Autotrophic Nutrition

1.Definition: Plants can prepare their own food using water, carbon dioxide, and minerals from their surroundings. This mode of nutrition is called autotrophic nutrition (auto = self; trophos = nourishment).

2.Autotrophs and Heterotrophs: Plants are known as autotrophs because they produce their own food. Animals and most other organisms, which rely on food prepared by plants, are called heterotrophs (heteros = other).

Food Factories in Plants

1.Leaves as Food Factories: The leaves are the primary sites for food production in plants.

2.Raw Materials: Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots from the soil and transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide from the air is taken in through tiny pores on the surface of leaves called stomata, which are surrounded by guard cells.