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Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are fungi which grow on, and into, the roots of plants - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 5
Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are fungi which grow on, and into, the roots of plants. AMF can increase the uptake of inorganic ions such as phosphate. **05.1** ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are fungi which grow on, and into, the roots of plants - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Suggest one way in which an increase in the uptake of phosphate could increase plant growth.
Answer
An increase in the uptake of phosphate can promote plant growth by enhancing the synthesis of essential energy molecules such as ATP, which are crucial for various metabolic processes including photosynthesis and nutrient transport.
Step 2
Step 3
Explain why an increase in shoot biomass can be taken as a measurement of net primary productivity.
Answer
The increase in shoot biomass can be taken as a measurement of net primary productivity because it reflects the amount of organic matter produced by photosynthesis that is available to the primary consumers in the ecosystem. Higher shoot biomass indicates efficient energy capture and allocation within the plants.
Step 4
Using the data from Figure 5, evaluate the effect on plant productivity of adding AMF species and adding phosphate to the soil.
Answer
The data in Figure 5 shows that the addition of AMF species leads to an increase in plant productivity, especially in soils with higher phosphate concentrations. For example, Entrophospora infrequens demonstrates a significant increase in biomass compared to the control. In general, both AMF addition and enhanced phosphate availability contribute positively to plant growth, likely due to improved nutrient uptake and assimilation.
Step 5
Using the e^x button on your calculator, determine the rate of shoot biomass production in grams per day for the control plot in soil with normal phosphate concentration.
Answer
Using the calculated data for the control plot, the shoot biomass production rate can be determined. The answer should be within the range of 0.07 to 0.09 g day^-1, or alternatively, the result can be obtained by dividing the total biomass by the number of days, which yields a specific value.