CROP PHYSIOLOGY

INTRODUCTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN

AGRICULTURE

Dr. K.VENKATESAN
PROFESSOR (CRP)
Crop physiology

“Study of functional aspects

of crop plants”

• is concerned with the processes

and functions of the crops at
cellular, sub-cellular and whole
plant levels

• in response to environmental
variables and growth
Crop Physiology

qualitative measurement ( photosynthesis, respiration,

photorespiration, Absorption of
water, Translocation of solutes)

quantitative measurement (leaf area, partitioning of dry mass,

root length etc..)

environmental parameters (radiation, moisture, carbon

dioxide, wind, temperature, etc.)

* help to better understand and predict crop growth and yield

• PLANT WATER RELATIONS

• NUTRIO PHYSIOLOGY

• PHOTOSYNTHESIS& RESPIRATION

• GROWTH PHYSIOLOGY

• STRESS PHYSIOLOGY
 PLANT WATER RELATIONS

Role and significance of water - diffusion,

imbibitions, osmosis, plasmolysis

Absorption of water - mode of absorption –

active and passive absorption
and factors affecting

Translocation of solutes - phloem and

xylem transport

Transpiration - types - theory of mechanism

- significance, factors affecting and guttation -
antitranspirants
 NUTRIO PHYSIOLOGY

Mineral nutrition
criteria of essentiality of elements
macro and micronutrients
sand and soil less culture
Mechanism of uptake
physiological role of nutrients
Foliar diagnosis
nutritional and physiological disorders
foliar nutrition and fertigation
.
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

LIGHT REACTION DARK REACTION

OR OR

PRIMARY PHOTOCHEMICAL PATH OF CARBON

REACTION IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS
OR
OR

BLACK MAN’S
HILL’S REACTION
REACTION
 LIGHT REACTION

Production of Assimilatory Powers

(ATP and NADPH)
by light, water and pigments
 LIGHT REACTION

Cyclic ET Non Cyclic ET

 DARK REACTION
Reduction of CO2 to Carbohydrate by utilizing
Assimilators Powers (ATP and NADPH)
Produced by Light Reaction.

DARK REACTION

C3 Pathway
C4 Pathway CAM
Calvin Cycle Pathway
Hatch and Slack
Cycle
 Respiration

• Glycolysis
• The Krebs Cycle
• The Electron Transport Chain
 Glycolysis

Takes place in the Cytoplasm

Anaerobic (Doesn’t Use Oxygen)

Requires input of 2 ATP

Glucose split into two molecules of

 GROWTH PHYSIOLOGY

Growth - growth curve, phases of growth

Growth analysis

Source sink relationship

Photoperiodism - Role of phytochrome in flowering

and regulation of flowering

Vernalisation
Classification of Growth Regulating Substances

1. Auxins

2. Gibberellins

3. Cytokinin

4. Ethylene

5. Abscissic acid
 STRESS PHYSIOLOGY

Environmental stresses
Water stress
Temperature stress - low and high temperature - chilling
injury
Low light and UV radiation stresses
Salt stress
Global warming

• Seed germination

• Abscission

• Senescence

• Ripening
 Cell Wall

a rigid wall surrounding the plasma membrane

more complex structure and protecting the intracellular contents,

provides a porous medium for the circulation and distribution of water,

minerals, and other nutrients

specialized molecules that regulate growth and protect the plant from

disease
 Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata are small tubes that connect plant cells

to each other, providing living bridges between cells.

 Nucleus

a highly specialized organelle that serves as the information

processing and administrative center of the cell

This organelle has two major functions:

• it stores the cell's hereditary material, or DNA,
• it coordinates the cell's activities, which include
growth, intermediary metabolism, protein synthesis,
and reproduction (cell division)
 Chloroplast

• photosynthesis
• to make their own food by converting light energy
into chemical energy
 Mitochondria

oblong shaped organelles found in the cytoplasm

they break down carbohydrate and sugar molecules to

provide energy, particularly when light isn't available for the
chloroplasts to produce energy
 Endoplasmic reticulum

is a network of sacs that manufactures, processes, and transports

chemical compounds for use inside and outside of the cell

the endoplasmic reticulum also connects between cells via the

plasmodesmata.
 Ribosomes

All living cells contain ribosomes, tiny organelles composed of

approximately 60 percent RNA and 40 percent protein

In eukaryotes, ribosomes are made of four strands of RNA

In prokaryotes, they consist of three strands of RNA
 Golgi apparatus

the distribution and shipping department for the cell's chemical

products

modifies proteins and fats built in the endoplasmic reticulum and

prepares them for export as outside of the cell
 Vacuole

Each plant cell has a large, single vacuole that stores

compounds, helps in plant growth, and plays an
important structural role for the plant.
 Plant anatomy
• root
– root tip
– root hairs
• shoot (stem)
– nodes
– internodes
– apical buds
– auxiliary buds
– Flowers
– fruits
• leaves
– veins
Seed germination
Mitosis
Meiosis
Onion root - Mitosis
STEM MORPHOLOGY STEM ANATOMY
Apical bud
Dicot stem
Monocot stem
Root tip
Root structure & growth
Dicot root
Monocot root
Leaf tissue
 There’s no
turning back,
now!
 Trees and plants
provide beauty through:
Flowers