August 09, 2016

The Science of Plant Physiology

What is Plant Physiology?
From the Greek words physis: nature and logos: discourse
Basically, the study of nature of plants and plantlife
Vast branch of Science that deals with plant functions
Encompasses plant growth, metabolism and reproduction
(and even behavior)
Study of plant functions is related with study of growth,
metabolism and reproduction- and all of these intertwine
Unravels the relationships and interactions among various
plant processes that underlie plant response to its
environment
Diagnosis of the nature of the plant organism: Why How
The Basic Question that concerns Plant Physiologist is How Plants
do it?
a. How plants grow rots downward and shoots upward? Due to a
response to stimuli and with the aid of the difference in
concentration gradient that elicit pumping and movement of
protons
b. How plants become green with light and grow taller in the
shade?
c. How plants assimilate nutrients and transport water and
sucrose? Going against gravity because it will always pull
everything down as if there is a suction cup
Plant Physiology is important in:
a. Efficient use of nutrients- i.e. if fertilizers do not work
sometimes, maybe the soil is porous or rotten
b. Coping with abiotic and biotic stress- i.e. Flooding since
there is no O2/CO2 being absorbed or generated, is the biggest
problem plants face in the Philippines where it is typhoon-prone.
Plants are literally being drowned. With this, there is floodresistant rice discovered which will benefit the nation since rice
is its staple food.
c. Increasing crop yield- i.e. this is achieved through Plant
Growth Regulators (PGR). If plants are healthy, fruits are
delicious. To have delicious and large fruits, plant physiology
must be learnt well.
d. Improving food and feed quality- Plants are the main source
of food for humans and feeds for poultry and livestock.
History of Plant Physiology
16th Century
An early physiological question was where a plant gets the
material that aids in its growing. It started with agricultural
questions of agriculturists.
How do plants grow? And so, experiments initiated.
1) Jan Van Helmont He proposed water as a source of growth.
He experimented on willow sampling. Out of the 200lbs, 54.454.6lbs was deducted. It was only planted and watered then it
kept growing.
2) Claude Perrault He made an extensive observations on the
circulation of saps in plants.
3) Edme Mariotle He found out that dissimilar plants (plants of
different species) receive nourishments from same components.
4) John Woodward He discovered that the plant he studied on
emits 46 times the amount of water that it stores in itself for a
period of three months.

17th Century
1) Stephen Hales He published Vegetable Staticks, an account
of his pioneering studies on the transpiration, growth and gas
exchange in plants.
2) Julius Sachs He proposed that soil constituents of N, K, PO42
, S and other elements has major importance in plant growth.
Importance of Manure
Inorganic components (Salt) Being absorbed and
assimilated by plants along with water
Organic components Helps improve and provide a
good soil structure
The more biological content in its fresh form produces heat
especially during decomposition thus it is best to use partially
decomposed
3) Antoine Lavoisier- He proposed that organic matter is largely
formed of carbon and oxygen.
4) Joseph Priestley, Jan Ingenhousz and Jean Senebier They
initiated an idea about photosynthesis- that plant leaves in light
takes up CO2 and emit equivalent amount of O2.
5) Nicholas de Saussure He states that in the dark, plant takes
up O2 and release CO2, while at daylight, plant takes up CO 2 and
release O2.
18th Century
An idea about adhesion and cohesion as movement of water in
plants is gained.
1) Henry Dixen and John Joly They proposed that the
coherence between water molecules and their adherence to the
cell wall prevents taut water columns from breaking even in
trees of great height.
19th Century
Photosynthesis was finally established. Scientists already knew
about the anatomy of cells in plants, spectrum of light, enzymes
responsible etc.
Scientists already learnt about the significance of compounds
from plants for human nutrition.
20th Century
The study of physiology arose from the organismal level, and
even to the cellular and molecular level.

The Plant Cell

Principal structural and functional unit of every organism
Autonomous living system representing a physiological unit
Capable of independent existence and propagation by cellular
division
Note:
All plants have the same eukaryotic organization (Nucleus,
cytoplasm, subcellular organelles, enclosed in a
membrane)
Cells sustain life by regenerating new cells
All organs function is composed of the basic cellular
function
Cells can change its membrane and it can live for its own

Protoplast, Protoplasm, Cytoplasm: What are the differences?

Protoplast It consists of the cell without the cell wall

Protoplasm It consists of the cytoplasm and the nucleus- all

encompassed by the cell membrane
Cytoplasm It consists of the plasma membrane, cytosol, chromatid
(fibers) and organelles (except the nucleus).
Cell Wall
Surrounds the protoplast (eukaryotic cell)
Main distinction of plant cell to animal cell
Consists of cellulose and lignin (found in differentiated cell
types)
Cellulose overcomes pressure in plants through its elasticity
Lignin- found in cell wall of plants with secondary growth; plays
a protective role and strengthening functions found and
trees/woody plants that grow tall in height; provides mechanical
protection and rigidity to the plant cell
Plasma Membrane
All cells are enclosed in a membrane.
Semi-permeable membrane selective; only allows selective
transport of molecules in and out; due to the proteins embedded
in the membrane, which are responsible for this selective traffic
of solutes across the membrane
It consists of a bilayer with hydrophilic head and hydrophobic
tail.
All biological membranes have the same basic molecular
organization: consist of a double layer of either phospholipid
except for chloroplast which is composed of glycosyl glycerides.
Phospholipids
1. Two fatty acids Non-polar and hydrophobic
2. Glycerol
3. Phosphate group
4. Head group (serine, choline, glycerol or inositol) Highly
polar
Glycosyl Glycerides
Polar head group may be consists either of the three:
1. Galactose
2. Digalactose
3. Sulfated galactose
Compare/contrast between phospholipids and glycosyl glycerides
o Both differ with the head group
o Glycosyl glyceride does not have a phosphate group
o Fatty acids are the same for both
Consists of 14-24 carbons
One is saturated (no double bond), the other is
unsaturated (with double bond)

Double bonds Cis double bonds which create kinks

that contribute greatly to the fluidity of the membrane
Poikilothermic organisms A property in most plants wherein
they cannot regulate their body temperature especially in low
temperature conditions
Vernalized Plants able to survive winter because their
membranes have kinks; vernalization means induction of a
plant's flowering process by exposure to the prolonged cold
of winter, or by an artificial equivalent.
-

Nucleus
Contains the genetic information primarily responsible for
regulating the metabolism, growth and differentiation of the cell
DNA controls everything; its activity controls the molecular and
physiological aspects of every organism
Main parts:
Nuclear genome The main nuclear gene; 1.2x10 10 (largest
genome in plants)
Nuclear envelope The membrane that surrounds the nuclear
genome
Perinuclear space The space between the nuclear envelope
or membrane
Nuclear pore Craters; Contains set of proteins that controls
the movement of molecules in and out of the nucleus
Site of replication and storage of chromosomal DNA
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Elaborate network of internal membranes
Membranes are of typical lipid bilayer with integral and
peripheral proteins
Forms the cisternae flattened sac-like organelles
Continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope
Near to the golgi apparatus SER and RER complement each
other and complete the process
Two types:
1. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum Tubular in form and it is
the major site of lipid synthesis and membrane assembly
2. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum - Lamellar or flattened in
form; Rough because of the ribosomes; Major site of
synthesis of membrane proteins, proteins to be transported
and lytic proteins (for lysis)