Plant Growth and Mineral Nutrition

Essential nutrients required in large amounts for plant growth.

The increase in growth per unit of time.

Plant growth where the rate of growth is constant, producing a straight line graph.

Plant growth where the rate of growth is accelerating, producing an exponential curve.

The total growth per unit time, calculated as the change in cell number over time.

The growth of a system relative to its initial size, calculated by dividing AGR by the initial number of cells.

A device used for measuring the linear growth of shoots.

Essential nutrients needed in small amounts for plant growth.

The growth of the apical bud suppresses the growth of lateral buds.

Auxins stimulate the formation of both lateral roots and adventitious roots.

A selective herbicide that primarily kills dicot weeds by disrupting their growth hormones.

Auxins can induce parthenocarpy, leading to seedless fruits like grapes, bananas, lemons, and oranges.

Gibberellins are plant hormones that play a key role in growth and development.

Gibberellins promote seed germination by stimulating the production of amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starches.

Cytokinins are plant hormones that promote cell division.

Natural sources of cytokinins include banana flowers and fruits like apples and tomatoes.

Plants that flower when the night period is longer than a critical length. They require a long night to initiate flowering.

Plants that flower when the day period is longer than a critical length. They require a short night to initiate flowering.

A light-sensitive pigment that regulates plant development, including flowering, by detecting changes in light quality.

The inactive form of phytochrome. It absorbs red light (660 nm).

The active form of phytochrome. It absorbs far-red light (730 nm).

The process of promoting flowering by exposing plants to low temperatures.

The chemical substance thought to be responsible for the vernalization stimulus.

The reversal of the vernalization effect by exposing plants to high temperatures.

Minerals crucial for plant survival and completing the life cycle. They play vital structural and functional roles.

Minerals not strictly required for the plant's life cycle. They may play a role in specific growth stages but aren't vital for survival.

Minerals needed in very small amounts, often acting as catalysts or activators for specific processes.

Minerals required in large quantities for structural and nutritive roles.

The minimum amount of an essential element needed for normal plant growth. Below this level, growth is stunted.

A deficiency symptom in plants where growth is retarded and the stem is short and condensed.

Yellowing of leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll, caused by mineral deficiencies.

Localized death of plant tissue, often appearing as brown or dead spots on leaves.

Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, activates catalase and is a constituent of ferredoxin and cytochrome.

Iron deficiency leads to chlorosis, a yellowing of leaves due to reduced chlorophyll production.

Manganese activates enzymes called carboxylases, crucial for various metabolic processes.

Insufficient manganese causes chlorosis and gray spots on leaves.

Molybdenum is vital for nitrogen metabolism, activating specific enzymes.

Boron is crucial for calcium uptake, pollen germination, cell differentiation, and carbohydrate transport.

Copper activates certain enzymes, playing a critical role in various metabolic processes.

Zinc activates enzymes, contributes to carbonic anhydrase, participates in auxin synthesis, and is needed for various dehydrogenases.

The process by which plants take in mineral nutrients from the soil.

Movement of mineral ions into root cells without using energy. It happens through diffusion.

Movement of mineral ions into root cells against their concentration gradient, requiring energy.

A process that helps balance the concentration of ions inside and outside root cells. It involves the accumulation of charged particles on one side of the membrane.

The continuous movement of nitrogen between the atmosphere, organisms, and soil.

Conversion of free nitrogen gas into usable forms for plants, like nitrate ions.

Converting nitrogen into usable forms through physical processes like lightning or industrial processes.

Converting nitrogen gas into usable forms by certain bacteria.