AP Biology Study Guide
Structure & Function of Plants
Ch. 35-39 *
Ch. 35 – Plant Structure and Growth
Monocots
Xylem
Phloem
Root hairs
Adventitious roots
Internodes
Axillary bud
Terminal bud
Apical dominance
Parenchyma cells
Collenchyma cells
Sclerenchyma cells
Fibers
Sclereids
Tracheids
Vessel elements
Pits
Xylem vessels
Sieve plates
Companion cell
Epidermis
Cuticle
Apical meristems
Primary growth
Lateral meristems
Root cap
Zone of cell division
Quiescent center
Protoderm
Procambium
Ground meristem
Zone of elongation
Zone of maturation
Stele
Pith
Cortex
Endodermis
Lateral roots
Pericycle
Vascular bundles
Stomata
Guard cells
Transpiration
Mesophyll
Vascular cambium
Cork cambium
Periderm
Bark
1. Describe and compare the three basic organs of plants and how these organs are
interdependent.
2. Explain the phenomenon of apical dominance.
3. Distinguish between plant growth and plant development and between primary and
secondary growth.
4. Describe and distinguish between morphogenesis, differentiation, and growth.
5. Explain how cellular differentiation is controlled by gene expression.
Ch. 36 – Transport in Plants
Transport proteins
Proton pump
Cotransport
Chemiosmosis
Osmosis
Water potential
Tension
Plasmolyze
Turgor pressure
Turgid
Aquaporins
Symplast
Apoplast
Bulk flow
Mycorrhizae
Endodermis
Casperian strip
Root pressure
Guttation
Circadian rhythms
Translocation
Sugar source
Sugar sink
Transfer cells
1. Describe the role and importance of proton pumps in transport across plant membranes.
2. Define cotransport and chemiosmosis.
3. Define osmosis and water potential and explain how water potential is measured.
4. Describe the three routes available for lateral transport in plants.
5. Relate the structure of sieve-tube cells, vessel cells, and tracheids to their function in
bulk flow.
6. Explain how the structure of root hairs promotes their functions. Explain how
mycorrhizae facilitate the functions of roots.
7. Explain how transport of xylem sap occurs.
8. Explain how and when stomata open and close.
9. Explain how xerophytes reduce transpiration.
10. Define and describe the process of translocation.
11. Trace the path of phloem sap from the primary sugar source to common sugar sinks.
Chapter 37 – Plant Nutrition
Mineral nutrients
Essential nutrient
Macronutrient
Micronutrient
Topsoil
Horizons
Loams
Humus
Cation exchange
Sustainable agriculture
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogenase
Leghemoglobin
Nodules
Bacteroids
Mycorrhizae
Ectomycorrhizae
1. Distinguish between macronutrients and micronutrients. List each and describe their
importance in normal plant structure and metabolism.
2. Define cation exchange, explain why it is necessary for plant nutrition, and describe how
plants can stimulate the progress.
3. Describe the important role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
4. Explain how a legume species recognizes a certain species of Rhizobium and explain
how that encounter leads to the development of a nodule.
5. Define mycorrhizae and explain why they are considered examples of mutualism.
6. Explain how mycorrhizae enhance plant nutrition.
7. Describe the modifications for nutrition that have evolved among plants, including
parasitic plants, carnivorous plants, and mycorrhizae.
Chapter 38 – Plant Reproduction and Development
Alteration of generations
Sporophyte
Gametophytes
Sepals
Petals
Stamens
Carpels
Complete flowers
Incomplete flowers
Perfect flower
Imperfect flower
Monoecious
Dioecious
Microspores
Mega spore
Embryo sac
Pollination
Self-incompatibility
Endosperm
Double fertilization
Seed coat
Hypocotyl
Radicle
Epicotyl
Coleoptile
Fruit
Pericarp
Simple fruit
Aggregate fruit
Multiple fruit
Imbibition
Vegetative reproduction
Fragmentation
Apomixis
Scion
Protoplast fusion
Monoculture
Morphogenesis
Cellular differentiation
Preprophase band
Pattern formation
Positional formation
Meristem identity genes
Organ-identity genes
1. Outline the angiosperm life cycle.
2. Distinguish between pollination and fertilization.
3. Explain the adaptive advantage of double fertilization in angiosperms.
4. Explain how a monocot and dicot seed differ.
5. Explain how fruit forms and ripens. List the functions of fruit.
6. Describe the natural mechanisms of vegetative reproduction in plants, including
fragmentations and apomixes
7. Compare traditional plant-breeding techniques and genetic engineering, noting
similarities and differences.
Ch. 39 – Control Systems in Plants
Hormones
Phototropism
Auxin
Gibberellin
Abscisic acid (ABA)
Oligosaccharins
Brassinosteroids
Tropisms
Gravitropism
Statoliths
Thigmotropism
Thigmomorphogenesis
Action potentials
Sleep movements
Circadian rhythm
Photoperiodism
Short-day plants
Long-day plants
Day-neutral plants
Phytochromes
Heat-shock proteins
Phytoalexins
Hypersensitive response
Systemic acquired
resistance (SAR)
1. List six classes of plant hormones, describe their major functions, and note where they
are produced in the plant.
2. Explain how the ratio of cytokinin to auxin affects cell division and cell differentiations.
3. Describe how stem elongation and fruit growth depend on a synergism between auxin
and gibberellins.
4. Describe the effects of ABA on seed dormancy and drought stress.
5. Describe the role of ethylene in the triple response to mechanical stress, apoptosis leaf
abscission, and fruit ripening.
6. Describe the functions of brassinosteroids in plants.
7. Define circadian rhythm and explain what happens when an organism is artificially
maintained in a constant environment.
8. Distinguish between short-day, long-day, and day-neutral plants. Explain why these
names are misleading.
9. Explain how flowering might be controlled and what is necessary for flowering to occur.
10. Provide a plausible explanation for how a stimulus that causes rapid leaf movement can
be transmitted through the plant.
11. Explain how plants deter herbivores with physical and chemical defenses.
12. Describe the multiple ways that plants defend against pathogens.
* All questions modified from www.campbellbiology.com