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
Carbon

Dioxide
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
Plant

growth 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
Sun

http;//expage.com/page/waxnsteel

scald can occur at high temperatures

High temperatures cause desiccation or may

may directly kill protoplasm of cells

Plants

should 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

In

the 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, longday and day-neutral plants

Short-day

Plants-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

Artificial

light 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
Capillary

continued

http://199.212.16.18/msc/as/index_e.html

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.