&CHAPTER 4

Plant Development and Physiology

GLENDA E. GILLASPY

Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksbury, Virginia

4.0. CHAPTER SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES

4.0.1 Summary

From fertilization to seed to maturity, plants are genetically programmed to grow, develop,

and reproduce. Agriculture is greatly dependent on seed production (yield), and yield

depends on how plants cope with their environment and other organisms. Since they

cannot move around, plants are adept at responding to their environment. They develop

and respond primarily by altering their biochemistry, especially in response to plant

hormones. In addition, understanding how to manipulate plant development in vitro is

necessary for the successful engineering of transgenic crop plants.

4.0.2 Discussion Questions

1. Describe the general morphological features of a plant.


2. How is plant fertilization different from animal fertilization?


3. How does the study of mutant plants shed light on gene function?


4. Many genes involved in embryo development also have functions during later
   stages of development. It has been difficult to clarify these later-stage roles. Why?


5. How do GA and ABA physiology affect germinating seeds?


6. What is an apical meristem? Name one gene involved in shoot meristem identity,
   and describe the role it plays during development.


7. What is etiolation?


8. How do the PHY proteins function as light receptors?


9. How do the quiescent zone and root cap structures and properties differ?


10. How do guard cells participate in photosynthesis and respiration?


11. How do the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf differ?

Plant Biotechnology and Genetics: Principles, Techniques, and Applications,Edited by C. Neal Stewart, Jr.

Copyright#2008 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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