Describe the results for the potato shoots. With reference to your graph, explain the shape of the curve for…

Question

Describe the results for the potato shoots. With reference to your graph, explain the shape of the curve for the potato tubers. State why dry mass is often used as a measure of growth. Describe how to determine the dry mass of the seeds.

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ii) The potato shoots emerge and grow, initially utilizing stored food reserves from the potato tuber for energy and building new tissues. Once green leaves develop on the shoots and emerge above the soil, they begin photosynthesis, which then contributes to a net increase in the plant's overall dry mass. iii) Step 1: From point L to M on the graph, the dry mass of the plant decreases. This is because the potato tuber's stored food reserves (e.g., starch) are being broken down through respiration to provide energy for the initial growth of the shoot and roots. This consumption of reserves from the tuber reduces the overall dry mass of the plant. Step 2: From point M to N, the dry mass of the plant increases. This occurs after the green leaves on the shoots have emerged and started photosynthesis. The rate of food production by photosynthesis now exceeds the rate of consumption by respiration, leading to a net increase in the plant's overall dry mass.

Describe the results for the potato shoots. With reference to your graph, explain the shape of the curve for the potato tubers. State why dry mass is often used as a measure of growth. Describe how to determine the dry mass of the seeds.

Step-by-step solution

From point L to M on the graph, the dry mass of the plant decreases.

From point M to N, the dry mass of the plant increases.

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