Growth is one of the characteristic features of living organisms. Growth as a phenomenon has two aspects viz. quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative aspect speaks for an increase in the length, breadth, size, volume, body mass or dry weight and number of cells. Growth as a quantitative change is a final end product of successive metabolism.
1. Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous salts, rendering it accessible to plants for uptake. 2. When living organisms participate in the nitrogen fixation process, it is termed biological nitrogen fixation. 3. Predominantly carried out by prokaryotic organisms, particularly various bacteria in the soil, biological nitrogen fixation is a crucial … Read more
Plants, categorized based on their photoperiodic response, fall into three distinct groups: Short Day Plants (SDP), Long Day Plants (LDP), and Day Neutral Plants (DNP). 1. Short Day Plants (SDP): i. Flowering in SDPs occurs when the photoperiod is shorter than the critical length, typically during winter and late summer. ii. SDPs, also known as … Read more
1. Plant growth follows distinct phases: cell formation, enlargement, and maturation. 2. The initial phase involves meristematic cell division and the addition of new cells. 3. Newly formed cells elongate and undergo enlargement during the phase of cell enlargement. 4. Cell maturation follows, where cells differentiate into specialized types. 5. Growth rates vary across phases: … Read more
1. Vernalization is the artificial exposure of plants to low temperatures to boost seed production or induce flowering. 2. This process involves subjecting a fully hydrated seed to a cold treatment, curtailing the plant’s vegetative phase and promoting early flowering. 3. The vernalization sites vary among plants and can include the germinating seed, apical meristem … Read more
1. Short day plants bloom with a prolonged period of darkness and a brief period of light, typically flowering in spring. 2. Long day plants, on the other hand, flower in response to a short period of darkness and an extended period of light, usually during summer. 3. Day-neutral plants flower independently of the duration … Read more
Function: Regulating anion-cation balance within cells, essential for protein synthesis, contributing to cell membrane formation, modulating stomatal activity, activating enzymes, and sustaining cellular turgidity. Deficiency Indicators: Manifested as yellowing leaf edges and premature cell death.
Function: Essential component of cell membranes, specific proteins, nucleic acids, and nucleotides; crucial for all phosphorylation reactions. Deficiency Effects: Manifests as poor growth and dull green leaves.
Function: Serving as building blocks in proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones, coenzymes, ATP, and the chlorophyll molecule. Deficiency Effects: Manifesting as stunted growth and chlorosis.
Arithmetic Growth: 1. Only one daughter cell continues division, while the other undergoes differentiation and maturation. 2. Rate of growth is constant, resulting in a linear curve described by Lt = Lo + rt. Geometric Growth: 1. Both daughter cells continue to divide and redivide. 2. Rate of growth is initially slow but becomes rapid, … Read more
1. Cell division gives rise to cells that eventually lose their ability to divide and undergo re-differentiation, specializing in specific functions. 2. An example of re-differentiation occurs during the formation of secondary xylem and phloem in the vascular cambium.