Life Processes in Plants | Class 7 Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
Life Processes in Plants – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Life Processes in Plants from Class 7 Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
10.3 Transport in Plants
This section explains how water, minerals, and food are transported within plants to support growth and metabolism. Water and minerals absorbed by roots from the soil move upward through xylem vessels, which are thin tube-like structures present in stems, branches, and leaves. An experiment (Activity 10.7) demonstrates this by placing plant twigs in water colored with red ink; after some time, the red color is visible in the stem, leaves, and flowers, indicating water transport through xylem. Minerals dissolved in water also move via xylem. Food synthesized in leaves (mainly glucose and starch) is transported to other parts of the plant through phloem vessels, another set of tube-like structures. This food transport supports growth in roots, stems, flowers, and storage organs like seeds and tubers. Understanding transport mechanisms is essential for comprehending how plants distribute nutrients and maintain life processes.
📊 Diagram: Figures 10.7 and 10.8 show the experimental setup with plant twigs in colored water and the internal structure of xylem and phloem vessels transporting water, minerals, and food.
🧪 Activity: Activity 10.7: Experiment to observe water transport in plants using red ink and plant twigs.
🔗 Connection: Leads to the section 'Do Plants Respire?' which explores respiration in plants.
Frequently asked questions
Complete the following table | S.No. | Feature | Photosynthesis | Respiration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. | Raw materials | | | | 2. | Products | | | | 3. | Word equation | | | | 4. | Importance | | |
1. Raw materials:
- Photosynthesis: Carbon dioxide, water, sunlight
- Respiration: Glucose, oxygen
2. Products:
- Photosynthesis: Glucose, oxygen
- Respiration: Carbon dioxide, water, energy
3. Word equation:
- Photosynthesis: Carbon dioxide + Water + Sunlight → Glucose + Oxygen
- Respiration: Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
4. Importance:
- Photosynthesis: Produces food and oxygen necessary for life
- Respiration: Releases energy required for various life processes
Imagine a situation where all the organisms that carry out photosynthesis on the earth have disappeared. What would be the impact of this on living organisms?
If all photosynthetic organisms disappeared, oxygen levels would decrease as photosynthesis produces oxygen. Food chains would collapse because plants are primary producers. Animals and other organisms dependent on plants for food and oxygen would eventually die, leading to a breakdown of ecosystems.
A potato slice shows the presence of starch with iodine solution. Where does the starch in potatoes come from? Where is the food synthesised in the plant, and how does it reach the potato?
The starch in potatoes comes from the glucose produced during photosynthesis in the leaves. The food is synthesised in the leaves (the food factories) of the plant. The glucose is transported through the phloem to the potato (a storage organ) where it is converted into starch and stored.
Does the broad and flat structure of leaves make plants more efficient for photosynthesis? Justify your answer.
Yes, the broad and flat structure of leaves increases the surface area exposed to sunlight, allowing more light to be absorbed for photosynthesis. It also facilitates efficient gas exchange through stomata, making photosynthesis more efficient.
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