch.
9. Mould (फफूंद)
Definition
Mould is a non-green plant that cannot prepare its own food.
Example
Bread mould.
10. Mushroom (कुकुरमुत्ता)
Definition
Mushroom is a non-green plant that feeds on dead and decaying matter.
Example
Button mushroom.
11. Cactus (कैक्टस)
Definition
Cactus is a plant with green stems and reduced leaves.
Example
Desert cactus.
12. Croton (क्रोटन)
Definition
Croton has coloured leaves but still contains chlorophyll.
Example
Garden croton.
Parts of a Leaf
Leaf Blade (Lamina): Broad flat part.
Midrib: Main vein.
Veins: Branches of the midrib.
Petiole: Leaf stalk.
Stomata: Tiny pores.
Importance of Photosynthesis
Produces food.
Releases oxygen.
Maintains balance in nature.
Stores solar energy.
Uses of Food by Plants
Gives energy.
Helps in growth.
Repairs damaged parts.
Stores extra food as starch.
Experiments and Conclusions
Activity 1 – Test for Starch
Add iodine to a boiled and bleached leaf.
Result: Leaf turns blue-black.
Conclusion: Starch is present.
Activity 2 – Is Sunlight Needed?
Cover part of a leaf with black paper.
Result: Covered part does not turn blue-black.
Conclusion: Sunlight is necessary.
Activity 3 – Is Chlorophyll Needed?
Use a variegated (coleus) leaf.
Result: Only green parts turn blue-black.
Conclusion: Chlorophyll is necessary.
Energy Flow
Sun → Green Plants → Animals → Humans
Balance in Nature
Plants and animals depend on each other.
Plants give food and oxygen.
Animals give carbon dioxide.
Both help maintain ecological balance.
Important Keywords
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chlorophyll | Green pigment |
| Photosynthesis | Food-making process |
| Stomata | Tiny pores |
| Midrib | Main vein |
| Veins | Leaf branches |
| Starch | Stored food |
| Oxygen | Gas released by plants |
| Carbon dioxide | Gas used by plants |
Important Examples
Root stores food: Carrot, Radish
Stem stores food: Potato, Sugarcane
Leaf stores food: Spinach
Seed stores food: Peas
Fruit stores food: Mango
Non-green plants: Mushroom, Mould
Green stem plant: Cactus
Coloured leaf plant: Croton
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