Introduction to Plant Physiology

CHAPTER: 1

Introduction to Plant Physiology

How plants do things :

–     Interact with water, minerals (tissues & cells)

–     Interconvert energy (light, chemical forms)

–     Make chemical compounds

–     Control what goes on chemically in cells

–     Respond to the environment

–     Develop from seeds into trees (etc.)

How plants work or functions:

–     The physiology of nutrition and metabolism which deals with the uptake, transformations, and release of materials, and also their transportation within and between the cells and organs of the plant;

–     The physiology of growth, development, and reproduction, which is concerned with these aspects of plant function; and

–      Environmental physiology, which seeks to understand the manifold responses of plants to the environment.

Relationship between plant physiology and other subjects:

• Basic sciences: botany，biochemistry，biophysics，molecular biology, computer science.

• Relative subjects: genetics, cell biology, ecology, chemistry.

• Later subjects: function genomics of plant, gene transform in plant, plant culture and breeding etc.

Scope of Plant Physiology:

•      In agriculture fields

•      In horticulture

•      In forestry

•      In medicine

•      In food production

•      In textiles

•      In timber and wood industry

Applications of Plant Physiology:

•      In increasing agricultural productivity

•      In production of food

•      Producing fodder for cattle

•      Producing fibers for clothing

•      Producing wood for furniture and building purposes.

•      In control of soil fertility, pollution & mineral requirements

•      Applied in genetic engineering

•      In breeding technology

•      In soil management

•      In seed treatment

Ø  The knowledge of soil-water plant relationship & effective & efficient use of nutrients enhances crop productivity.

Ø  The knowledge of photoperiodism & vernalization process helps to cultivate the off-season crop plant.