CROP PHYSIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN
AGRICULTURE
Dr. K.VENKATESAN
PROFESSOR (CRP)
Crop physiology
“Study of functional aspects
of crop plants”
• is concerned with the processes
and functions of the crops at
cellular, sub-cellular and whole
plant levels
• in response to environmental
variables and growth
Crop Physiology
qualitative measurement ( photosynthesis, respiration,
photorespiration, Absorption of
water, Translocation of solutes)
quantitative measurement (leaf area, partitioning of dry mass,
root length etc..)
environmental parameters (radiation, moisture, carbon
dioxide, wind, temperature
etc.)
The integration of these measurements into models would help to
better understand and predict crop growth and yield
• PLANT WATER RELATIONS
• NUTRIO PHYSIOLOGY
• PHOTOSYNTHESIS& RESPIRATION
• GROWTH PHYSIOLOGY
• STRESS PHYSIOLOGY
PLANT WATER RELATIONS
Role and significance of water - diffusion,
imbibitions, osmosis, plasmolysis
Absorption of water - mode of absorption –
active and passive absorption
and factors affecting
Translocation of solutes - phloem and
xylem transport
Transpiration - types - theory of mechanism
- significance, factors affecting and guttation -
antitranspirants
NUTRIO PHYSIOLOGY
Mineral nutrition
criteria of essentiality of elements
macro and micronutrients
sand and soil less culture
Mechanism of uptake
physiological role of nutrients
Foliar diagnosis
nutritional and physiological disorders
foliar nutrition and fertigation
.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
LIGHT REACTION DARK REACTION
OR OR
PRIMARY PHOTOCHEMICAL PATH OF CARBON
REACTION IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS
OR
OR
BLACK MAN’S
HILL’S REACTION
REACTION
LIGHT REACTION
Production of Assimilatory Powers
(ATP and NADPH)
by light, water and pigments
LIGHT REACTION
Cyclic ET Non Cyclic ET
DARK REACTION
Reduction of CO2 to Carbohydrate by utilizing
Assimilators Powers (ATP and NADPH)
Produced by Light Reaction.
DARK REACTION
C3 Pathway
C4 Pathway CAM
Calvin Cycle Pathway
Hatch and Slack
Cycle
Respiration
• Glycolysis
• The Krebs Cycle
• The Electron Transport Chain
Glycolysis
Takes place in the Cytoplasm
Anaerobic (Doesn’t Use Oxygen)
Requires input of 2 ATP
Glucose split into two molecules of
GROWTH PHYSIOLOGY
Growth - growth curve, phases of growth
Growth analysis
Source sink relationship
Photoperiodism - Role of phytochrome in flowering
and regulation of flowering
Vernalisation
Classification of Growth Regulating Substances
1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinin
4. Ethylene
5. Abscissic acid
STRESS PHYSIOLOGY
Environmental stresses
Water stress
Temperature stress - low and high temperature - chilling
injury
Low light and UV radiation stresses
Salt stress
Global warming
• Seed germination
• Abscission
• Senescence
• Ripening
Plant cell
Cell Wall
a rigid wall surrounding the plasma membrane
more complex structure and protecting the intracellular contents,
provides a porous medium for the circulation and distribution of water,
minerals, and other nutrients
specialized molecules that regulate growth and protect the plant from
disease
Plasmodesmata
Plasmodesmata are small tubes that connect plant cells
to each other, providing living bridges between cells.
Nucleus
a highly specialized organelle that serves as the information
processing and administrative center of the cell
This organelle has two major functions:
• it stores the cell's hereditary material, or DNA,
• it coordinates the cell's activities, which include
growth, intermediary metabolism, protein synthesis,
and reproduction (cell division)
Chloroplast
• photosynthesis
• to make their own food by converting light energy
into chemical energy
Mitochondria
oblong shaped organelles found in the cytoplasm of all
eukaryotic cells
In plant cells, they break down carbohydrate and sugar
molecules to provide energy, particularly when light isn't
available for the chloroplasts to produce energy
Endoplasmic reticulum
is a network of sacs that manufactures, processes, and transports
chemical compounds for use inside and outside of the cell
In plants, the endoplasmic reticulum also connects between cells
via the plasmodesmata.
Ribosomes
All living cells contain ribosomes, tiny organelles composed of
approximately 60 percent RNA and 40 percent protein
In eukaryotes, ribosomes are made of four strands of RNA
In prokaryotes, they consist of three strands of RNA
Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus is the distribution and shipping department
for the cell's chemical products
It modifies proteins and fats built in the endoplasmic reticulum
and prepares them for export as outside of the cell
Vacuole
Each plant cell has a large, single vacuole that stores
compounds, helps in plant growth, and plays an
important structural role for the plant.
Plant anatomy
• root
– root tip
– root hairs
• shoot (stem)
– nodes
– internodes
– apical buds
– auxiliary buds
– Flowers
– fruits
• leaves
– veins
Seed germination
Mitosis
Meiosis
STEM MORPHOLOGY STEM ANATOMY
Apical bud
Cambium
Monocot stem
Root tip
Root structure & growth
Dicot root
Monocot root
Leaf tissue
There’s no
turning back,
now!
Trees and plants
provide beauty through:
Flowers
