What Does a Plant Physiologist Do?

The purpose of plant physiology is to understand the laws and mechanisms of plant material metabolism, energy conversion, growth and development, regulation and control, and the effects of environmental conditions inside and outside the plant on its life activities. Including photosynthesis, plant metabolism, plant respiration, plant water physiology, plant mineral nutrition, plant transport, growth and development, stress resistance, and plant movement.

Plant physiology

(Botanical term)

1. Statistical Analysis of National Excellent Courses in Plant Physiology

There are four national excellent courses in "Plant Physiology", and the main development time was even earlier from 2003 to 2004. In the past two years, no new quality courses have been approved. Most courseware types are in PPT format, and there are also

Plants are the main organisms on the earth that use solar energy to synthesize organic matter. Their physiological activities are of great significance to humans.

Plant physiology applications

Agriculture is based on cultivated plants. To control the life of crops, increase yield and improve quality, it is necessary to understand the physiological activities of plants. For example, knowledge of plant mineral nutrition is the basis of reasonable fertilization and the fertilizer industry; analysis of plant water relationships can provide a solution for irrigation; understanding of the plant's need for photoperiod or vernalization can not only explain how weather conditions determine Phenology and predict the possibility of successful introduction, and artificial lighting or shading, and vernalization can be used to control the flowering season; the discovery of hormones enables people to synthesize, promote cuttings to take root, and sparse flowers and fruits. Induce, strengthen or release dormancy, promote or inhibit growth to improve the yield and quality of agricultural products; herbicides are high-dose applications of growth-regulating substances, saving a lot of weeding labor; photosynthesis, metabolism, transportation, resistance and other physiological mechanisms The research provides screening indicators for selection and breeding; the development of tissue culture and cell culture technologies has opened up new ways to accelerate the breeding of pure breeds, improve and create new breeds. In the discussions of several international conferences on agriculture and food, more than 10 urgent research tasks have been proposed, including photosynthesis and production increase; biological nitrogen fixation; mineral absorption; resistance to adverse environments; resistance to competitive organisms Systemic resistance; The growth and development of plants and hormones belong to the category of plant physiology. The remaining items, such as genetic engineering, cell engineering, mycorrhizal and soil microorganisms, air pollution, and control of pests and diseases, are also related to plant physiology. So plant physiology is an important knowledge base for agricultural modernization.

Plant Physiology Outlook

Environmental protection and pollution prevention also involve plant physiology research. Such as plant sand fixation and wind protection, water purification and so on. In the 1970s, it was proposed that due to the development of industry and the large amount of fossil fuels burned, C in the air increased significantly to affect the climate. Increasing plant photosynthesis to absorb C was one of the countermeasures.

A more prominent problem is the development of new energy sources. As the fossil fuel resources remaining in ancient times will always be exhausted, all countries attach great importance to the search for renewable energy sources. At present, the most important way to capture and convert solar energy on the earth is the photosynthesis of green plants, which can fix 3 × 10 ^ 21 joules every year. Although it falls on the earth, less than one-thousandth of the total solar energy, it has reached 10%. Double the energy consumption every year in the world. The proposed methods are as follows: using existing plant residues to make biogas, which has been popularized in many places in China; fermenting plant products to produce alcohol, which has been produced in large quantities in some countries; using unsuitable land for planting to produce oil Or hydrocarbon plants to extract fuel; use algae or isolated chloroplasts to generate hydrogen under light; use the extracted chlorophyll and artificial inorganic semiconductor substances to simulate the decomposition of water to release hydrogen, these are from plant physiology research Developed. Solar energy is inexhaustible. If it can be used to generate hydrogen as fuel, it can be reused without oxidation after it is oxidized and burned without causing pollution.