Skip to content

Ask an Academic

  • Home
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us
Laboratory equipment

What factors influence plant growth?

September 25, 2019 by AskanAcademic.com

A short response covering the factors that influence plant growth.

Question

What factors influence plant growth?

Answer

The most obvious factors influencing plant growth are those that are necessary for plant survival and photosynthesis, known as limiting factors; sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and oxygen. During photosynthesis, atmospheric carbon dioxide is fixed into more complex, energy-rich compounds used in metabolism or as raw materials in the synthesis of cellular components that the plant needs. To ensure efficient gaseous exchange, the inner surfaces of the leaf (the spongy mesophyll) need to be kept moist, and constantly lose water to the atmosphere, which needs to be replaced. Water is also therefore an important limiting factor in plant growth and survival.

Plants also require small amounts of many different elements, including phosphorus, potassium, sodium and calcium. These form important components of enzymes and other biological molecules. Plants also require a constant supply of nitrogen in order to construct their proteins, and its lack results in severely stunted plants. Although the atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen, most plants cannot absorb this directly. Some plants (such as clover and legumes) form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots to ensure a constant supply. Other plants can benefit from the increased nitrogen concentration these plants leave in the soil; this is part of the basis of crop rotation.

Other factors which can influence the growth of plants include plant hormones. These have a wide variety of effects, and can be used to influence crop growth to suit human needs, such as producing seedless fruit, and influencing crops’ growth patterns. Some plant parasites can also influence plant hormones to suit their needs; Phytoplasma bacteria are parasites of the phloem spread by insects such as leafhoppers. Phytoplasma cause plants to become more bushy and densely branching (phyllody), and reduce their chemical defences to make them more appealing these insects.

References

Post navigation

Previous Post:

Schools’ responsibility for childhood obesity

Next Post:

What is the distinction between Quistclose and Twinsectra?

Search Q&As

Categories

  • Art Media and Literature (74)
  • Business and Management (256)
  • Computing and ICT (14)
  • Construction and Engineering (35)
  • Education (90)
  • Environmental Sciences (2)
  • Finance and Economics (91)
  • Health (64)
  • Languages (12)
  • Law (88)
  • Mathematics and Statistics (2)
  • Medical Sciences (19)
  • Politics and International Relations (83)
  • Research Methodology (1)
  • Science (49)
  • Social Sciences (101)

Archives

Who We Are

Askanacademic.com is owned and operated by All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration No: 4964706. VAT Registration No: 842417633. Data Controller No: Z1821391.

Registered office:
Venture House
Cross Street
Arnold
Nottingham
NG5 7PJ

Main Navigation

  • Home
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Legals

  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Categories

  • Business and Management
  • Law
  • Finance and Economics
  • Health
An an Academic Logo
© 2023 Ask an Academic | WordPress Theme by Superb Themes
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Reject
Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT