Plant physiology deals with how the different parts of the plant like leaves, stems, roots, and phloem works and function collectively. Plant physiology manages distinctive plant structures and their working. It empowers dissecting measures in plants, to be specific – photosynthesis, mineral nourishment, breath, transportation in plants, and eventually plant improvement and development, which are characteristics shown by living substances.

All plants have a unique vascular system that transports nutrients, sugar, and water in all parts. The system consists of – 

• Xylem 
• Phloem

Usually, the process of transporting food to a plant is multi-dimensional, which means it occurs through diffusion. For physiological activities, water has a vital role to play. Plant–water relation is an evergreen topic that needs to comprehend the concept better.

As you know, no plant can grow with minerals as it acts as nutrition for them. Mineral nutrition helps in identifying the basic elements for plant growth and development. Macro and micronutrients in plants help in the maintenance of enzyme level and osmotic presence. During this process, nitrogen-fixing also arises in plants. It is through this process that plants accumulate nitrogen from the soil for protein synthesis.

As a biology enthusiast, you must have imagined how photosynthesis in higher plants takes place? It is through chloroplasts using four pigments. When energy is extricated from oxidizable substances and gets stored in bonds, it is called phosphorylation. Since plants make their own food, that’s why they are called autotrophs.

Now, as you know how plants acquire their food through photosynthesis, cellular respiration in plants results in the formation of energy that involves glycolysis. Later, energy is utilized through the following steps – electron transport system and oxidative phosphorylation.

Another pivotal part of respiration in plants is the respiratory quotient. The respiratory quotient (RQ) quantifies the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide to that of oxygen used.

Do you know that plants grow throughout their life, unlike humans? It is due to the meristematic tissues in plants. Usually, plant growth can be restrained by the enlargement in their number, length, area, and volume. There are three phases of a plant’s growth –

• Meristematic stage – Here, the growth of the plant can be seen in the roots and shoots that are accompanied by a thin cellulosic cell wall, also known as the formative stage of plant growth.   
• Elongation stage – When a plant is lengthened, and increased vacuolation can be witnessed. It is called the elongation stage of the plant. 
• Maturation stage– This stage can be characterized by the deposition of the plant vascular body. All the cells have attained maturity and get protoplasmic. 

Development is part of plant growth, but it also includes the lifecycle of the plant from germination to senescence. 

The two factors are responsible for plant growth and development – 

• Intrinsic factors include genetic, regulators, and hormonal control 

Extrinsic factors include water, nutrients, and oxygen, etc.

1. What is the meaning of plant physiology?
   Plant physiology is a sub-discipline branch of botany that deals with the functions of plants. In a nutshell, it is the in-depth study of plant morphology, plant ecology interactions with the environment, phytochemistry, cell biology, genetics, biophysics, and molecular biology. It examines and analyses photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition, plant hormone functions.
2. Who is the father of plant physiology?
   Julius Sachs was the first to advance and build up plant physiology. He hailed as a German botanist from Breslau, Prussian Silesia. He had assumed an essential part throughout the entire existence of herbal science. In 1868, his course reading was the principal wellspring of natural information. He was the person who distinguished the significance of plant physiology and the concept of chlorophyll in plants.
3. What is the physiological process?
   The cluster of a chemical and physical process like photosynthesis, respiration, seed germination, or transpiration is called a physiological process. Physical and chemical components need to be comprehended before understanding the mechanism of the physiological process.
4. What is plant physiology and biochemistry?
   It is the reputed journal published by the Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology (FESPB) and the French Society of Plant Biology that produces articles that covers a wide array of topics like physiology, plant-microbe, genetics, and cellular, etc.
5. Why is plant physiology important?
   Proper knowledge of plant physiology helps to understand the plant mechanism. Plant physiology helps in agriculture by explaining different physiological and morphological changes in plants during the germination period.