The process of breathing is inherent in each living organism of the planet Earth. And the plants did not exception. How is the process of breathing in their leaves (although the plants breathe not only through the leaves, but also stems, and even roots), what chemical reactions occur?
Gas exchange in the leaves in the process of breathing
The main goal of the respiration of plants, like any living organism, is the exemption (development) of energy. This energy is necessary for plants to maintain and conduct cellular exchange processes (metabolic processes). The process of respiration is continuous, it does not depend on the time of year, the time of day or ambient temperature. At the same time, like other living beings, the plant "takes" oxygen from the environment. Do not confuse breathing and photosynthesis, because In the latter case, the leaves are separated from the absorbed and converted carbon dioxide.
In the process of breathing, oxygen from the surrounding air falls into the cell sheet. Next occurs energy exchange, as well as glucose oxidation. As a result, the latter is split, turning into water and carbon dioxide. Yes, the leaves in the process of breathing are distinguished carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But its number is significantly less than the amount of oxygen, which the same sheet will produce during photosynthesis.
Flas of breathing leaves
The process of breathing, which occurs in the sheets, can be divided into several steps - preparatory, anaerobic and aerobic phases.
- The preparatory stage includes hydrolysis of polymer compounds by using enzymes to monomers. As a result, carbohydrates are disintegrated to monosaccharides, fats are transformed into glycerin and fatty acid, and proteins in amino acids. Nucleic acids are split to nucleotides.
- Anaerobic phase. At this stage, oxygen is not yet involved. Glucose disintegrates to pyruogradic acid.
- The aerobic stage involves an oxidative reaction when oxygen is involved. The compounds obtained at the previous stage during compound with oxygen are transformed into water and carbon dioxide. This reaction is accompanied by the release of energy, which accumulates to ATP, as well as heat production. The latter is released into the environment.
Summing up, it should be noted that in the process of respiration in the leaves there is a release of energy as a result of oxidation of organic compounds.
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