By what method are lons absorbed by plants?

Options

A. Along DPD gradient
B. By molecular diffusion
C. By carriers and pumps
D. Along water potential gradients

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Ion Absorption**:
- Ion absorption in plants refers to how plants take up essential minerals and nutrients from the soil. This process is crucial for plant growth and development.

2. **Cellular Transport Overview**:
- Ion absorption is a part of cellular transport, which is the movement of substances (like ions, minerals, and water) across cell membranes.

3. **Types of Cellular Transport**:
- There are two main types of cellular transport:
- **Active Transport**: This process requires energy (usually in the form of ATP) to move substances against their concentration gradient.
- **Passive Transport**: This process does not require energy and allows substances to move along their concentration gradient.

4. **Ion Absorption Mechanism**:
- Ion absorption primarily occurs through **active transport**. This means that energy is required to move ions into the plant cells.

5. **Role of Carrier Proteins and Pumps**:
- For active transport of ions, plants utilize **carrier proteins** and **pumps**:
- **Carrier Proteins**: These are specialized proteins that bind to specific ions and facilitate their transport across the cell membrane.
- **Pumps**: These are mechanisms that actively transport ions using energy derived from ATP. They create a channel that allows ions to move into the cells.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the method by which ions are absorbed by plants is through **carrier proteins and pumps**, which are involved in the active transport process.

### Final Answer:
Ions are absorbed by plants through **carrier proteins and pumps** via active transport.

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