We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 May 2020
The growth and development of a flowering plant is a complex phenomenon. It begins with seed germination, accompanied by a series of large number of morphological and physiological changes termed as growth and development. The plant is in part a consequence of its genetic composition and in part a consequence of the environment in which it grows and develops. To some extent, the genome appears to be preprogrammed, but the program is highly modified by environmental factors.
The terms Growth, Differentiation and Development are customarily used to describe different aspects of the events that a plant undergoes during its life span. Development is an expression of the genetic program that governs the activities and interactions of individual cells. Development is the sum total of two processes: growth and differentiation. Growth is a quantitative term, related to an increase in size and mass, while differentiation is a series of qualitative changes in the cell, tissue or organ. Many parameters (increase in number of cells/fresh weight/dry weight/length and width/area and volume) could be invoked to measure growth depending upon the need of a researcher. Whatever the measure, growth is an irreversible increase in volume or size followed by the synthesis of new protoplasmic constituents.
Growth comprises of three phases: (i) cell division, (ii) cell enlargement, (iii) cell maturation.
The orderly development of a complex multicellular organism is coordinated by internal and external controls. ‘Internal controls’ are expressed at both the intracellular and intercellular levels. Intracellular controls are primarily genetic, requiring a programmed sequence of gene expression. Intercellular controls are primarily hormonal, chemical messengers that permit cells to communicate with each other. ‘External controls’ are environmental such as light, temperature and gravity. Many environmental variables seem to act at least in part by altering gene expression or hormonal functions.
Growth Curve
The sigmoid (S-shaped) growth curve is characteristic for virtually growth in all living organisms. It can be classified into three phases: Lag phase, Log phase, and Stationary phase (Figure 14.1).
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
