which ion would cease being taken up if the plant is treated with a metabolic poison that inhabits ATP synthesis ? give a reason
To determine which ion would cease being taken up if a plant is treated with a metabolic poison that inhibits ATP synthesis, we need to understand the importance of ATP in ion uptake by plants.
ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is the primary energy molecule in cells, including plant cells. Most cellular energy-requiring processes, such as active transport, rely on ATP for energy. Active transport is particularly important for ion uptake in plants because it allows them to absorb essential nutrients and ions from the soil against concentration gradients.
When a metabolic poison inhibits ATP synthesis, it means that the plant's ability to produce ATP is compromised. Consequently, the energy supply necessary for active transport becomes limited or absent. This limitation affects the uptake of certain ions that rely heavily on active transport mechanisms for absorption.
One such ion is potassium (K+). Potassium ion uptake in plants is primarily facilitated by ATP-dependent proton pumps. These pumps create an electrochemical gradient by actively transporting protons out of the cell. In return, the negative charge inside the cell drives the uptake of positively charged potassium ions (K+) through specific channels.
So, if a plant is treated with a metabolic poison that inhibits ATP synthesis, the ion that would likely cease being taken up is potassium (K+). Without sufficient ATP, the ATP-dependent proton pumps cannot function properly, leading to a disruption in the electrochemical gradient and subsequently hindering the active transport of potassium ions into plant cells.
In summary, when ATP synthesis is inhibited, the plant's ability to produce sufficient ATP is compromised, which impairs the active transport mechanisms responsible for the uptake of certain ions such as potassium ions (K+). Therefore, potassium (K+) uptake would cease if a plant is treated with a metabolic poison that inhibits ATP synthesis.