Plant Growth And Development

The process of plant development starts right from germination under favourable environmental conditions.

Generally, plant growth is indeterminate as they retain their capacity to grow throughout their lives because of the presence of meristems. The growth of plants is, however measurable through parameters such as – dry weight, increase in fresh weight, length, area, volume, cell number etc.

The period of plant growth is categorized into three phases – meristematic, elongation and maturation.

The growth rate can be determined quantitatively in 2 ways – absolute growth rate and relative growth rate.

The growth of plants is controlled by plant growth regulators.

Plants also produce compounds such as phytochromes that are light sensitive and stimulate the growth of the plant in response to environmental signals.

Plant physiology is also an important topic related to fruits, vegetables and other edible parts of the plants. The production of food crops, including the harvest and post-harvest storage of plant products, also hinges on the plant physiology studies.