Topics

Growth factors (4 des)

Growth regulators / phytohormones (4 -11
des)
Seed germination (11 des)
Plant movements (? des)
Photoperiodism ( ?)
Senescence (?)
 Plant Growth Requirements
http://expage.com/page/waxnsteel

http://199.212.16.18/msc/as/index_e.html
 Major Factors for Plant
Growth
Temperature
Light
Moisture
CarbonDioxide
Hormones http://home.earthlink.net/`bob4mvg/Time_n_Temperature.htm
 Temperature
As temperature increases, reaction rates
increase
ie-Photosynthesis is slower at lower
temperatures: however the rate increases up to a
cerain point as the temperature goes up
Plantgrowth functions such as absorption
of minerals and water are determined by
temperature
 Temperature
Plants have an optional temperature range
at which they function best
Plants have a minimum temperature
tolerance below which the plant may be
injured or killed
Monocots have an advantage because the growth point remains
below the ground
Dicots growing point is pushed above the ground and do not
tolerate fluctuating temperatures or frost
 Temperature http;//expage.com/page/waxnsteel

Sun scald can occur at high temperatures

High temperatures cause desiccation or may
may directly kill protoplasm of cells

Plantsshould be selected according to the

growth conditions and climate of the area
An exception is the greenhouse where
temperature conditions can be controlled
 Light effects plants based on its quality,
intensity and duration.
Quality
The major source of light is the sun
Normal plant growth requires white light or
sunlight
Chlorophyll absorbs the red and blue
portions of the light spectrum. Leaves are
green, since the chlorophyll reflects green
light
 Quality
Light is important and must contain
important wavelenghts
These wavelengths are represented by the
rainbow

http://204.97.147.10/card/paper.htm
Light Intensity provides energy
for photosynthesis
Rate of photosynthesis is effected by water,
carbon dioxide and sunlight

Inthe absence of light, plants will grow

until there food reserves are exhausted
This growth will be elongated and abnormal
 Light Intensity
Phototropism is the tendency to grow in the
direction of the greatest light intensity
Plants vary in the intensity of light that they
need
ie-Impatiens grow better in shade with indirect
light
Zinnias grow best in full sunlight
 Light Duration
Photoperiodism is a growth response to the
length of dark period
This determines if a plants is growing
vegetatively or is in the flowering stage
In a greenhouse we can force a plant to bloom
by controlling the duration of light
Flowering plants include short-day, long-
day and day-neutral plants
Short-dayPlants-must be exposed to light
periods shorter than some critical length for
flowering to occur
ie-Poinsettia
Long-day Plants-must be exposed to light
periods longer than some critical length for
flowering to occur
ie-Azalea
 Long-day, Short-day and
Day-neutral
Day-neutral Plants-These plants flower
regardless the day length
ie-Dandelion

http://home.jtan.com/`russ/terri/trash.htm
Ways to influence blooming or
vegetative growth
Use a black cloth to shorten days. This
involves covering the plants with an opaque
cover to shorten days

Artificiallight stimulates long days by

adding light in the evening hours
 Other Light Effects
Phototropism is the growth response in
which plants turn or bend in the direction of
the light source

Geotropism is the growth response in which

plants turn or bend in response to gravity

http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/labs/koukkari/teaching
/courses/Angiosperms_30May.html
 Moisture is also essential for
plant growth
Water carries essential nutrients from the
roots and acts as a solvent for salts and
minerals
Water translocates photosynthetic products
from the leaves via the phloem
Water is a chemical reactant in may plant
processes including photosynthesis and
respiration
 Moisture
Water quality is important to plants
Excessive salt can cause leaf burn, root
corrosion, poor seed germination, wilting
and killing
Capillary water is used by the plants
Capillary is when the water makes contact with
the soil and it is elevated of depressed
depending on the relative attraction of the
molecules or water
 Moisture
http://199.212.16.18/msc/as/index_e.html
Capillary continued
Water moves freely in the soil and can move up
or down, horizontally
ie-dip the end of a napkin into a glass of water
and observe water as it moves up through the
napkin
 Moisture Not Available To
Plants
Gravity water-which is lost due to drainage
Hygroscopic water that bonds to soil
particles
The bonding is ionic charge related to the size
of the soil particle and its electrical charge
The charge is opposite that if water and will
attract or hold the water in the soil making it
unavailable to plants
 Moisture
Plants with large thin leaves lose water
more readily and have high water
requirements
Plants with small waxy leaves have a
tendency to lose less water to transpiration
and have less water requirements
Desert plants have small leaf surfaces while
tropical plants have a large leaf surface
 Carbon Dioxide is Required
for Photosynthesis
Carbon Dioxide is taken in through the
stomata
Air contains .03% Carbon Dioxide
Greenhouses need to have CO2 added
Roses, carnations and tomatoes need 12%
This can be accomplished by using gas burners

http://csee.lbl.gov/ScienceEd/Tony/chemistry/html
 Carbon Dioxide
Plants use 16 essential nutrients and are
available in the soil
Primary nutrients-N, P, K
Secondary nutrients-Ca, S, Mg
Trace nutrients-Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cl, B, Mo
C, H, O-usually not limited since they are
freely available in the air and water
 Hormones
Hormones are low molecular weight
chemicals produced in the plant to regulate
growth
Auxin-promotes cell elongation, apical
dominance, induces roots on cuttings,
stimulates fruit development and stimulates
ethylene synthesis
 Hormones
ABA-Stimulates stomatal closure, may be
necessary for abscission and dormancy in some
species
Cytokinin-Promotes apical dominance, shoot
growth and fruit development
Giberellins-GA-Flowering stimulation in long-day
plants and biennials, shoot elongation and
regulates production of seed enzymes in cereals
 Hormones
Ethylene-Promotes fruit ripening, leaf and
flower senescence and abscission
 Conclusion
Moisture, Temperature, Light, Carbon
Dioxide and Hormones are required in
various amounts for different plants but are
all requirements for a plant to grow.