Description of the Physical Structure
Description of the Physical Structure
THE MINT PLANT 1
THE MINT PLANT 10
The Mint Plant
Name: Noura Alzahrani
Final project plant physiology
Description of the Physical Structure
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The mint (genus Mentha) is a fragrant herb that belongs to the mint family. This plant has square stems to which leaves are arranged oppositely to each other. The leaves are lanceolate in shape and are arranged side by side along the stem. The stem of the plant is succulent despite the fact that the plant does not usually grow in a watery environment. Just above the roots, at the end of the stem, shoots appear composed of small leaves and a bud. The mint while at its young stages is just a short herb with an approximated height of 30 centimeters.
The Plant in its larger environment
Plant mint in a corner of a garden and keep it trimmed back so it doesn’t take over.
The abiotic environment
The mint herb is affected by scores of abiotic factors. However, the plant can survive well under uncontrolled lighting. Therefore, the light quantity that the plant is exposed to does not necessarily determine its ability to grow. The mint is however expected to be grown in an area that has controlled contact with the wind. The plant sometimes grows tall and considering its weak stem; then it is clear that the plant will eventually be broken. Also, there is need to control the temperatures around the plant (Cohen & Kennedy, 2010). Too hot temperatures melt the oils covering allowing the plant to lose a lot of water through the process of photosynthesis. In the same measure, low temperatures, especially during winter, are quite hard for the plant to survive in.
The mint is less commanded by the biotic environment in which it is grown. However, botanists who have had a practical planting of the plant argue that the mint performs better when planted in a fertile soil that has a pH of 6.0-7.0. It, therefore, means that the plant thrives in a slightly acidic or neutral soil. Adding fertilizers to the soil is not advocated for. However, it does not negatively affect the plant as fertilizer is also slightly acidic (Cohen & Kennedy, 2010). However, use of natural mulch such as that of plant leaves is advocated for as it keeps the soil moist.
Description of the biotic community
The biotic community of the mint plant is limited. There exist very few biotic factors that affect the mint plant. Among these factors are the consumers. The consumers are animals that feed on the plant denying it room for growth. The mint plant is eaten by small plant-eating organisms that may deny the plant a chance to grow (“mint | plant,” 2017). Where such organisms such as locusts are encountered, then it is important to conduct protection mechanisms that prevent the plant from being eaten. Also, the plant also faces scores of decomposer organisms such as mushrooms that thrive where mint plants have died and decomposed.
Challenges faced by the Mint Plant
Mint is a natural hub that grows almost everywhere. The plant is faced with a few challenges. One is that some people view it as a weed and end up uprooting it. Also, the plant is mostly affected by diseases such as the mint rust that makes the plant to die easily. Due to its good odor, the plant is open to being affected by pests (“Growing Mint – Bonnie Plants,” 2017). The plant also grows easily and hence may end up infecting the whole garden with pests that may cause financial losses while fighting the pests.
Resources available
The mint plant is a naturally growing plant. The mint plant does not, therefore, need extra resources for growth. This plant only needs the common resources that are utilized by other plants. These resources, inclusive of water, air and sunlight are always readily available for the mint plant. It, therefore, grows everywhere which makes it be branded as a weed. Mostly, the plant is seen to grown in river beds, swampy and sometimes dumped areas (“Growing Mint – Bonnie Plants”, 2017). This is because such areas provide an extra resource which is salinity. Resources available for the plant are therefore the natural resources inclusive of sunlight, water, and air.
Short-term responses required by the Plant.
The mint behaves similarly to other plants. However, some difference exists that justifies the plant to be distinct. The plant is covered by some oily substance over its stem. Therefore, it reacts to sunlight, water, and temperatures differently. Short-term responses may amount to dropping of leaves when the climate is scorching (“mint | plant,” 2017). However, this drooping is not severe since the oily covering protects the stem and the leaves from high levels of transpiration as a result of photosynthesis. Therefore, short-term responses expected from the plants are very minimal.
Long-term Responses
In a long-term evaluation, this plant responds to different factors affecting it differently. For instance, a long-time exposure to extreme temperatures would result in the wilting and consequent dropping of the leaves. Also, long-term exposure to the extremely humid conditions would affect the plant, making the flowers, the leaves and also the stem to wither. Consequently, increased hostile conditions will render the plant dead over a long period.
Mint plant Response System to Gravity
Mint plant gravity response systems revolve around gravitropism, which is a response mechanism to gravity as the stimuli. Sato et.al (2014) educates that, gravitropism is also referred to as geotropism. Besides, this response system will influence the mint plant’s structure. Along with the afore mentioned, this section seeks to enlighten on gravitropism as a notable mint plant response systems, and its effect on a mint plant structure.
Notably, gravitropism is a mint plant response system. According to Sato et.al (2014), this system responds to an environmental stimulus- gravity. In the response, a mint plant will embrace two mechanisms. The two mechanism includes positive and negative geotropism (Sato et.al, 2014). Sato et.al (2014) argues that the mint plants roots will exhibit positive geotropism. On the other side, negative geotropism is exhibited by the mint plant leaves and stems. Besides, Sato et.al (2014) enlightens that, the onset of geotropism in a mint plant is during germination. Seconding the pre-stated, Sato et.al (2014) puts across that, it is during germination that, the shoots of the mint plant grow up and for the roots, they grow downwards.
Arguably, gravitropism as a mint plant response system influences the mint plant structure. According to Sato et.al (2014), geotropism will influence the mint plant structure through the two above-mentioned mechanisms- negative and positive geotropism. Sato et.al (2014) enlightens that, though geotropism, a mint plant will grow vertically. Sato et.al (2014) seconds the above through highlight the aspect of earth’s gravity. To support the above, Sato et.al (2014) argues that, if one plants a mint plant one a bag, and later bends the bag so that the mint plant slants horizontally, due to geotropism, the mint plant will later coil and growth vertically. As such, the vertical growing structure of a mint plant is as a result of geotropism what is referred to as gravitropism- a mint plant response system based gravity as an environmental stimulus.
Mint plant Response System to Contact
A mint plant contact response systems are facilitated by the thigmotropism mechanism, which applies to several mint plants. According to Braam (2015), the two fore mentioned mint plant response mechanism revolves around touch as a stimulus. Besides, this response system is responsible to some of the mint plant’s structures. In line with the pre-stated, this section takes the lane to formulate a discussion that will shed light on this contextual mint plant response system and how its influences a mint plant’s structure.
To start with, Braam (2015) enlightens that thigmotropism is a mint plant mechanism in response to touch as a stimulus. It is worth noting that, the aspect of touch for this response system refers to the physical touch. Braam (2015) puts across that, thigmotropism is also referred to as thigmonasty. Braam (2015) define thigmotropism as the directional growth of a mint plant in response to the contact arising from another object. Examples of mint plants parts that embraced this kind of response include the tendrils. To sum up, Braam (2015) educates that, a major mechanism relating to thigmotropism in positive thigmotropism. In positive thigmotropism, the mint plants will particularly cling to physical structures for instance walls.
Arguably, thigmotropism will affect the mint plant structure. In accordance with Braam (2015) argument, when mint plants parts, such as tendrils, have physical contact with an object, consequently, the mint plants parts acquire supports. In acquiring support, more often, the most mint plant parts will cling or coil on the object. With a solid example of tendrils, through coiling and clinging on the object the mint plant’s structure is affected- the mint plants tendrils takes a coiling structure. In conclusion, and based on t the above mentioned, it is, therefore, evident that thigmotropism will influence a mint plant’s structure.
Mint plant Response System to Light
Notably, the mint plant responds to lights through phototropism. Hohm et.al (2013) enlightens that phototropism is a mint plant response system relating to light as an environmental stimulus. Hohm et.al (2013) puts across that, and light is a crucial element to a mint plant’s life and growth. For instance, a mint plant requires light for photosynthesis. Following the pre-stated, Hohm et.al (2013) mentions that mint plants will growth towards where light is found. Besides, it is worth noting that, phototropism will affect the structure of a mint plant. Concerning the pre-stated, this section seeks to enlighten on phototropism as a mint plant response system that consequently influences the mint plant’s structure.
Phototropism is a mint plant response system that relates to light. It is worth noting that, light is an environmental factor that affects mint plants growth. As such, in phototropism, light acts as a stimulus (Hohm et.al, 2013). Arguably, Hohm et.al (2013) puts across that, phototropism is a directional response while as photomorphogenesis refers to non-directional response growth. Besides, phototropism will relate to response, particularly on the blue-wavelength light. What is more, Hohm et.al (2013) argues that, for phototropism, since it’s a directional response, mint plants will embrace growing either away from or towards the light which forms the basis for the two-phototropism mechanism- negative and positive mechanism. According to Hohm et.al (2013), stems will embrace positive phototropism while as negative phototropism is evident in a mint plant’s roots.
Arguably, phototropism will influence mint plants structure. Based on the fact that this mint plant response system revolves around mint plants responding to the light direction, the stem which embraces positive phototropism will respond the light direction. As a result, a mint plant grows particularly to the direction of the light. Following the fore mentioned, in instances where the mint plant is enclosed in a dark area, the mint plant will either bend towards the light direction. Such pre-stated bending structure will influence the mint plants structure (Hohm et.al, 2013).
Mint plant Response System to Defense from Herbivorous and Pathogens
Notably, War et.al (2012) enlightens that, herbivorous and pathogens are the two main enemies to any mint plant. According to War et.al (2012), herbivorous stands as the main mint plant enemy since either large or small herbivores, they feed on mint plants. On the other hand, according to Taylor et.al (2014), pathogen, which is disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi will live in a mint plant and consequently damage the mint plant’s tissues. As such, pathogens and herbivores are major mint plant enemies. Following the fore mentioned, numerous mint plants have response systems that seek to respond to the two above mentioned enemies- pathogens and herbivorous. In line with the fore mentioned, this section seeks to shed light on the mint plant response systems in defending them against the attackers such as pathogens and herbivorous.
To start with, in for the defense response system, the mint plant has barriers. These barriers are both impenetrable and intact (War et.al, 2012). There are various ways relating to impenetrable barriers. First, some mint plants have bark that protects them from the predators. Besides, War et.al (2012) educates that, mint plants have defense responses such as thorns and spines. Spines are modifying leaves while as Thorns are modified branches (War et.al, 2012). Besides, mint plants defensive response will also entail the presence of secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites are more often toxic or alkaloids which offer defensive response to the mint plant’s herbivores stimuli.
What is more, mint plants will respond using various defensive mechanisms to the pathogens as stimuli. According to Taylor et.al (2014), a major defensive response to pathogens stimuli by mint plants is through the use of long-distance signaling elicit. For the pre-stated method, Taylor et.al (2014) enlightens that, the defensive respond seeks to deter predators through a major compound known as jasmonates.
Specific and Various Aspect in the Four Mint plant Response Systems
Arguably, the above four mentioned mint plant response systems proper functioning, that is in responding to their relevant stimuli is aided by the various and specific aspects comprising the response systems. For instance, for the mint plant defense response system, the systems will require jasmonates as well as alkaloids to respond to the stimuli of pathogens and herbivorous respectively. In accord to the above mentioned, there hence the need to understand the various and specific aspects that comprise each of the four contextual mint plant response systems. As such, this section seeks to offer a detailed and extensively researched discussion that will enlighten on the various and specific aspects in each of the four contextual mint plant response systems that aid in the functionality of the systems.
The Components of Mint plant Response System Light
The proper functioning of phototropism is aided by various components. To start with, Hohm et.al (2013) puts across that, phototropism on the onset mediated by different photoreceptors. Hohm et.al (2013) enlightens that the fore mentioned photoreceptor are comprised of proteins. These proteins are covalently bonded to chromosphere. The chromosphere is a pigment that absorbs light (Hohm et.al, 2013). A combination of both the protein and the chromosphere forms the chromoprotein.
Besides, the mint plant light response system also has photoreceptors. According to Hohm et.al (2013), the sensory photoreceptors are located in two regions. The regions include the violet-blue region and the red/far- red region. Notably, the sensory photoreceptors absorb light in the above two mentioned regions. It is worth noting that, the above-mentioned regions are located in the visible light spectrum. What is more, according to Hohm et.al (2013), this particular response system also comprises of phytochromes, which is chromoproteins family. Arguably, Hohm et.al (2013) notes that the phytochromes are in two forms, the Pfr and Pr. the Pfr is an active physiological protein form.
In addition, this mint plant response system also is comprised of other aspects such as the phototropism. Hohm et.al (2013) enlightens that the phototropism is particularly protein-based receptors. These protein-based receptors are particularly responsible for mediating the phototropic response (Hohm et.al, 2013). Arguably, Hohm et.al (2013) notes that, since phototropic is a receptor, it will comprise of the protein, chromosphere.
Components in the Mint plant Response System to Gravity
Notably, geotropism is aided by various components. To start with, this response system has plastids. For instance, Sato et.al (2014) mentions amyloplasts as an example of specialized plastids located in the mint plant response system to gravity. The response system also comprises of starch granules which are particularly located in the amyloplasts. Sato et.al (2014) puts across that the fore mentioned amyloplasts are found in a mint plant’s shoots which aid geotropism.
Besides, in this contextual mint plant response system, there are secretions of calcium ions. These calcium ions are secreted during the geotropism mechanism by the endoplasmic reticulum. What is more, there is the response system includes secretion of Indole-3-acetic acid. It is worth noting that, the Indole-3-acetic acid is a mint plant hormone particularly of the auxins class. In relation to the Indole-3-acetic acid, Sato et.al (2014) notes that their high concentration of in roots will particularly exhibit cell elongations. Contrary, in the stem, the high concentration will promote cell elongation. The above hence agrees to the two mechanism of geotropism- positive and negative geotropism. To sum up, the mint plant response system to gravity is composed of aspects such as plastids, starch granules, calcium ions secretions, endoplasmic reticulum and hormones such as Indole-3-acetic acid.
Components of the Mint plant Response System to Contact or Touch
The mint plant response system to touch and contact is facilitated by the thigmotropism mechanism. Arguably, proper functioning of the thigmotropism mechanisms is aided by various components in the mint plant response system to touch and contact. To start with, the mint plant response system has specialized structures. For instance, Markovic et.al (2016) mentions that the Venus fly trap, have tiny hairy structures that are particularly located inside the leaves trap. Besides, the mint plant response system also has glands. According to Markovic et.al (2016), these glands will secrete enzymes. For instance, pulling back to the previous contextual example, the Venus fly trap after an insect touches it, the leaves will close, and the glands secrete enzymes that digest the insects. However, Markovic et.al (2016) notes that the enzymes secreted will not necessarily act similar to the Venus fly trap case.
On the other side, for the mint plant response system to contact, that is thigmomorphogenesis, which will affect the mint plant shape, the system will include components such as xylem. According to Markovic et.al (2016), xylem is a strengthening tissue that is produced particularly to add stiffness as well as resist any agents such as the wind that may result to the collapsing of the mint plant- for instance, tendrils.
Components of the Mint plant Response System on Defense
Pulling back to the fore mentioned, mint plants have a defense response system to two notable enemies – pathogens and herbivorous. The mechanism responsible for this response is aided by various components within the mint plant defense response system. To start with, the mint plant defense response systems includes enzymes and toxins. War et.al (2012) argues that there enzymes and toxins are secreted by the mint plants for defense mechanisms in case the first line of defense is distorted.
Besides, the mint plant defense response system also comprises of metabolites. According to Taylor et.al (2014), a solid example of secondary metabolites includes alkaloids- they produce noxious odors. What is more, this response system also has long-distance signaling elicits for instance jasmonates (War et.al, 2012).
Concept Map
Herbivorous
Sun and light devices
Photosynthesis
LIGHT
Alkaloids
Noxious odor
Pathogens
Jasmonates
Enzymes
Phototropism
ROOTS
Defense
THIGMOTROPISM
CONTACT
MINT PLANT
POSITIVE
GEOTROPISM
GEOTROPISM
SOIL
Explanation
Notably, the above concept map seeks to shed light in a more practical platform, the linkages of the four crucial Mint plant response systems. The four response systems include response systems to light, contact, gravity as well as defense. It is worth noting that, for defense, the response systems targets two aspects- herbivorous and pathogens. In line with the fore mentioned, this section seeks to explain the above concept map through analyzing the linkages.
To start with, the concept map illustrates that, the mint plant is the source of the linkage between all the response systems. Arguably, all the response systems, that is, from the response system of light to the response system of defenses arise from the plant. As such, the plant is the source of the above-illustrated response systems.
In addition, the above response systems seek to aid in the growth of the mint plant. Lux & Rost (2012) educates that, response systems helps and facilitates the growth of plants. Similarly, as illustrated by the above concept map, the responses systems will converge to the mint plant, which will aid in the growth of the mint plant.
Besides, the above concept map illustrates that the response systems will facilitate two major aspects in a mint plant growth. To start with, the responses system facilitates various plants process. For instance, in accordance with the concept map, the mint response system to light will acquire light which is crucial for photosynthesis (Hohm et.al, 2013). Arguably, Hohm et.al (2013) notes that it is through photosynthesis that the mint plant acquires food which is crucial for its growth. Besides, on the response systems to gravity, it helps the root grow downwards to soil, which in turn helps the plant acquire nutrients. According to Lux & Rost (2012), the mint plant requires nutrients for its growth. Besides, roots will also help the plant acquire water.
What more is, proper functioning of the response systems is aided by various aspects. A major aspect that aides the proper functioning of the response systems is the mechanisms. Arguably, every response system has a mechanism, which is unique. For instance, the response system to light is aided by the phototropism mechanism while as the mint plant response system to gravity is aided by geotropism. Besides, each mechanism is also aided by various aspects such as mechanism. For instance, thigmotropism, which is a mechanism in relation to mint plant response system to contact is aided by secretion of xylem tissues (Chehab et.al, 2010). Another notable example is the mint defense response system to defense by pathogens which is aided by jasmonates and enzymes (War et.al, 2012).
The mint plant has four main response systems. These response systems respond to four main stimuli which include light, gravity, contact as well as the defense against both pathogens and herbivores. Notably, for each response system, the mint plant will use a significant mechanism .the above concept map illustrates, the mechanisms that the mint plant embraces in the response system to the four mentioned stimuli. Besides, the concept map also sheds light on the various aspects of each mechanism and what the mechanism seeks to respond to. To sum up, the above contextual concept map has helped illustrate the mint plant response systems to the four main stimuli- contact, light, gravity and defense to both herbivorous and pathogens.
References
