Download SAPS - Battle for fortress plant - student sheet

The battle for fortress plant
Students’ Sheet
Introduction
It’s not just humans that catch diseases – other animals and plants catch diseases too.
Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protists and viruses are everywhere. They’re found in the
air, soil, water and on many different surfaces. Some of these microorganisms are pathogens that
can cause disease when they infect plants. But a plant is like a fortress – it has defences against
invading pathogens, and it can even fight back!
For plants, staying healthy is a never-ending battle against pathogen attack.
Instructions
Look at the poster and the presentation titled “The Never-Ending Battle for Fortress Plant”, then
answer the questions below to show what you’ve learnt.
Questions
1.
Which of the following types of pathogens can cause disease in plants?
Put a tick () in the box next to each correct answer.
bacteria
fungi
protists
viruses
2.
Write down two physical defences that plants have against pathogens.
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2 ............................................................................................................................................
Science & Plants for Schools: www.saps.org.uk
The battle for fortress plant: p. 1
3.
Where is the waxy cuticle located?
Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer.
around each plant cell
on the outside surface of the plant
inside each plant cell
around each pathogen
4.
Write down one physical defence against pathogens that is found in plants but is not found
in animals.
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5.
Pathogens can enter a plant through a wound.
Describe three other ways pathogens can enter a plant.
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6.
Ellie has written notes about how plant cells respond to stop an infection spreading through
the plant.
She has made some errors in her notes.
In each sentence of Ellie’s notes in the box below:
 cross out the incorrect words
 write the correct words above your crossing out.
Cells near the infection make their cell membranes stronger to keep pathogens out.
The cells release antibodies to destroy the pathogens.
Some of the cells divide to stop the infection spreading.
Science & Plants for Schools: www.saps.org.uk
The battle for fortress plant: p. 2
7.
The apple in the photograph has symptoms of
infection with a fungus.
A week or more ago few days ago the apple was
pecked by a hungry bird.
Explain how being pecked by a bird could have
led to this apple becoming infected with this
fungus.
Photograph © Alistair Moore
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8.
Plant roots do not have a waxy cuticle.
Four students try to explain why.
Addy
Emma
Plant roots do not need
defences against pathogens.
Pathogens cannot enter a
plant through its roots.
Harry
Mia
There are no pathogens in
the soil.
Plant roots absorb water from
the soil.
Which student gives the correct explanation?
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Explain why you chose that student.
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Science & Plants for Schools: www.saps.org.uk
The battle for fortress plant: p. 3
9.
Write down examples of advantages and disadvantages for a plant when it opens its
stomata.
Advantages
10.
Disadvantages
Explain why plant defences against pathogens are important for human survival.
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Science & Plants for Schools: www.saps.org.uk
The battle for fortress plant: p. 4