Plant Physiology & Growth Flashcards

Which plant hormone is primarily responsible for promoting cell elongation and is produced in the apical meristem?

Answer: Auxin

Auxin (IAA) is produced in apical meristems and promotes cell elongation by loosening cell walls, driving stem extension.

What is transpiration in plants?

Answer: The loss of water vapor through stomata and leaf surfaces

Transpiration is the process by which plants release water vapor, primarily through stomata, driving water uptake from the soil.

Which organelle is the primary site of photosynthesis in plant cells?

Answer: Chloroplast

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are the organelles where light energy is captured and converted into chemical energy (glucose).

What is the term for the seed dormancy-breaking process that requires exposure to cold, moist conditions?

Answer: Stratification

Cold stratification mimics winter conditions and breaks physiological dormancy in seeds of many temperate species.

Which macronutrient is most critical for vegetative (leaf) growth and gives plants their green color?

Answer: Nitrogen

Nitrogen is a key component of chlorophyll and amino acids, making it essential for lush vegetative growth.

What is osmosis in the context of plant physiology?

Answer: Passive movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration

Osmosis drives water into root cells and maintains turgor pressure by moving water from areas of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Which process in plant respiration breaks down glucose to release energy in the absence of oxygen?

Answer: Anaerobic fermentation

Anaerobic fermentation (anaerobic respiration) allows plants to produce limited ATP without oxygen, though it yields ethanol and CO2 as byproducts.