Plant Phys Final

Mineral nutrition

The study of how plants obtain and use mineral nutrients 

Nutrition

The making of organic and inorganic nutrients available to an organism 

Organic nutrition

Carbon compound based nutrients 

Inorganic nutrition

Aquisition of mineral elements from soil

Essential nutrients

Elements required for growth and development, directly involved in plant metabolism, and integral constituents of important plants, are required for the completion of the life cycle, and no other element can substitute for them

Soil pH

Controls chemical solubility and microbial activity in the soil

Nutrient deficiency - Nitrogen

Creates slow stunted growth, chlorosis, anthocyanin accumulation (purpling), and early flowering

Nutrient deficiency - Phosphorus

Creates intense green coloration of leaves, leaf malformation, necrotic spots, anthocyanin accumulation (purpling), and slender/short leaves

Nutrient deficiency - Potassium

Creates molting or chlorosis of the leaves, necrosis at leaf margins, and shortened weak stems

Nutrient deficiency - Sulfur

Creates generalized chlorosis of the leaves (occurs in older leaves first)

Nutrient deficiency - Magnesium

Creates interveinal chlorosis

Nutrient deficiency - Calcium

Creates deformed young leaves and causes necrosis

Nutrient deficiency - Iron

Creates interveinal chlorosis of young leaves

Mobile nutrients

Nutrients that can move from old leaves (create nutrient differences in older leaves)

Immobile nutrients

Nutrients that cannot move in the plant (new growth shows deficiencies first)

Soil

Unconsolidated cover on the surface of the earth is made up of minerals, organic particles, air, and water. Supports plant growth, anchors roots, supplies water and air, provides nutrients and releases water with lower level nutrients

Soil components

45% mineral matter, 25% water, 5% organic matter, and 25% air

Soil texture

The makeup of the mineral components and how they are put together. Impacts cohesiveness, looseness, and weight. Mainly sand, silt, and clay

O Horizon

Organic layer of soil (uppermost layer composed of organic material)

A Horizon

Topsoil layer (used for landscaping, removed before construction)

B Horizon

Transition zone (exposed soil in the area where construction has occurred)

C Horizon

True subsoil (little to no soil development and contains soluble salts)

Plant nutrients

Nutrients that come from decaying plant litter, breakdown of soil materials, addition of human interactions through fertilizer, lime, manure, etc.

Absorbtion

The ability of soil to hold and attract particulates to the surface to get water and nutrients (the most important absorbers are clay and organic matter)

Cation exchange capacity (CEC)

The total amount of cations that a soil can retain related to positively charged plant nutrients (capacity increases when related to the amount of clay, organic matter, or if the pH of the soil has been raised)

Cation retention in soil

Prevents nutrient leaking, allowing nutrients to be kept in root zones and providing to plants

Negatively charged anions in soil

Anions held using anion exchange capacity (AEC), which occurs on the positively charged surface of the soil

Plant movement

Movement occurring through the alteration of orientation in spaces as opposed to physical locomotion

Growth movement

Irreversible movement caused by differential growth

Turgor movement

Reversible movement caused by volume change in cells

Nutation

Regular rotary or helical movement

Trophisms

Movement related directly to stimuli

Nastic responses

Response when the source of stimulation is involved in the response, which are not related to any particular vector of stimulation

Pulvini

Specialized motor cells that take up water in order to facilitate nastic responses (found in the connection points between plant leaves and act as hinges that facilitate plant movement)

Extensor cells

Cells that lose water and shrink the cell causing the leaves to sag

Flexor cells

Cells that take in water and cause the leaf to flex up

Hygronasty

A nastic response due to increased in water availability

Thigmonsty

Movement resulting from touch, which occurs when a chemical response is initiated from signals of touch being transmitted from a chemical signal to the pulvini cells

Phototropism

A plant’s bending response to light is caused by photoreceptor activation. Light reacts to photoreceptors and causes auxin to move to the shaded section of the plant. This increase in auxin created increased cell elongation, making the plant bend in the direction of the light

Gravitrophism

A plant’s bending response to gravity is caused by differential growth. A plant grows roots downward because of differential growth response due to the distribution of auxin and the root apical meristems

Assimilate

The conversion of absorbed inorganic nutrients and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and mineral nitrogen from the plant root to build tissue

Vascular tissues

Tissue that moves water and food throughout the plant

Xylem

Moves water and is the primary water-conduction tissues in plants (up)

Phloem

Moves assimilates and is the food-conducting tissues in plants (up and down)

Typical source

Provides and exports sugars involving mature leaves the root system, occuring in the rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, and other storage organs

Typical sink

Areas that import, store, and consume sugars involving root system and growth stems along with fruit, flowers, and leaves

Turgor pressure

The force of water in a plant cell pushes the plasma membrane against the cell wall, providing structural support and rigidity

Phloem tissue

Plant vascular tissue

Sieve tube elements

Cells that form in long tubes and are used to facilitate flow for sugar conduction (phloem tissue)

Companion cells

Specialized parenchyma cells that provide metabolic energy (ATP) (phloem tissue)

Fibers

Elongated dead cells that provide mechanical strength and rigidity for the plant’s support (phloem tissue)

Sieve plate

Perforated wall between two sieve tube elements with sieve pores that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells (facilitate transport of phloem sap with the path of least resistance)

Plant health

A plant’s ability to carry out its normal physiological functions at levels consistent with the genetic potential of the plant

Plant disease

Any deviation from the normal growth and development that interferes with the structure, economic value, or aesthetic quality of the plant

Fungi inoculum

Initial inoculum that occurs during sporulation