CS100 - Chapter-1-Concepts-of-Growth-and-Development-final
CS100 - Chapter-1-Concepts-of-Growth-and-Development-final
and Development
1
I. Overview
This module will be tackling two important topics on plant growth and development. The first
topic will discuss the concepts and theories related to plant growth and development, organized
along the growth process of the plant from the cellular level up to the organ growth and formation
while the development aspects will focus on the initiation of the organ from the differentiation at
cellular level to the development of the tissues and organs. The second topic will highlight on the
developmental stages of the plant after germination.
Figure 2. Phases of cell growth as seen in the root tip and shot apex representing the meristematic
phase of growth. Detection of zones of elongation by the parallel line techniques. Zones A, B, C, D,
immediately behind the apex have elongated most.
A.1.4. Cell Growth Rates – increase in growth per unit time; rate of growth can be expressed
mathematically.
1. Arithmetic Growth – mitotic division where only one daughter cell continues to divide
while the other differentiates and matures; exemplified by a root elongating at a constant
rate
2. Geometric Growth – the initial growth is slow (lag phase), and it increases rapidly
thereafter at an exponential rate (log or exponential phase). Both the progeny cells
following mitotic cell division retain the ability to divide and continue to do so unless
limited by nutrient supply, then the growth slows down leading to a stationary phase.
Figure 3. Diagrammatic representation of (a) Arithmetic (b) Geometric growth and (c) Stages during
embryo development showing both growth rates
A.1.5. Growth Curve
Phases
1. Lag Phase
2. Log Phase
3. Steady State
Fig. 4. Typical Growth Curve in Plants. If the growth is plotted against time, an ‘S’-shaped
curve is obtained, called the Sigmoid Curve or Grand Period Curve.
Figure 7. Internal structures of corn and bean seeds and stages of germination where the
radicle give rise to the roots, the hypocotyls may give rise to the roots or the lower stem and the
epicotyl gives rise to the stem and leaves.
A.2.4.1 Root Growth - Radicle is the embryonic root and grows to form primary root of the
seedlings.
Figure 8. Simplified diagram of a primary roots showing the four developmental zones.
A.2.4.2 Stem Growth – The life of stem starts as a plumule. It grows to form shoot of the
seedling. The longitudinal growth of stem and formation of various organs like branches,
leaves, flowers is the function of stem meristem
A.2.4.3 Leaf Initiation and Growth – The formation of leaves on the stem are initiated in
the formation of a primordium or outgrowth at the surface of the meristem. Leaf primordia
appear as dome shaped at nodal positions on the periphery of the stem.
Stage 3: Cell and tissue differentiation – Cells derived from the L1 layer differentiate as
epidermis (epidermal cells, trichomes and guard cells); derivatives of the L2 layer
differentiate as the photosynthetic mesophyll cells and vascular elements; and bundle
sheath cells are derived from the L3 layer.
Arrangement of Leaf Primordia - The number and order in which leaf primordial form is
reflected in the subsequent arrangement of leaves around the stem, called phyllotaxy:
1- Alternate phyllotaxy
2- Opposite phyllotaxy
3- Decussate phyllotaxy
4- Whorled phyllotaxy
5- Spiral phyllotaxy
Figure 13. Longitudinal sections of a shoot tip illustrating vegetative meristem (a) & floral meristem
(b-f) in floral development. source: Ted DeJong
http://fruitandnuteducation.ucdavis.edu/generaltopics/AnatomyPollination/VegetativeFloral_Develo
pment/)
A.2.5.3 Fruit and Seed Development
The first stage in fruit and seed development is rapid cell division without much
enlargement due to cytokinin production by the endosperm which is growing at this stage.
Various tissues of the parent plant viz, the ovary, receptacle and sometimes parts of the floral
tube may be involved in the formation of fruits.
Cell enlargement phase of growth proceeds due to the auxins produced in the seeds. Fruit
development stops if the seeds are removed from a developing fruit. Some fruits though,
respond to gibberellins rather than auxin.
Figure 16. Key processes during germination (a) and corresponding morphology of
germinating barley at different period of germination (b)
B.2.1. Juvenility
The initial period of growth when apical meristems will not typically respond to internal
or external conditions to initiate flowers
Characterized by exponential increases in size
Absence of the ability to shift from vegetative growth to reproductive maturity
Specific morphological and physiological traits development
Greater ability to regenerate adventitious roots and shoots
B.2.2 Maturity and Flowering
Maturation refers to qualitative changes which allow the plant or organ to express its
full reproductive potential.
Accomplished by a gradual transition of morphology, growth rate and flowering
capacity
Length of maturation depends on both genetics and the environment (from days to
years)
Maturation is related to flower formation and formation of other reproductive
structures such as tubers and bulbs
B.2.3. Senescence
Senescence process is endogenously controlled deteriorative changes – death of cells,
tissues, organs and the organism
Senescence and plant aging may cause decreased resistance to stress and disease,
thereby increasing the probability of death
At present, the biochemical nature of aging and senescence is not well understood,
although there are already clear examples of programmed senescence .
4. Identify the growth exhibited by the following based on the location of the meristems: apical;
lateral; intercalary
a. Internodal growth
b. Continuous growth of pole beans
c. Increase in width of trees
5. Based on Figure 4 on the typical growth curve of the plants, what happens during the following
phases by using a crop that you are familiar to its growth and development as an example:
a. Lag phase
b. Log Phase
c. Steady Phase
6. During the embryo development, what becomes of the apical cell at the torpedo stage?
7. Figure 7 shows the initiation and development of corn and bean seeds, give three differences and
thee similarities that you observed.
10. What is the significance of the phase 2 during the germination process especially to seeds
stored for a long time before planting?
VI. Reflection
The smallest seeds are produced from the family of orchidaceae, about 1/300th of an inch (85
micrometers) long, which is below the resolving power of the unaided human eye and one seed
weighs 1/35,000,000th of an ounce (0.81 micrograms). The seeds have no endosperm and
contain underdeveloped embryos. Orchid seeds are dispersed into the air like minute dust
particles and come to rest in the upper canopy of rainforest trees, where they eventually
germinate.
The smallest flowering plants belong to the genus Wolffia, tiny rootless plants of the duckweed
family (Lemnaceae) that float on the surface of quiet streams and ponds. The entire plant body of
both Wolffia augusta, an Australian species, and Wolffia globosa, a tropical species, are less than
1 mm long (less than 1/25th of an inch). An average plant is 0.6 mm long (1/42 of an inch) and
0.3 mm wide (1/85th of an inch) and weights about 150 micrograms (1/190,000 of an ounce) or
approximately the weight of two grains of table salt. A bouquet of one dozen plants in full bloom
would fit on the head of a pin.
VII. References
R.N. Arteca. 1996. Plant Growth Substances: Principles and Applications. Copyright 1996 Chapman
and Hall
L.O. Copeland and M.B. McDonald. 1985. Principles of Seed Science and Technology. 2nd ed.
Macmillan Publishing Co., New York and Collier Macmillan Publishers, London
National Council of Educational Research and Training. 2006. Biology (Textbook for Class XI).
Chapter 15- Plant Growth and Development. ISBN 81-7450-496-6
L.M. Srivastava. 2001. Plant Growth and Development: Hormones and Environment. Copyright
2001. Elsevier Science (USA)
L. Taiz and E. Zeiger. 2002. Plant Physiology. 3rd ed. Copyright at 2002 by Sinauer Associates, Inc.
V. Umamahesh. Ed. Lecture Notes on Crop Physiology. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University.
Department of Plant Physiology, Agricultural College